Searching for the truth about 'da Truth Squad'
Attorneys' briefs debate identity of Internet blogger
BY KATHY BARATTA Staff Writer

MANALAPAN - For some people, "da Truth Squad" would be nothing but a semi-literate and incomprehensible grouping of words. To others "da Truth Squad" is an Internet blog author and Web site whose primary purpose is lobbing anonymous attacks at persons of note in public and political life, mostly in Manalapan but also in Monmouth County and the state.

Those people who are aware of "da Truth Squad" have speculated for some time as to just who "da Truth Squad" is or who might be behind the Internet blog.

According to a legal brief filed in state Superior Court by attorney Daniel Mc- Carthy in litigation involving Manalapan and attorney Stuart Moskovitz, "da Truth Squad" is Moskovitz himself.

In his own brief on the issue, Moskovitz denies he is "da Truth Squad" and says he does not know who "da Truth Squad" is. Moskovitz referred to McCarthy's claim of his being "da Truth Squad" as "false, outlandish, insupportable (sic) and sanctionable."

"I am not 'da Truth Squad.' I don't even know who 'da Truth Squad' is," Moskovitz wrote in his brief.

McCarthy is the special counsel retained by Manalapan to represent the township in a malpractice complaint against Moskovitz.

Moskovitz was Manalapan's municipal attorney in 2005 and the township claims in its legal action that his negligence caused the township to purchase contaminated property near the Manalapan Recreation Center.

Moskovitz has denied that he was negligent in preparing a contract of sale for the property.

In his brief, McCarthy directly asserts that Moskovitz is the anonymous Internet blogger, stating, " … Defendant (Moskovitz) has also discussed the various aspects of this matter on his Internet blog, 'da Truth Squad.' "

The blog known as da Truth Squad is hosted on blogspot.com. On the main page of the site long entries are posted - apparently by da Truth Squad him-, her- or itself - and readers may enter their own anonymous comments about those entries.

In mid-July, the da Truth Squad site administrator said technical problems would prevent reader comments from being posted, however, other blogs hosted by blogspot.com are still permitting comments to be entered by readers of those sites.

The last posting on the main page of da Truth Squad blog was dated Aug. 7. In a note to readers da Truth Squad said it would be taking a two-week vacation beginning the following week. As of Aug. 27 no new posting from da Truth Squad had been placed on the Web site.

The Aug. 7 message from da Truth Squad made reference to the fact that the week of Aug. 20 would be a busy week. Aug. 20 was the date when Manalapan's case against Moskovitz had an initial hearing in Superior Court.

In his brief, McCarthy also accused Moskovitz of defying the Rules of Professional Conduct for attorneys by attempting to go directly to township officials regarding his demands in the matter instead of contacting either McCarthy or attorney David Weeks, who is also representing the township.

McCarthy claims in his brief that even after Moskovitz was aware of his and Weeks' representation of the township in the matter and had been requested to "refrain from further direct communications with township officials," Moskovitz continued his "campaign of coercion and threats," referring to a demand for indemnification he made more than once to Township Administrator Tara Lovrich.

In the first public hearing in the matter held Aug. 20, Superior Court Judge Richard W. English, sitting in Freehold, told Moskovitz he may submit further arguments to the court as to why he believes he is entitled to indemnification from Manalapan against any attempted litigation related to the performance of his duties as township attorney in 2005.

Explaining to English why he believes Moskovitz is not entitled to indemnification under the New Jersey Tort Claims Act which limits the right to sue public officials, McCarthy wrote in his brief, "The principle at issue here is simple: an attorney representing a public entity must be accountable for his actions to that public entity and the citizens it governs. It is contrary to public policy and indeed common sense for defendant (Moskovitz) to imply that the township shall have no recourse against defendant when he fails to act reasonably in executing his legal obligations on behalf of the township."

McCarthy also asserts in his brief that Moskovitz's communications with township officials contain "increasingly volatile threats and intimidation" and asked that Moskovitz be barred from "direct communications with township officials other than counsel."

McCarthy goes on to state, "Defendant (Moskovitz) further uses the blog to accuse various township officials of improper motives and repeatedly threaten the township with a retaliatory lawsuit," and that Moskovitz's writings on "da Truth Squad," "betray a mental instability and dangerous fixation on elected and appointed township officials."

In his brief Moskovitz wrote, "This court should demand that Mr. McCarthy come forward with any basis he has for alleging - not that he 'thinks' I 'might be' 'da Truth Squad,' - but that unequivocally I am 'da Truth Squad.' In that Mr. McCarthy has peppered his brief on such an absurd and pointless allegation, I would ask that this court demand that Mr. McCarthy present his proofs of such statements made to this court or face sanctions for intentionally deceiving this court."

Moskovitz referred to a statement contained in McCarthy's brief. Notes Moskovitz, referring to McCarthy's statement, " … Mr. McCarthy, attributing definitively the postings of 'da Truth Squad' as mine, states, "defendant's (Moskovitz) writings are the agitated ramblings of a seemingly unstable person."

Moskovitz wrote, "They are not, of course, my writings. It may be that they are indeed the ramblings of a seemingly unstable person. I would have no way of knowing."

Moskovitz posited in his brief that Mc- Carthy himself way well be "da Truth Squad" when he included in his brief the statement, "Frankly what seems more credible at this point is that Mr. Mc- Carthy is himself 'da Truth Squad' and has fabricated those postings for the sole purpose of accusing me of making them."