Giuliani turns over some items to defamed Ga. election workers

NEW YORK - Rudy Giuliani has relinquished dozens of watches and a Mercedes once owned by movie star Lauren Bacall to two former Georgia election workers who won a $148 million defamation judgment, his lawyer said.

In December, Giuliani was found liable for defaming Ruby Freeman and her daughter Wandrea “Shaye” Moss after he wrongly claimed they engaged in covert and nefarious activities while counting ballots during the 2020 election at State Farm Arena. Freeman and Moss received death threats and had to move away from Georgia at the recommendation of federal authorities.

Giuliani attorney Joseph Cammarata said in a letter filed late Friday in Manhattan federal court that the trove of watches and a ring were delivered by FedEx to a bank in Atlanta, Georgia, in the morning.

The 1980 Mercedes-Benz SL 500 was turned over at an address in Hialeah, Florida, and an undisclosed amount of funds from Giuliani’s Citibank s were also surrendered to the two women who won the judgment, according to the letter.

But Cammarata argued that forcing Giuliani to relinquish his luxury vehicle was “wholly improper” as the car should have been appraised first.

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If the value of the Mercedes turned out to be less than $5,500, then it should be exempt from the judgment under law, he argued in the letter.

If it’s determined to be worth more than that, then it should be auctioned off, with some of the proceeds going to the two women: Ruby Freeman and her daughter, Wandrea “Shaye” Moss.

“This is how the proper enforcement of these assets should work,” Cammarata wrote in bolded text. “Just ordering the vehicle to be turned over to the Plaintiffs without any appraisal has taken away Defendant’s statutory and constitutional rights.”

The letter also goes on to argue that some of Giuliani’s other possessions should also be exempt from the judgment under New York and Florida law.

That includes all apparel — even a shirt signed by New York Yankees legend Joe DiMaggio that is part of the judgment — and all household furniture, as well as a refrigerator, radio receiver, television set, computer, cellphone, tableware and cooking utensils, the letter stated.

Cammarata noted there are also legal exemptions for jewelry with a value under $1,325 — meaning his watches and other items should also get appraised — and for “tools of trade,” including “professional instruments, furniture and library” items that don’t exceed $4,075 in value.

It’s not immediately clear what else Giuliani surrendered to meet Friday’s deadline. Aaron Nathan, a lawyer for the two women, declined to comment.

Giuliani’s legal team wants out of case

Earlier this week, attorneys representing Giuliani filed motions to withdraw from a defamation case brought by two former Fulton County election workers.

On Wednesday, the attorneys representing Giuliani in the lawsuit, Kenneth Caruso and David Labkowski, filed motions to withdraw from his defense.

In his motion, Caruso cited a professional conduct rule in New York state that says a lawyer may withdraw from representing a client when the client: “insists upon taking action with which the lawyer has a fundamental disagreement;” or “insists upon presenting a claim or defense that is not warranted under existing law and cannot be ed by good faith argument for an extension, modification, or reversal of existing law;” or when “the client fails to cooperate in the representation or otherwise renders the representation unreasonably difficult for the lawyer to carry out employment effectively.”

The court document filed by Labkowski says he reviewed Caruso’s motion and agrees with it. The judge has yet to rule on their requests.