A lawyer who for years represented Rudy Giuliani in a number of authorized issues sued him on Monday.
Robert Costello and his agency, Davidoff Hutcher & Citron LLP, allege within the swimsuit that the previous New York Metropolis mayor owes them almost $1.4 million.
The lawsuit claims Costello and the agency represented Giuliani throughout prison investigations by the U.S. Legal professional for the Southern District of New York, the Fulton County District Legal professional’s Workplace, particular counsel Jack Smith and in the course of the U.S. Home Jan. 6 committee’s investigation.
Costello and the legislation agency additionally declare to have been concerned with litigation surrounding greater than 10 lawsuits filed towards Giuliani “in numerous state and federal courts in addition to collaborating in representing the Defendant in disciplinary proceedings concerning his legislation license within the District of Columbia” and New York.
Giuliani criticized the swimsuit and Costello, who has been a confidant and supporter of the previous mayor for many years, in an announcement to CBS Information.
“I am unable to specific how personally damage I’m by what Bob Costello has carried out,” Giuliani mentioned. “It is an actual disgrace when attorneys do issues like this, and all I’ll say is that their invoice is approach in extra to something approaching reliable charges.”
Informed of Giuliani’s remark, Costello mentioned in a textual content message to CBS Information, “How can he take a private affront when he owes my agency $1.4 million? For nearly 4 years he obtained payments and by no means complained (and by no means paid).”
“He solely mentioned they have been extreme once we instructed him we might sue. It is too late for that frivolous declare as he’ll discover out in courtroom,” Costello mentioned. “I am sorry he took the low street right here as a result of he’s feeling determined.”
The lawsuit claims Giuliani has paid $214,000 of a $1,574,196.10 tab accrued since signing a retainer settlement with Costello in 2019. His most up-to-date cost was $10,000 on Sept. 14, based on the swimsuit.
In February, Costello sued Steve Bannon for unpaid authorized payments. Bannon, the previous White Home chief strategist to former President Donald Trump, was ordered by a New York choose in July to pay Costello’s agency almost $500,000.
In March, Costello was briefly the main target of intense scrutiny when attorneys for Trump requested he be known as earlier than a grand jury in Manhattan that was closing in on what would turn into the primary ever indictment of a former president. Costello later instructed CBS Information and different shops that he sought to painting the case’s key witness, former Trump lawyer Michael Cohen, as a liar on a “revenge tour.”
He was with Giuliani in late April for a gathering at Mar-a-Lago, searching for Trump’s assist with Giuliani’s rising monetary burden stemming from authorized charges.
Costello led Giuliani’s effort to acquire native counsel earlier than being interviewed by a particular function grand jury in Fulton County, Georgia, in 2022, however he was not concerned in the same effort after Giuliani was indicted alongside Trump and 17 others on August 15, he confirmed to CBS Information that month.
Giuliani, Trump and their co-defendants have entered not responsible pleas within the case, by which they’re accused of operating a “prison enterprise” of their efforts to thwart Georgia’s 2020 presidential election outcomes after the state swung for President Joe Biden.
Giuliani and Trump have denied any wrongdoing within the case.
Trump hosted a $100,000 per plate fundraiser in assist of Giuliani on Sept. 7 at his nation membership in Bedminster, New Jersey. It’s unclear how a lot the occasion raised for Giuliani personally, however his son, Andrew Giuliani, mentioned on a radio present earlier than the occasion that he anticipated to usher in at the least $1 million.
Giuliani’s New York Metropolis condominium is on the market, at present listed by Sotheby’s for $6.5 million.
