Giuliani settles dispute with Georgia election workers he defamed
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Rudy Giuliani leaves the New York Federal Courthouse on Nov. 7, 2024. Photo: Alex Kent/Getty Images
Rudy Giuliani reached a settlement Thursday with the two Georgia election workers he defamed and owed $148 million in damages to, per a court filing.
The big picture: The former New York City mayor, who will now avoid trial, has been in litigation with Ruby Freeman and Shaye Moss over which of his properties and belongings to hand over to them as part of the damages he was ordered to pay more than a year ago.
Driving the news: The trial to determine whether ownership of Giuliani's Florida condominium and three World Series rings would satisfy the damages he owed was supposed to start Thursday.
- Giuliani did not show up to court, AP reports.
- Details of the settlement were not immediately disclosed.
Zoom in: Giuliani said in a post on X that he was able to retain his New York and Florida homes and all of his personal belongings.
- He added that the "resolution does not involve an admission of liability or wrongdoing" by either party and that he's "satisfied with and have no grievances relating to the result we have reached."
- Giuliani said he and the plaintiffs "have agreed not to ever talk about each other in any defamatory manner, and I urge others to do the same."
What they're saying: Freeman and Moss said in a statement that "the past four years have been a living nightmare" and called Thursday's settlement "a major milestone."
- They added: "We have reached an agreement and we can now move forward with our lives. We have agreed to allow Mr. Giuliani to retain his property in exchange for compensation and his promise not to ever defame us."
Zoom out: Giuliani was held in contempt of court twice last week for continuing to defame Freeman and Moss, who are mother and daughter.
Context: Freeman and Moss accused Giuliani in a December 2021 lawsuit of making repeated false claims that they committed ballot fraud so President Biden would win the election.
- In August 2023, a judge ruled Giuliani was liable for defamation, civil conspiracy and intentional infliction of emotional distress caused to the mother and daughter. A jury in December 2023 ordered him to pay $148 million in damages to poll workers.
- Guiliani sought bankruptcy protection, but a federal judge in N.Y. dismissed the case in July.
Go deeper: Giuliani found in contempt of court a second time in Georgia defamation case
Editor's note: This story has been updated with additional statements.
