Giuliani Ordered to Forfeit Manhattan Apt, Assets, in Georgia Defamation Suit

By: Meyer Wolfsheim

A New York judge has ruled that Rudy Giuliani must surrender various personal assets, including his high-end Manhattan apartment, to two Georgia poll workers after a defamation lawsuit concluded in their favor, Mansion Global reported. The two plaintiffs, Wandrea “Shaye” Moss and her mother, Ruby Freeman, were awarded $148 million in damages in December 2023 by a Washington, D.C., jury. This staggering sum was a response to Giuliani’s repeated, unfounded claims that Moss and Freeman tampered with Georgia’s 2020 election results.

According to court documents, Giuliani is now required to hand over his apartment, along with cash accounts, jewelry, and other valuables, as part of the payment.

While Giuliani attempted to declare Chapter 11 bankruptcy earlier in 2024, this effort was dismissed by a judge, making his assets fair game for collection. Mansion Global added that Giuliani has been actively trying to sell his luxurious Upper East Side co-op for the past year. Initially listed in late summer 2023, the property was priced at $6.1 million but was later reduced to $5.175 million in a bid to attract buyers. The apartment is located on East 66th Street, just a block from Central Park, and was last managed by Serena Boardman of Sotheby’s International Realty, who has declined to comment on the current situation.

Giuliani purchased the apartment in 2002 for around $4.8 million. The property occupies the top floor of a 10-story building constructed in 1907. It boasts classic New York charm, with a library featuring a wood-burning fireplace and sweeping views up Madison Avenue. Despite his efforts to sell, Mansion Global noted that Giuliani removed the listing from the market earlier this month, likely because of the impending court ruling that now hands ownership over to Moss and Freeman. If the pair decides to re-list, they will be responsible for hiring an agent to manage the sale.

Beyond the apartment, the judgment also requires Giuliani to relinquish additional personal items, including his 1980 Mercedes-Benz SL500, sports memorabilia, and a collection of 26 watches. Frances Katzen, a real-estate broker with Douglas Elliman, told Mansion Global that the outcome of Giuliani’s legal battles is unlikely to hurt the building’s value, viewing the publicity as a possible attraction rather than a deterrent.

Currently, a one-bedroom unit in the building is listed for $1.25 million, according to Mansion Global. However, co-ops like this one often pose challenges for potential buyers, as they tend to have stringent financial disclosure requirements and often disallow purchases through trusts or LLCs. Katzen speculates that this co-op structure, rather than Giuliani’s legal troubles, might be behind his difficulties in selling the property.

Despite the judge’s order, Giuliani’s lawyers maintain their optimism, stating that they believe the ruling will be overturned in the D.C. Court of Appeals, requiring Moss and Freeman to return all seized property. “Stay tuned,” Giuliani’s legal team told The Wall Street Journal, expressing confidence in a potential reversal that would restore ownership of his assets.

As the legal wrangling continues, the fate of Giuliani’s Manhattan co-op remains in the hands of Moss and Freeman, who, if they wish, could quickly add it back to the market. Whether or not they choose to sell, the legal outcome has left a significant mark on Giuliani’s once-prestigious Manhattan address.