NY Islanders alum Pat LaFontaine sues developer in million dollar lawsuit

New York Islanders alum and hockey Hall-of-Famer and business partner Steve D’Iorio filed a lawsuit in New York Supreme Court claiming they were not appropriately compensated for 'services rendered' related to a multi-billion dollar project known as Midway Crossing.

NY Islanders alum Pat LaFontaine sues developer in million dollar lawsuit

A report in Long Island Business News details the story around the private/public project that LaFontaine consulted for after it was first pitched in 2017. The project initially called for securing a 17,500-capacity arena with a minor league sports team as an anchor tenant and serving as a venue for the area's youth sports and collegiate teams. “This is an opportunity to bring lacrosse, soccer, hockey, and other sports in one big compound,” LaFontaine told LIBN in a May 2022 interview.

Since then, the project has pivoted and is now described on its website as having three main elements: a life sciences/commercial District, retail and shopping, and a Convention Center and Hotel. The new convention center and hotel, totaling over 300,000 sq ft, will be programmed to host conventions, youth sports tournaments, and community events.

LaFontaine, who finished his playing career in 1998 after 15 seasons with the Islanders, Sabres, and Rangers, continued living on Long Island throughout his playing career and continued to do so in retirement while pursuing various business ventures and charity work. According to the lawsuit, he is seeking $1.3 million in the judgment, while D'lorio is asking for more than $1.07 million.

The lawsuit claims that JLL, the site's master developer, and specifically Vice Chairman Derek Trulson and Managing Director Michael Sheno of their New York office, “unjustly benefitted and been enriched” from the work LaFontaine and his business partner provided after more than three years dedicated to identifying investors and potential tenants.

The extensive Suffolk County project envisions a 15-year buildout plan over four phases. It plans to connect the Ronkonkoma LIRR Station directly to the potential new north terminal by way of a pedestrian walkway corridor. According to LIBN, neither LaFontaine, his partner, nor the defendants have commented on the lawsuit.