Head of contractor responsible for billing 9/11 memorial project resigns after investigation

The head of the New York City office for a contractor investigated for overbilling on projects like the 9/11 memorial has resigned. James Abadie left his job Monday as principal in charge of Bovis Lend Lease’s New York office.

An internal Bovis memo didn’t give a reason for Abadie’s departure. Federal prosecutors are investigating whether Bovis overbilled clients on five high-profile city projects, including the Sept. 11 memorial and the New York Mets’ new Citi Field stadium.

Officials familiar with the probe say prosecutors are looking into whether the contractor padded its billing reports with unworked overtime. Bovis has said it’s cooperating with the investigation.

The company memo says that a senior vice president, Ralph Esposito, will take over for Abadie, who has worked for Bovis since 1980.