Rudy Giuliani sued by own lawyer for $1.3m in unpaid fees | Rudy Giuliani | The Guardian
By: Robert J (the Guardian)
S E E D E D C O N T E N T
Former New York mayor-turned Trump attorney reportedly facing financial problems as he defends against multiple legal threats
The New York mayor-turned-Donald Trump attorney Rudy Giuliani has been sued by his own lawyer, who seeks more than $1.3m in outstanding fees.
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"This action simply seeks payment of an outstanding bill for legal services rendered by plaintiffs in the amount of $1,360,196.10," said a lawsuit filed in New York state supreme court on Monday by Robert J Costello, of Davidoff Hutcher & Citron.
The suit, which also seeks interest and costs, is the latest heavy blow for Giuliani, whose proliferating legal troubles arising from work for Trump - prominently including efforts to overturn the 2020 election - have left him by his own lawyers' account struggling to deal with spiraling bills.
In a statement, Giuliani said: "I can't express how personally hurt I am by what Bob Costello has done. It's a real shame when lawyers do things like this, and all I will say is that their bill is way in excess to anything approaching legitimate fees."
Giuliani, 79, and Costello, 75, are long-term associates, having been federal prosecutors together in New York in the 1970s.
Giuliani was mayor of New York between 1993 and 2001, leaving office in the aftermath of the 9/11 attacks. Becoming known as "America's mayor", he briefly led the Republican presidential primary in 2008 before crashing out of the race.
He made millions in speaking and consulting fees in the years after 9/11 but his closeness to Trump has proved particularly costly.
When Trump became president, Giuliani sought a cabinet appointment. Missing out, he stayed close as the ex-president's personal lawyer. His work in Ukraine - seeking dirt on political opponents - contributed to Trump's first impeachment. His work on Trump's attempt to overturn his electoral defeat by Joe Biden in 2020 has contributed to his own legal jeopardy and financial distress.
Like Trump, Giuliani has pleaded not guilty to 13 racketeering and conspiracy counts in Georgia. In the same state, Giuliani was found liable for defaming two election workers.
Among other troubles, he faces a $10m lawsuit from a former assistant who alleges offenses including abuse of power, wage theft, sexual assault and harassment. The DC Bar Association has recommended Giuliani be disbarred.
The suit filed on Monday said Costello worked on matters including "representing the defendant while he was being criminally investigated by the US attorney for the southern district of New York, representing the defendant during a pending criminal investigation in Georgia … representing the defendant during a pending criminal investigation by special counsel Jack Smith regarding the January 6 attack on the US Capitol, and representing the defendant during a pending investigation by the US House select committee to investigate the January 6 attack on the US Capitol".
Giuliani, the suit said, also "directed plaintiffs to supervise more than 10 civil lawsuits … in various state and federal courts as well as participating in representing the defendant in disciplinary proceedings regarding his law license in the District of Columbia and the first department of New York".
Giuliani had paid $214,000 of the total $1,574,196.10 bill, the suit said.
Trump recently hosted a fundraiser to help Giuliani. But the former mayor's lawyers have said he is struggling, former donors have reportedly deserted him, and his luxury New York apartment was recently put up for sale.
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Using the Trump defense.
He owes Mr Costello money! Does he really think he doesn't have to pay his bills?
Seems that he has the Trump mindset.
It takes a special kind of arrogance (and stupidity) to think one doesn't have to pay his bills
Monkey see monkey do.
Certainly, Rudy has a special kind of arrogance as proven by his own words.
Exactly.
rudy won't be needing any money where he's going to end up...
He's going to need some money for the commissary
Well there are the commissary charges for soup, smokes and candy bars one has to factor in.
maybe he'll be doing some prison pro bono work...
Pretty sure I'd hire some prison library lawyer instead. Rudy could get a guy death row for jaywalking.
He will countersue with the clain of "Emotional Distress"
Stress of his own making
That definitely sounds like something he would try, Thomas.
For sure, a long fall from grace for ''The Mayor''.
He had such potential. He used to be the US Attorney for the Southern District and now they want to prosecute him.
Oh how the mighty have fallen. He's a disgrace now.
They're all victims of their own making, I feel no sympathy whatsoever for any of them who hitched their wagon to the former 'president' traitor.
That's what happens when one becomes a Trumpist
The Republican Party is infested with lousy lawyers.
That certainly seems to be the case, Hallux.
The republican party is infested with lawyers who are criminals.
Please share your stats, not just your bias.
Rudy was a national hero after 9-11, if he had stayed on the speaker circuit like the Clintons, he would be leading the good life.
That is true, he fell victim to the ''power'' syndrome.
Ego and self importance has brought many a man down.
Without a doubt.