Lawyers representing former Trump campaign attorney Rudy Giuliani are seeking to withdraw from a lawsuit related to a massive defamation judgment against him in New York federal court. The move comes after the judge in the case threatened to hold Giuliani in contempt of court if he failed to surrender personal property to satisfy part of the $146 million judgment in favor of two Georgia election workers he defamed after the 2020 election while representing then-President Donald Trump.
In a filing on Wednesday night, Giuliani’s lawyer Kenneth Caruso wrote that he and co-counsel David Labkowski had significant disagreements with Giuliani on how to handle the case. The grounds for seeking to withdraw include Giuliani insisting on taking actions with which the lawyers fundamentally disagree and presenting a claim or defense that is not warranted under existing law. Additionally, Giuliani’s failure to cooperate in the representation made it unreasonably difficult for the lawyers to effectively handle the case.
Some paragraphs of the motion are redacted in the publicly available copy of the document, as Caruso sought to avoid disclosing confidential information or material that could be detrimental to Giuliani if disclosed. While Giuliani’s spokesman claimed that the former mayor was not informed of the lawyers’ decision to withdraw, the ongoing legal battle highlights the repercussions of his false claims about voter fraud in Georgia.
Giuliani falsely accused Ruby Freeman and Wandrea Moss of committing ballot fraud at a Georgia vote-counting site, leading to a defamation lawsuit filed by the women. A federal judge issued a default judgment against Giuliani in August 2023 after he failed to comply with orders to turn over evidence. The trial jury later awarded the women $146 million in damages, but Giuliani has been accused of stonewalling efforts to surrender the personal items required to satisfy the judgment.
The potential implications of Giuliani’s legal troubles on the industry and consumers remain to be seen, but the case serves as a cautionary tale about the consequences of spreading false information. As the legal battle continues, it raises questions about accountability, ethics, and the role of lawyers in navigating contentious legal disputes. The developments in the case will be closely monitored as it unfolds, shaping the future of Giuliani’s legal defense and the impact on his reputation.
