Willinger Willinger & Bucci PLLC is responsible for any damages suffered by a New York lender that relied on falsified documents to approve a $16.2 million loan to the development arm of a Connecticut housing authority, Pullman & Comley LLC said in seeking to shift the blame away from itself.

In an apportionment complaint made public Thursday, Pullman & Comley said Willinger Willinger represented Titan Capital ID LLC when it loaned the money to the Maynard Road Corp. Pullman & Comley, which represented the borrower and issued a 2022 opinion letter approving of the allegedly fraudulent transaction, rejected Titan's claims that it dropped the ball on its due diligence check, arguing the lender's attorneys are actually responsible.

"Willinger Willinger & Bucci PLLC's first contact with Pullman regarding the due diligence to be performed for the loan transaction occurred only three days before the closing of the loan transaction," the apportionment complaint said, accusing the Shelton, Connecticut-based firm of "negligently advising or failing to advise Titan on the risks of relying on due diligence that was conducted over the period of only approximately three days, and that was not performed by them."

The Meriden Housing Authority was the guarantor in the transaction, according to the apportionment complaint. Robert V. Cappelletti Jr. was the authority's executive director and secretary of the Maynard Road Corp. from 2009 until May 9 of this year.

After the housing entities defaulted on the loan in 2023, they reached a settlement with Titan for $18.7 million, but later sought to exit that deal, alleging Cappelletti had falsified the loan documents and a board resolution purportedly authorizing his signature. In a Superior Court complaint made public Aug. 29, the housing entities sued Cappelletti for his "serious misconduct."

Cappelletti was simultaneously in charge of Groton, Connecticut's housing authority from 2016 until he was suspended in January, then fired. That organization and two related entities are suing him for allegedly stealing more than $2 million.

In its July 11 complaint, Titan brought claims including legal malpractice, breach of contract and violation of the Connecticut Unfair Trade Practices Act against Pullman & Comley. The firm is seeking dismissal of several claims based on the argument that it had no attorney-client relationship with Titan.

Willinger Willinger represents Titan in its lawsuit against Pullman & Comley, which has offices in Connecticut, New York, Rhode Island and Massachusetts.

According to the apportionment complaint, Willinger Willinger failed to confirm that Cappelletti was authorized to seek the loan and that the housing entities could enter into it. Pullman & Comley said any injuries or losses suffered by Titan are Willinger Willinger's legal responsibility.

On Nov. 14, TransPecos Banks SSB reached a stipulated judgment with Maynard Road in a lawsuit that sought to recover equipment that was originally leased to an entity tied to the Groton Housing Authority. Cappelletti, who was not named as a defendant, allegedly helped sublease the equipment to Maynard Road without TransPecos' consent, violating the lease agreement.

The stipulated judgment allows TransPecos to recover all nine pieces of equipment at issue, including five trucks, a woodchipper, a mobile generator, a portable sawmill and a grout pump.

Counsel for Titan did not immediately respond to a request for comment Friday.

Counsel for Pullman & Comley declined to comment Friday.

Titan is represented by James A. Lenes of Willinger Willinger & Bucci PLLC.

Pullman & Comley is represented by Thomas J. Murphy and Allison D. White of Cowdery Murphy & Healy LLC.

The case is Titan Capital ID LLC v. Pullman & Comley LLC, case number FBT-CV25-6149071-S, in the Bridgeport Judicial District of the Connecticut Superior Court.