Georgia Election Workers Challenge Giuliani’s Bankruptcy Claim
Topline
The two Georgia elections workers who Rudy Giuliani was ordered to pay nearly $150 million to accused the former attorney for former President Donald Trump of abusing the bankruptcy system in a court filing Thursday, after Giuliani filed for bankruptcy the day after the defamation ruling and now is looking to appeal the ruling.
Key Facts
The pair of Georgia election workers filed an objection in Giuliani’s bankruptcy case in which Giuliani is asking to appeal the initial defamation ruling and stop the debt from being enforced.
Rachel Strickland, the lawyer for election workers Ruby Freeman and Shaye Moss, called Giuliani’s approach a “flawed, impermissible litigation tactic from an actor with a history of engaging the judicial system in bad faith,” adding there’s no legal basis for granting the relief Giuliani wants.
Last month, when Giuliani filed for bankruptcy, an automatic stay was placed on the collection of the money that he owed and as part of that bankruptcy filing Giuliani asked for an exception from that stay in order to fund a potential new trial.
Strickland argued that Giuliani has “extremely limited resources” to pay the $148 million he owes Freeman and Moss and subsequently “case efficiency is critical.”
A spokesperson for Giuliani did not immediately respond to Forbes’ request for comment.
Crucial Quote
“Through this motion, Mr. Giuliani is looking to have his cake and eat it too,” Freeman and Moss’ lawyer said in Thursday’s filing.
What To Watch For
In order for Giuliani to appeal the jury verdict in the defamation case, he will need permission from a bankruptcy judge.
Key Background
In December 2021, Freeman and Moss sued Giuliani claiming the former Trump adviser “orchestrated a sustained smear campaign” against the two election workers when he pushed a false far-right conspiracy theory that linked election workers to fraud. Among the claims Giuliani made was that the workers had been caught on camera attempting to rig the election in favor of President Joe Biden. After an investigation, the Georgia Secretary of State’s office ruled the claims were “false and unsubstantiated.” In August, a federal judge ruled Giuliani was liable for defamation. Four months later, a D.C. jury ruled the former Trump adviser had to pay Freeman and Moss $148 million for defaming them. One day later, Giuliani filed for bankruptcy, listing assets of between $1 million and $10 million and reporting $100 million to $500 million of estimated liabilities.
Further Reading
Giuliani Must Pay $148 Million In Damages For Defaming Georgia Election Workers (Forbes)
Rudy Giuliani Files For Bankruptcy Following Order To Pay $148 Million To Defamed Election Workers (Forbes)
