Rudy Giuliani must surrender control of his Manhattan apartment, luxury watches, and other valuable assets to two Georgia election workers whom he was previously found liable for defaming, according to a federal judge’s order. U.S. District Judge Lewis Liman ruled that Giuliani failed to comply with previous court directives to turn over the property, prompting the immediate transfer of ownership and control to plaintiffs Ruby Freeman and Shaye Moss.
Court Order Mandates Transfer of Apartment and Luxury Items
According to court documents filed in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York, Giuliani must relinquish his multi-million dollar co-op apartment on Manhattan’s Upper East Side. In addition to the real estate, the judgment covers a collection of luxury watches, sports memorabilia, and a 1980 Mercedes-Benz once owned by actor Lauren Bacall. Judge Liman’s order requires Giuliani to execute all necessary documents within a specified timeframe to transfer the titles and shares directly to a receivership or the plaintiffs, stripping the former New York City mayor of control over the designated assets.
Defamation Lawsuit Background and Financial Stakes
The asset transfer stems from a $148 million defamation judgment handed down against Giuliani in December 2023. A federal jury in Washington, D.C., found that Giuliani intentionally defamed Freeman and Moss, two Fulton County election workers, by falsely accusing them of manipulating ballots during the 2020 presidential election. According to court filings, Giuliani’s failure to satisfy the judgment led the plaintiffs to pursue enforcement actions in New York, targeting his remaining high-value personal and real estate holdings to recover the awarded damages.
Legal Enforcement and Receivership Mechanisms
To execute the transfer, federal courts utilize court-appointed receivers who manage the liquidation and distribution of seized property. According to legal briefs submitted in the case, the receiver holds the authority to secure the Manhattan apartment, inventory the physical items including the watches and memorabilia, and prepare them for public or private sale. Proceeds from the liquidation will be directed toward satisfying the outstanding multi-million dollar judgment owed to Freeman and Moss, while legal representatives for Giuliani continue to navigate the remainder of his bankruptcy and appellate proceedings.
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