Giuliani Appeals $148 Million Defamation Verdict
Rudy Giuliani, former personal attorney to President Trump, has appealed a jury’s verdict to pay $148 million to two Georgia election workers for defaming them after the 2020 election.
Filing for Bankruptcy
Days after the verdict was handed down in December, Giuliani filed for bankruptcy, effectively freezing the election workers’ case and their attempts to collect the substantial sum. Giuliani’s bankruptcy judge recently unfroze the defamation case, allowing his attorney to proceed with the appeal.
Formal Notice of Appeal
Late Tuesday, Giuliani formally filed a notice of appeal in response to the jury’s decision.
“We very much appreciate the judge’s expeditious consideration of this matter and look forward to proceeding accordingly,” said Ted Goodman, political advisor to Giuliani.
A jury composed of residents of Washington, D.C., ordered Giuliani to pay the two election workers, Ruby Freeman and Shaye Moss, $148 million. These workers became center-stage of the Trump campaign’s unfounded claims of mass voter fraud during the 2020 presidential election.
Falsehoods and Allegations
Giuliani spread falsehoods accusing Freeman and Moss of mass voter fraud. These allegations primarily focused on video footage that showed them working at Atlanta’s State Farm Arena on election night.
During the trial, Freeman and Moss testified, sharing their accounts of how the accusations from Giuliani and other Trump allies led to their lives being upended by racist and violent threats.
Judgment as a Matter of Law
Giuliani has renewed his motion for judgment as a matter of law, claiming that the statements in question were protected opinion under the First Amendment and were not made with actual malice.
Bankruptcy and Other Creditors
Giuliani’s bankruptcy case has left his liabilities to be settled, with Freeman and Moss having the highest claim among several creditors. Other creditors include Hunter Biden, Smartmatic, Dominion, and Giuliani’s former lawyers seeking payment for unpaid legal bills.
Giuliani’s continued representation in the appeal has been approved, with his attorney being paid a flat rate of $50,000 from two third-party funds involved in Giuliani’s legal battles.
