Will the Georgia Election Workers Receive Any of Rudy Giuliani's $148 Million Award?
Rudy Giuliani ordered to pay $148 million in damages to Georgia election workers he defamed after the 2020 presidential election
Rudy Giuliani has been ordered to pay nearly $150 million in damages to former Georgia election workers Ruby Freeman and Shaye Moss, whom he defamed following the 2020 presidential election. However, the big question remains: will Freeman and Moss actually receive any of that money from this major jury award?
Giuliani, the ex-New York mayor and former attorney for Donald Trump, has promised to appeal the jury's decision. Throughout the trial, he and his legal team emphasized his lack of funds to cover his debts, but the exact extent of his wealth remains uncertain.
In court, attorneys for Freeman and Moss revealed that they had attempted to ascertain Giuliani's net worth. However, due to his lack of response to their subpoenas, they were unable to determine an exact figure.
Rudy Giuliani arrives to the US District Court for his defamation case brought by two Fulton County election workers in Washington, DC, on December 14.
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Rudy Giuliani ordered to pay nearly $150M to two Georgia election workers he defamed
Giuliani's spokesperson refused to comment on his financial situation on Friday. Attorney John Langford stated on CNN's "OutFront" that they are determined to ensure that Moss and Freeman receive all the money that Giuliani owes them, and they are exploring all available options to obtain the owed funds.
Langford stated that they intend to rapidly pursue a final judgment in order to pursue Giuliani's assets in other jurisdictions.
Former Department of Defense special counsel Ryan Goodman informed Burnett that it is probable that the election workers will only recover a small portion of the awarded amount. He added that the total judgment is unlikely to be collected, and estimated that only a fraction of the amount, possibly amounting to millions, may be recovered, depending on Giuliani's assets.
Giuliani has been ordered to pay substantial amounts in damages to several individuals for defamation and emotional distress. Despite these penalties, he has already accumulated significant unpaid fines and debts to various attorneys, and has not paid outstanding phone bills.
Occasionally, he has received assistance, including from Trump, in his efforts to raise money to address some of his debts. In addition, he was able to fly on a private plane to his arrest on criminal charges related to 2020 election interference in Georgia this past summer.
Giuliani put his three-bedroom Manhattan apartment up for sale a few months ago. It is still available for purchase at $6.1 million, as indicated by public real estate listings.
After his participation in the Sandy Hook defamation trial at Connecticut Superior Court in Waterbury, Connecticut, U.S., on October 4, 2022, Infowars creator Alex Jones talks to the press.
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Judge rules Alex Jones cant use bankruptcy to avoid paying $1.1B to Sandy Hook families
It is uncertain if Giuliani could use bankruptcy to protect himself from paying damages in the lawsuit. This matter may need to be resolved by the courts later on, as suggested by those familiar with the case. Even if he declares bankruptcy, there is a possibility that he could still be responsible for the damages awarded to Moss and Freeman by the jury.
The courts have faced a similar issue in a separate high-profile defamation case involving the families of Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting victims and far-right personality Alex Jones.
Jones declared bankruptcy in an attempt to avoid paying nearly $1.5 billion to the families of shooting victims, but a judge ruled that he could not use bankruptcy to evade the payment. Even if Giuliani were to file for bankruptcy, Goodman explained that the judgment against him would still stand and he would have to pay the families regardless.
"He's facing trouble, and it's just a matter of how many assets he has. Does he own multimillion-dollar apartments here and there? And then it becomes a question of them versus other creditors," he stated. Freeman shared with the media outside the federal courthouse in Washington that her life has been permanently altered.
She expressed her desire for people to understand that, "Money will never solve all of my problems." She acknowledged that she can never return to the house she once called home and will always have to be cautious about her surroundings and the company she keeps. "I miss my home. I miss my neighbors and I miss my name."
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During an interview with CNN's Jake Tapper on "The Lead," Ken Frydman, who served as a spokesperson for Giuliani during his 1993 mayoral campaign, stated that although it is unlikely Giuliani will be able to cover the full judgment, "it sends a message and establishes a precedent for the other defamation cases."
Frydman stated, "We all know he won't be able to afford that even if they garnish his wages, but it's definitely a victory for the plaintiffs."
Giuliani, on the other hand, stated that he intends to appeal.
"The sheer ridiculousness of the amount only serves to highlight the nonsensical nature of the entire trial," he informed the press, in reference to the sum he was instructed to hand over.
Nevertheless, he remained firm in his defamatory remarks about Moss and Freeman, once again failing to provide any evidence to support his accusations.
"I have no doubt that my comments were made and they were supportable and they are supportable today," Giuliani said.
