Rudy Giuliani puts forward initial payment towards $148M verdict
He flips his car but intends to retain the DiMaggio jersey.
TroibNews 
NEW YORK — Rudy Giuliani surrendered a Mercedes-Benz, watches, and a ring on Friday to two Georgia election workers who successfully sued him for defamation. However, he is still resisting turning over other property to comply with a $148 million judgment against him.
This initial delivery occurs as Giuliani faces challenges with his legal representation and seeks to retain possession of some personal items. The car and additional items mark the first instances of property, other than his access to a New York City apartment, that Giuliani has been compelled to relinquish to Ruby Freeman and Shaye Moss, the duo who secured the $148 million defamation verdict against him last year. Despite beginning to comply with court directives, Giuliani continues to employ delay tactics and obfuscation, which have characterized his legal strategy.
Joseph Cammarata, an attorney for Giuliani, informed U.S. District Judge Lewis Liman that Giuliani hasn't turned over items stored in a facility due to a court-imposed restraining order. Additionally, Cammarata asserted that certain items required to be surrendered are legally exempt from transfer. For instance, he mentioned that “all wearing apparel” is exempt by law, indicating that items like a Joe DiMaggio jersey would not be included.
Freeman and Moss won their verdict after Giuliani made false accusations against them, alleging they committed election fraud during the 2020 election.
Earlier this month, Judge Liman threatened to hold Giuliani in contempt after he failed to meet a court-mandated deadline to surrender his assets. The storage facility has become a contentious point in the proceedings, as Giuliani has claimed he lacks access to it. An attorney representing Freeman and Moss informed the judge that a lawyer from the facility provided invoices and photographs indicating Giuliani had moved significant property there in October, including 24 pallets of “unknown boxes and loose furniture.” This could be a violation of a restraining notice that came into effect on August 7. Additionally, records revealed that Giuliani owed the facility nearly $100,000 as of mid-October.
Up to this week, Giuliani had been represented by attorneys Kenneth Caruso and David Labkowski. Shortly after the filing concerning the storage facility, Caruso and Labkowski submitted a request to withdraw from representing him, referencing rules that permit withdrawal based on a client’s conduct.
Their request indicated a significant disagreement with Giuliani's approach to the case, highlighting issues with his cooperation and his insistence on a defense that is “not warranted under existing law.”
Instead of promptly accepting the lawyers' request, which could have left Giuliani without legal representation just before he was supposed to surrender his property, the judge scheduled a hearing on the matter for November 26.
On Friday night, Cammarata filed a proposed order to represent Giuliani, along with a letter confirming the surrender of the car and other items. In his correspondence, Cammarata also mentioned that a trial regarding whether Giuliani attempted to shield his Palm Beach condo from creditors by falsely designating it as his “homestead” is set for January 16. The attorney requested a delay for this trial to allow Giuliani to attend the inauguration of President-elect Donald Trump and related events on January 20.
Aarav Patel for TROIB News
This initial delivery occurs as Giuliani faces challenges with his legal representation and seeks to retain possession of some personal items. The car and additional items mark the first instances of property, other than his access to a New York City apartment, that Giuliani has been compelled to relinquish to Ruby Freeman and Shaye Moss, the duo who secured the $148 million defamation verdict against him last year. Despite beginning to comply with court directives, Giuliani continues to employ delay tactics and obfuscation, which have characterized his legal strategy.
Joseph Cammarata, an attorney for Giuliani, informed U.S. District Judge Lewis Liman that Giuliani hasn't turned over items stored in a facility due to a court-imposed restraining order. Additionally, Cammarata asserted that certain items required to be surrendered are legally exempt from transfer. For instance, he mentioned that “all wearing apparel” is exempt by law, indicating that items like a Joe DiMaggio jersey would not be included.
Freeman and Moss won their verdict after Giuliani made false accusations against them, alleging they committed election fraud during the 2020 election.
Earlier this month, Judge Liman threatened to hold Giuliani in contempt after he failed to meet a court-mandated deadline to surrender his assets. The storage facility has become a contentious point in the proceedings, as Giuliani has claimed he lacks access to it. An attorney representing Freeman and Moss informed the judge that a lawyer from the facility provided invoices and photographs indicating Giuliani had moved significant property there in October, including 24 pallets of “unknown boxes and loose furniture.” This could be a violation of a restraining notice that came into effect on August 7. Additionally, records revealed that Giuliani owed the facility nearly $100,000 as of mid-October.
Up to this week, Giuliani had been represented by attorneys Kenneth Caruso and David Labkowski. Shortly after the filing concerning the storage facility, Caruso and Labkowski submitted a request to withdraw from representing him, referencing rules that permit withdrawal based on a client’s conduct.
Their request indicated a significant disagreement with Giuliani's approach to the case, highlighting issues with his cooperation and his insistence on a defense that is “not warranted under existing law.”
Instead of promptly accepting the lawyers' request, which could have left Giuliani without legal representation just before he was supposed to surrender his property, the judge scheduled a hearing on the matter for November 26.
On Friday night, Cammarata filed a proposed order to represent Giuliani, along with a letter confirming the surrender of the car and other items. In his correspondence, Cammarata also mentioned that a trial regarding whether Giuliani attempted to shield his Palm Beach condo from creditors by falsely designating it as his “homestead” is set for January 16. The attorney requested a delay for this trial to allow Giuliani to attend the inauguration of President-elect Donald Trump and related events on January 20.
Aarav Patel for TROIB News
