Georgia Election Workers Accuse Giuliani of Unfair Bankruptcy Tactics
Two Georgia election workers, Ruby Freeman and Shaye Moss, who won a nearly $150 million judgment against Rudy Giuliani, have accused the former Trump lawyer and New York mayor of unfairly taking advantage of the bankruptcy system. They tried to collect on what they were owed, but Giuliani's filing for bankruptcy has given him a pause from paying his debts. The election workers' lawyers have criticized Giuliani's tactics as an impermissible litigation tactic from an actor with a history of engaging the judicial system in bad faith.
Giuliani's Bankruptcy Tactics
Two Georgia election workers, Ruby Freeman and Shaye Moss, who recently won a nearly $150 million judgment against Rudy Giuliani, have accused the former Trump lawyer and New York mayor of unfairly taking advantage of the bankruptcy system. In a court filing on Thursday, they alleged that Giuliani's filing for bankruptcy has given him an immediate pause from having to pay debts he owes. The two election workers, in their pursuit to collect what they were owed, targeted Giuliani's assets in New York and Florida soon after the jury returned the defamation damages verdict against him last month.
However, Giuliani's filing for bankruptcy has allowed him to seek protection from paying his debts. This has also put a halt on their efforts to collect the judgment. Additionally, Giuliani is looking to appeal the jury verdict in proceedings outside of bankruptcy court, which would require permission from the bankruptcy judge. The lawyers for Freeman and Moss criticized Giuliani's approach, stating that all he needed to do to appeal the litigation was not file for chapter 11 protection. They described Giuliani's tactics as a flawed and impermissible litigation tactic from an actor with a history of engaging the judicial system in bad faith.
They further called Giuliani's tactics an attempt to muster 'a shield to hold off creditors' and 'a sword to gut their legal rights.' This indicates their dissatisfaction with Giuliani's actions following their win against him and highlights the challenges they are facing in collecting the judgment they are owed.
Legal Battle and Defamation Verdict
The legal battle between the election workers and Giuliani has escalated following the defamation damages verdict. A judge in Washington, DC’s federal district court found Giuliani had defamed the two women, sending him to trial on damages. After hearing testimony from Freeman, Moss, and experts, a DC jury awarded the extraordinary sum for the harm he did to them.
The lawyers for Freeman and Moss highlighted the irony of Giuliani seeking help from the court to appeal the verdict after not responding to many of their demands for information in the lead-up to trial. They emphasized that Giuliani's failure to respond to their subpoenas seeking his financial information and electronic data led to the case going to trial quickly, without them being able to ascertain a complete picture of Giuliani’s worth.
Furthermore, the filing notes that Giuliani continued to defame them, even after the trial, by repeating the falsehood that they counted fraudulent votes in the 2020 presidential election. This ongoing defamation adds to the complexity and intensity of the legal battle between the election workers and Giuliani.
Implications and Conclusion
The implications of Giuliani's bankruptcy filing and subsequent actions are significant for the election workers seeking to collect the judgment they are owed. The filing of bankruptcy has provided Giuliani with a shield against paying his debts, while also creating hurdles for the election workers in their pursuit of justice.
The legal battle and ongoing defamation have further intensified the dispute, adding layers of complexity and challenges for the election workers. The continued defamation by Giuliani has also raised concerns about the impact on the reputation and well-being of Freeman and Moss.
In conclusion, the legal battle between the election workers and Giuliani continues to unfold, with Giuliani's bankruptcy tactics and ongoing defamation adding to the intricacies of the case. The pursuit of justice and the implications of Giuliani's actions remain central to the resolution of this high-profile dispute.
