The public downfall of Rudy Giuliani, former New York City mayor-turned-longtime Trump ally, continues.
Now, Giuliani is facing a lawsuit over what allegedly totals $1.36 million in unpaid legal fees stemming from legal representation held by the former mayor throughout an array of the legal troubles he’s faced in recent years. Giuliani had that representation — from lawyer Robert Costello, who with his firm is behind the lawsuit — through civil litigation, attorney discipline proceedings that culminated in suspensions of his abilities to practice law in New York and Washington, D.C., and some of the investigations he’s faced related to his role on the Trump team after the 2020 election, trying to help Trump secure another term despite losing.
Costello is with the firm Davidoff Hutcher & Citron LLP, and the new case was filed in the state court system in New York. The Associated Press had a statement from Rudy, and he didn’t sound thrilled. “I can’t express how personally hurt I am by what Bob Costello has done,” Giuliani said. “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 is also facing what could end up being huge financial penalties in a defamation lawsuit brought by two former Georgia election workers who were named in baseless conspiracy theories from Giuliani, Trump, and others alleging widespread election fraud. A judge recently issued a default judgment against Giuliani amid documented failures on his part to comply with the discovery process, during which he was expected to produce documentation relevant to the case. Now, the dispute is heading to trial only on the question of the amount of financial damages to impose. Giuliani is also the target of a lawsuit alleging sexual misconduct and unpaid wages, and he was earlier this year attempting to sell a Manhattan apartment of his — perhaps to raise funds to cover some of what he’s facing.
