Background of the Case
Ruby Freeman and her daughter, Wandrea “Shaye” Moss, former Georgia election workers, are opposing Rudy Giuliani’s attempt to convert his bankruptcy into a liquidation. This follows their victory in a $148 million defamation judgment against Giuliani, who targeted them amid false claims about the 2020 election. Giuliani’s actions led to severe harassment and threats against Freeman and Moss.
Status Hearing Highlights
During a status hearing on Zoom before U.S. Bankruptcy Judge Sean Lane in White Plains, New York, the plaintiffs’ attorneys voiced strong objections. Philip Dublin, representing Giuliani’s creditors, and Rachel Strickland, representing Freeman and Moss, accused Giuliani of failing to comply with bankruptcy laws and court orders. They expressed intentions to seek dismissal of the bankruptcy case at a hearing scheduled for July 10.
Allegations of Bad Faith
“Our view is we do not have a good-faith debtor. He has misbehaved every step of the way,” Dublin said, criticizing Giuliani’s conduct during the bankruptcy proceedings. Strickland echoed these sentiments, highlighting Giuliani’s alleged use of underhanded litigation tactics to delay the process. “We think that the conversion request (to liquidation) just underscores the bad-faith approach, and don’t think that this is a party that should be allowed to exploit the bankruptcy process any longer,” she added.
Giuliani’s Response and Legal Maneuvers
Gary Fischoff, Giuliani’s bankruptcy lawyer, did not directly address the allegations in court but asserted Giuliani’s right to convert the case to Chapter 7 liquidation. This conversion would appoint a trustee to manage and sell off Giuliani’s assets to pay creditors. If the case is dismissed, Freeman and Moss could pursue their judgment in Washington, D.C., avoiding further legal fees for bankruptcy court.
Implications of the Pending Judgment
Freeman and Moss have a pending request to ensure the $148 million judgment remains non-dischargeable in Giuliani’s bankruptcy. This would prevent Giuliani from escaping the financial consequences of the defamation case through bankruptcy.
Broader Legal Challenges for Giuliani
Giuliani’s bankruptcy is part of a larger array of legal issues he faces nationwide. Notably, he was recently disbarred as an attorney in New York due to his repeated false statements about the 2020 election.
