Giuliani Re-ups Appeal of $148 Million Defamation Award Ruling

Rudolph Giuliani renewed his effort to overturn a $148 million judgment awarded to two Georgia poll workers he accused of rigging the 2020 presidential election.

The move comes after Giuliani lost his bid in the US District Court for the District of Columbia in April to obtain a new trial or reduce the award for election workers Ruby Freeman and her daughter Shaye Moss. Giuliani was found liable for defamation and intentional infliction of emotional distress in December.

The former New York mayor on Monday filed an amended notice of appeal of the original award as well as the April ruling.

The US Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit held off on hearing Giuliani’s initial appeal of the award in February until after the district court ruled on his request for a new trial or judgment reduction. As Giuliani continues to fight to reverse the defamation judgment in federal court, he is also looking to dismiss the debt in his Chapter 11 bankruptcy.

Freeman and Moss argued in February that the judgment can’t be tossed in Chapter 11 because bankruptcy law doesn’t allow debtors to get rid of debt accrued through “willful and malicious injury.”

The onetime adviser to former President Donald Trump filed for bankruptcy in December, days after he lost the defamation lawsuit. The $148 million judgment makes up the overwhelming majority of Giuliani’s debt in his bankruptcy.

Giuliani has said he has about $10.6 million in assets. His creditors, which include the Georgia poll workers, are working to investigate his finances.

Camara & Sibley LLP represents Giuliani.

The case is Freeman v. Giuliani, D.D.C., No. 21-cv-03354, notice of appeal 5/6/24.