WATERBURY — The Kasper Group allowed former Bridgeport Mayor Joseph P. Ganim to be wined and dined on a company-issued credit card.

They provided architectural designs for the home Ganim was building in Bridgeport's Black Rock neighborhood.

Their president, Joseph Kasper Jr., picked up the tab on Ganim's $1,800 Leonard Logsdale custom-made suit and gave the ex-mayor a $20,000 cash payment for helping settle a legal dispute in Newtown.

During that same time, the now-defunct Kasper Group's accounts with the city of Bridgeport soared from $300,000 in 1996 to $5.5 million in 1999, according to a lawyer for Alex Conroy, the failed Steel Point developer.

"I don't believe that's accurate," maintained Kasper, the former president of his family's longtime architectural and engineering company.

"From 1997 to 1999, your firm did close to $10 million of work with the city," William Gallagher told Kasper. Gallagher is one of the lawyers representing Alex Conroy, who is suing Bridgeport over the failed Steel Point development project.

"I don't believe that," Kasper replied.

For more than two hours Friday, Kasper was cross-examined, redirected and re-cross-examined on his relationships with Ganim; Paul Pinto, Ganim's admitted bagman; and Alfred Lenoci Sr. and his son, Alfred Jr.; the principals of United Properties; and Conroy.

Ganim, Pinto and the Lenocis were convicted and sentenced to prison terms on federal corruption charges.

On Feb. 27, 1999, Kasper

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sold the Kasper Group to Pinto for a promised $6 million, an amount never fully paid. Kasper remained as "a figurehead" president.

Kasper's testimony ended the eighth week of the trial on Conroy's claims against the four defendants plus the city of Bridgeport and Charles Willinger Jr., a Bridgeport land-use lawyer. Conroy is seeking millions in damages.

Willinger is expected to testify when the trial resumes before Superior Court Judge Barry K. Stevens and a six-member jury at 9:30 a.m. Tuesday.

On Friday, Gallagher questioned Kasper about an American Express card he gave Pinto to pay for expenses. The card was issued in the name of Ron Rapice, Kasper's former son-in-law. "I have no knowledge of misuse," said Kasper. "I don't remember having a limit on the card."

"There were no rules on an employee using the card or spending money for a public official?" Gallagher asked.

"I don't remember," Kasper said.

Kasper said he first learned in June 2001 that Pinto was bribing the mayor. He said Pinto confessed during a luncheon meeting shortly before the latter's guilty plea.

Gallagher then asked Kasper about Pinto's role in the Kasper Group.

"Wasn't one of Paul Pinto's jobs when he was hired to do maintenance on the Lenocis? What did you mean by maintenance?" Gallagher asked.

"To make sure they were properly served by the company and their assignments were done in a reasonable amount of time," he said. "To see if he could, through their connections, develop other clients for the company."

Kasper also said he didn't know if his company ever got paid for the architectural drawings done for Ganim.

During questioning by Thomas Kanasky, Kasper's lawyer, the former company owner said he was questioned about all the allegations by Edward Adams, a former FBI special agent, in June 2001 as part of the Bridgeport corruption probe. Federal prosecutors never charged Kasper with any wrongdoing.

Regarding the $20,000 cash payment, Kasper said he suggested that amount during a 1995 dinner with Ganim and the late state Sen. Alvin Penn.

At the time, Kasper told the pair he was having problems getting approval for his family's Newtown Shopping Village development in that town. He admitted he told Ganim it would be worth "$20,000 to get that situation resolved."

"Do you know if Joe Ganim did $20,000 worth of work?" Gallagher asked.

"He told me he'd turn it over to George Ganim Jr.," Kasper said. "What I wanted done was accomplished."

Kasper said he gave the $20,000 cash payment to Pinto to give to Ganim. That occurred in the summer of 1998, after Pinto recommended the money be paid whether Ganim did the work or not because of all the projects their company was getting from the city.

"Did you ever have a retainer?" Gallagher asked.

"No," Kasper recalled.

"Ever get a bill?" Gallagher asked.

"I don't recall," Kasper replied.

"Ever issue a 1099?" Gallagher said.

"No," said Kasper, who explained that 1099s are only issued to self-employed people and this payment was to a law firm.