Ruldorf Guiliani Sued for Sexual Misconduct

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New York’s former mayor and Donald Trump’s attorney, when Trump was in office, is not without problems, and one that is currently haunting him is the accusation that he sexually assaulted a woman. Noelle Dunphy claims that when she worked as Giuliani’s business development director and public relations consultant from 2019 to 2021, he made numerous inappropriate sexual advances at her.

Dunphy’s Statements

In court documents, Dunphy claims to have served as an off-the-books employee for Rudy Giuliani during his tenure as Donald Trump’s lawyer. She alleges in a 70-page legal complaint that Giuliani coerced her into sexual activities and that he owes her nearly $2 million in unpaid wages. 

While a Giuliani spokesperson denied the allegations, Dunphy, in her lawsuit, portrays the former New York City mayor as a womanizer, asserting that satisfying his sexual demands became a requirement for her employment. 

Seeking at least $10 million in damages, Dunphy also claims to have audio recordings capturing Giuliani making sexual comments and engaging in inappropriate behavior. The lawsuit further alleges that Giuliani failed to fulfill a promised $1 million per year consulting payment, citing delays related to his divorce settlement. 

According to Dunphy, Giuliani made unwelcome sexual advances from the outset, including demanding intimate acts and requesting her to work in revealing attire during video meetings. 

Despite Giuliani’s divorce settlement in 2019, Dunphy contends she received only $12,000 in cash payments for living expenses, leaving a balance of $1,988,000 unpaid. Additionally, she accuses the mayor of reneging on a commitment to represent her for free in a legal dispute involving claims of domestic violence.

Noelle Dunphy Engages Abrams Fensterman for Rudy Giuliani Sexual Harassment Case

Abrams Fensterman, LLP has been retained by Noelle Dunphy as her legal representative. Dunphy is being represented by distinguished litigator Justin T. Kelton, Sharon P. Stiller (Director of the Employment Law Practice), and Amanda P. Small.

Attorney Kelton expressed the firm’s commitment, stating, “We are proud to stand with Noelle Dunphy in seeking accountability from one of the most powerful and well-connected men in the country. Ms. Dunphy charges that Mr. Giuliani grossly abused his power as both her boss and lawyer to take advantage of her in truly egregious ways. Abrams Fensterman is committed to deploying its extensive experience in complex litigation to bring this case to a fair and just resolution.”

Bankruptcy and Defamation

Mr. Kelton provided insights on Giuliani’s recent bankruptcy filing in a statement to Business Insider. Shortly before filing for bankruptcy, Giuliani faced a court ruling holding him accountable for defamation, resulting in a $148 million judgment due to the dissemination of conspiracy theories about the 2020 election.

According to Business Insider, Giuliani also has outstanding debts, including $700,000 to the IRS, over $265,000 to New York tax authorities, and potential liabilities to several others who have filed lawsuits against him, including Hunter Biden, Noelle Dunphy, and Daniel Gill.

In the Business Insider article, Attorney Kelton emphasized, “Whatever the state of Mr. Giuliani’s finances, and whatever other circumstances he may face, we will never be deterred from our pursuit of justice and accountability.

Justin T. Kelton holds the position of Partner at Abrams Fensterman, LLP, where he serves as Co-Chair of the Litigation Department. Renowned as a trial lawyer, Kelton represents clients in various high-stakes business disputes, investigations, and governmental enforcement actions across federal and state courts as well as administrative bodies. 

New York Law Firms Address Antisemitism on College Campuses

Hands holding Palestine vs Israel flags

Antisemitism is on the rise and is reaching epidemic proportions. We have seen it in the streets of our cities and on college campuses which is no doubt, unsettling. 

Abrams Fensterman, LLP along with the nine other law firms are unyielding regarding the rise of antisemitism on many American college campuses and have taken action in the hope that they can help diminish this outpouring of hate among our universities.

The Letter

After the tragic events of October 7, 2023, the firm, along with nine other law firms, wrote a letter to the Law School Deans which is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization of 176 members and 18 fee-paid law schools across the United States. They expressed how deeply concerned they are and have called for immediate action to safeguard all students and uphold the principles of justice and equality.

The letter was sent on November 8, 2023, and a summary along with the quoted text below: 

“We represent some of the largest law firms on Long Island, and stand with many other law firms and businesses in expressing our extreme disappointment in the lack of condemnation by many law school deans and other administrators of anti-Semitic conduct by students and faculty members since the premeditated, barbaric rape and slaughter by Hamas on October 7, 2023 of some 1,400 Israelis, the vast majority of whom were civilian women, babies and children.”

Obligatory

The letter continued to advise the AALS that it is their principal obligation to protect all students on campus and to demonstrate their profound objection to any hateful rhetoric that originates on their campus grounds. Additionally, they have informed the association that it is their responsibility to provide a safe environment for everyone concerned.

Free Speech Has Its Limits 

Additionally, the firms have expressed their awareness of the expression of free speech but the incidents observed go beyond the acceptance of First Amendment protocols.

“As lawyers, we assure you that we are fully conversant with and supportive of the critical freedoms of expression that are protected by the First Amendment and myriad state constitutions. However, we have witnessed during the past several weeks a disturbing increase in virulent anti-Israel, anti-Jewish speech on university campuses that goes well beyond the bounds of protected expression and, instead, seeks to incite listeners and readers to imminent violence and other unlawful acts against members of the Jewish community and others who support Israel. Indeed, such rhetoric has too often been accompanied by actual acts of mob intimidation that have placed Jewish students and other supporters of Israel in fear of imminent physical bodily harm. In every sense, such “speech” constitutes “true threats,” under controlling Supreme Court jurisprudence. Even if it did not, it is certainly unacceptable in an educational or professional environment.”

Citing AALS’s Responsibility 

The law firms concluded by advising AALS that they routinely recruit students from their member schools but will sincerely reconsider hiring these students if action is not taken against these hateful protests and demonstrations on their college campuses.

The letter was signed by the following law firms. 

Abrams Fensterman, LLP
Harris Beach PLLC
L’Abbate, Balkan, Colavita & Contini, L.L.P.
Lewis Johs Avallone Aviles, LLP
Meltzer, Lippe, Goldstein & Breitstone, LLP
Moritt Hock & Hamroff LLP
Rivkin Radler LLP
Ruskin Moscou Faltischek P.C.
Westerman Ball Ederer Miller Zucker & Sharfstein, LLC
Campolo, Middleton & McCormick, LLP