A U.S District Court Judge has denied former New York mayor, Rudolph Giuliani’s efforts to overturn a $148 million judgment levied against him for defamation charges against two Georgia poll workers he accused of rigging the 2020 Presidential Election. The substantial judgment sought by Giuliani to be invalidated is one of the largest in a defamation case.
Judge Beryl A. Howell dismissed Giuliani’s plea to reverse her earlier ruling and override the jury verdict that found him liable for defamation and intentional infliction of emotional distress towards the Georgia poll workers. Giuliani had argued for a new trial or reduction of the award, but Howell was not moved,
The judge strongly criticised Giuliani’s “threadbare” arguments. His requests were termed inadequate and the appeal was denied, shutting down his attempt to reduce this vast debt during his ongoing bankruptcy proceedings.
Judge Howell justified the significant judgment by criticising the former mayor’s complete failure to adhere to discovery procedures and reimburse attorney fees, even after multiple opportunities provided. She concluded that any attempt to relitigate would yield the same result.
The judgment followed Giuliani’s repeated and unfounded allegations of extensive voter fraud in the 2020 Presidential election, specifically targeting Ruby Freeman and Shaye Moss, two poll workers from Georgia.
In an effort to manage the substantial debt, Giuliani filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in December in the U.S Bankruptcy Court for the Southern District of New York immediately after the judgment was awarded. He reported having $10.6 million in assets against almost $153 million in debts.
The former mayor continues to contend in bankruptcy court to keep his $3.5 million Palm Beach condo off the market. Meanwhile, he plans to sell his Manhattan property, estimated to be worth around $5.6 million.
The legal representatives for Freeman and Moss are from Willkie Farr & Gallagher LLP, while Giuliani is represented by Camara & Sibley LLP. The ongoing case is referred to as Freeman v. Giuliani.