A federal judge dismissed Rudolph W. Giuliani’s bankruptcy case on Friday, leaving the former New York City mayor without legal protection from his creditors.
The ruling was expected. Judge Sean H. Lane of the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Southern District of New York said earlier this week that he was leaning in the direction of a dismissal. He said that Mr. Giuliani, who served as former President Donald J. Trump’s personal lawyer, had ignored court filing deadlines and evaded questions about his finances.
It was also an outcome sought by Mr. Giuliani, who this week asked the court to dismiss his case to avoid the appointment of a trustee who would take over his finances, a request from his creditors that the judge was considering.
“Mr. Giuliani has failed to provide an accurate and complete picture of his financial affairs in the six months that this case has been pending,” Judge Lane wrote in the dismissal order. “Transparency into Mr. Giuliani’s finances has proven to be an elusive goal.”
Mr. Giuliani owes 20 people and businesses nearly $153 million. Without bankruptcy protections, his creditors can pursue foreclosures, and lawsuits against him that have been on hold can move forward.
Most of what Mr. Giuliani owes is to Ruby Freeman and Shaye Moss, two Georgia election workers he was found to have defamed in the aftermath of the 2020 election.
