Former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani has been ordered by Judge Lewis Liman to transfer a significant portion of his assets, including a Manhattan apartment, 26 luxury watches, a 1980 Mercedes-Benz, and valuable sports memorabilia, to two Georgia election workers, Ruby Freeman and Wandrea Moss. This decision follows Giuliani’s loss in a defamation lawsuit, leading to a hefty judgment of $148 million against him.
In a ruling on October 22, the judge specified that Giuliani has seven days to comply with the asset transfer. However, the judge noted that Giuliani is not required to surrender three of his New York Yankees World Series championship rings or his Florida condo, as these assets are tied to separate legal matters.
Freeman and Moss, who are a mother-daughter duo, successfully sued Giuliani after he falsely accused them of committing election fraud during the 2020 presidential election. Despite the judgment, the two women have yet to receive any compensation. Giuliani, who sought bankruptcy protection after the judgment, had his application denied by the judge in July due to repeated failures to adhere to court orders and disclose his income.
The list of assets ordered to be transferred includes an estimated $5 million Manhattan apartment, a $2 million fee Giuliani claims Donald Trump owes him for services rendered during the 2020 elections, a 1980 Mercedes-Benz S500 previously owned by actress Lauren Bacall, as well as signed memorabilia from baseball legends Joe DiMaggio and Reggie Jackson, a diamond ring, jewelry, and the aforementioned 26 luxury watches.
Court documents indicate that Giuliani estimated the value of the Mercedes at around $25,000, while the watches, championship rings, and jewelry are valued at approximately $30,000. Giuliani’s request to keep a watch gifted to him by his grandfather was denied. The judge mentioned that Giuliani could have secured an exemption if he could prove the watch’s value was less than $1,000, but he failed to do so. “No matter how difficult the situation, one party cannot claim that every family heirloom should be exempt,” Liman stated.
Giuliani has appealed the $148 million judgment and has requested that the court prevent Freeman and Moss from selling any of his assets until the appeal process is completed. This request was also denied by the judge, who noted that Giuliani could have sought a ruling in federal court in Washington, D.C., where the defamation case was decided, to halt any asset sales during his appeal but chose not to do so.
