In a remarkable decision, a jury in Washington, DC, told Rudy Giuliani to pay two election workers in Atlanta an incredible $148.1 million. This is one of the most important decisions for people who want to hold people accountable for trying to change the results of the 2020 election. Ruby Freeman and her daughter Shaye Moss shared harrowing stories of the threats and abuse they faced after Giuliani falsely accused them of election theft in Georgia.
The trial lasted four days and was very exciting. Both women, who are black, told heartbreaking stories about why they had to run away, how scared they were all the time, and how much mental pain they are still feeling. For each claim, their lawyers asked for at least $24 million in damages, which Giuliani’s lawyer called a possible “death penalty” and “the end of Mr. Giuliani.”
Rudy Giuliani Hit with $148.1M Verdict in Defamation Case: A Landmark Ruling
The huge amounts of money that were given as losses include nearly $16.2 million for Freeman and $17 million for Moss. Each lady was also given $20 million for intentionally causing mental pain, and they were each given an outrageous $75 million in punitive damages. It looks like Giuliani will have to pay an extra $275,000 in attorney fees.
“Today’s a good day,” Freeman said after the decision to show her appreciation. That Rudy Giuliani was held responsible for what he did to me and my daughter was something I’m grateful for. She did say, though, that the trip was far from over and that those who spread lies about them would also have to deal with the results.
Although others have changed their minds, Giuliani has not. He has repeated their false claims about Freeman and Moss and said that he has proof to back up his claims. He said that the amount that was granted was ridiculous and that he was going to appeal the decision. He was sure that a fair court would quickly reject it.
This case is a good example of how the slander law is becoming a powerful way to fight the fake news that has been spreading since the 2020 election. Dominion, a company that sells voting machines, settled with Fox earlier this year for a huge $787 million in a slander case. Freeman and Moss are still suing the Gateway Pundit. Defamation laws are being used more and more by civil rights groups to fight fake stories.
The main thing that helped people try to change the Georgia election results was Giuliani’s false charges against the two women. Georgia officials told him his claims were not true, but Giuliani kept sharing the false story. As a result, Freeman and Moss received racist and violent messages through a variety of channels.
Giuliani’s defense plan was to put some space between himself and the abuse and threats that followed. He said that the damages asked for were too high compared to the harm the plaintiffs had experienced. But the jury’s large amount of damage sent a strong message about how important it is to hold powerful people responsible when they make false accusations.
The lawsuits weren’t just about getting money; they were also about repairing Freeman and Moss’s damaged identities and sending a strong message to powerful people that false accusations will not be ignored.
The points of view expressed in this piece are the writer’s own dailyguidelines.