"A good family"

And still counting.

...but hey, do what you want...you will anyway.

The Don's ass in court today

New York fraud case against the Trump Organization - sorting out the penalties phase.

UPDATE 03:07 pm:

UPDATE 06:56 pm:

Sad!

Trump Organization ordered to be dissolved

Former President Donald Trump, his top executives, and heirs were declared completely liable of “persistent and repeated fraud”—and the real estate empire was unceremoniously stripped of its business licenses in New York—after a judge’s powerful ruling Tuesday ahead of a massive trial that seeks to hit them with more than $250 million in penalties for bank fraud.

And in a stunning development, the judge has already ordered the complete dissolution of the fabled Trump Organization–the tycoon’s pride and joy, the empire that made him famous and elevated him into the White House. The Trump Organization and its sister companies will be sent into receivership to be under the control of a court-appointed officer.

Even before the trial officially starts, the ruling handed New York Attorney General Letitia James a near total victory, meaning that next week’s trial will mostly focus on damages that could pulverize whatever is left of Trump’s many business entities and bank accounts.

[...]

The judge seemed particularly annoyed at what he described as the Trumps’ inability to run their business ethically. He had previously assigned a former federal judge to oversee aspects of the Trump Organization to ensure that it did not slyly shift assets ahead of the trial—only to discover that executives wouldn't let the court-appointed monitor do her job.

[...]

Trump, several of his heirs, and top executives will now be fighting off accusations of bank and insurance fraud at a civil trial that’s scheduled to run from early October until late December.

[...]

Engoron also decided to impose sanctions on the Trumps’ lawyers over the AG’s accusations that they have acted unprofessionally by raising ridiculous arguments and delaying the case this long.

[...]

“Unfortunately, sanctions are the only way to impress upon defendants’ attorneys the consequences of engaging in repetitive, frivolous motion practice after this court, affirmed by the appellate division, expressly warned them against doing so,” he wrote. He ordered the entire Trump legal team—Michael Madaio, Clifford S. Robert, Michael Farina, Christopher Kise, and Armen Morian—to each pay $7,500, a punishment that will also serve as a blemish on their professional records.

[...]

The timing of this decision also throws a wrench into the Trumps’ Hail Mary play, in which they sued the judge directly and prematurely asked a state appellate court to intervene because he hadn’t yet made his decision on the statute of limitations—an oddly aggressive move that reeked of delay tactics. That higher court, the appellate division’s First Judicial Department, has yet to weigh in. Doing so now might be a moot point. As such, the trial appears to be set to start next Monday, as planned.

  Yahoo

I'm sure they'll appeal, but as it stands, Trump Org (all Trump LLCs) is essentially kaput.

If the judge’s scathing decision withstands an appeal from Trump’s lawyers, it will be the first time a government investigation into the former president has resulted in punishment. It will also deal the biggest blow yet to his persona as a successful tycoon.

  Guardian

...but hey, do what you want...you will anyway.

UPDATE :

Also...will Trump fire Alina Habba? Sue her?

Disgraced former president Donald Trump will face judgment handed down from the bench, rather than a jury box in his Manhattan trial.

The question, however, is: did Donald Trump’s attorneys screw up, or is he intentionally muddying the waters?

It’s not clear why the former president would choose not to have a jury trial, which is clearly his right as a defendant when he’s claimed the judge is biased against him. This raises questions about whether he’s aware of what his attorneys are doing (and whether those lawyers are actually competent).

[...]

But then, perhaps Trump himself doesn’t know. He posted on September 1st (edited because all-caps is uncomfortable to read):

“In the NYS A.G. Letitia James case, I was targeted, given no jury, no extensions, no commercial division, no constitutional rights, no anything! The Democrat judge hates Trump with a passion!”

He was, indeed, denied an extension.

[...]

He was also denied a move to the commercial division.

[...]

The jury, though, is a clear and straightforward matter — if Trump’s attorney had requested one, he would have been granted a jury. [...]

“Donald Trump’s lawyer Alina Habba forgot to post the fees and give the notice to request a jury. In New York, within 15 days of a lawsuit you have to make a jury demand…so Donald Trump accidentally — which in my opinion could be legal malpractice — waived the jury trial and that’s why it’s going to go in front of Judge Arthur Engoron.”

Whether it was merely a mistake from an attorney whose job description may rely more heavily on Fox News appearances than court appearances, or a desperate hope to find an excuse for an appeal, the failure to request a jury trial may be a serious miscalculation on Trump’s part.

  Occupy Democrats

Or Trump's attorney's part. Pretty sure he WOULDN'T choose a bench trial. But maybe? He probably doesn't trust a New York jury. But he'd at least have a chance that there would be one hold-out on it. Maybe they were gambling on getting a more favorable judge. Whatever. He can appeal either way.  If Habba can't (or won't) prove Trump asked to waive a jury, he'll have plenty standing to appeal.

UPDATE 05:59 pm:

UPDATE 06:25 pm:

Yep.  Gonna be a yuge mess.

Readying Trump Crime Family case in New York

Trump, per a transcript of a deposition he gave in April in the New York attorney general’s office’s civil case alleging he inflated his net worth, was asked if he was “currently the person with ultimate decision-making authority for the Trump Organization.”

“My son Eric is much more involved with it than I am. I’ve been doing other things,” the former president replied. “And I guess you could say on something major, final decisions, whatever. But I’ve been much less involved in it than ... over the last five years, five or six years than ever before.”

There was “a little whiff of him throwing Eric under the bus there should any charges press further on.”

  HuffPo

...but hey, do what you want...you will anyway.

Line 'em up

Lucky Ivanka

A New York appeals court [...] said that New York Attorney General Letitia James must exclude from her suit transactions that took place before July 13, 2014, or February 6, 2016, depending on the defendant. The court also dismissed claims against Trump’s daughter Ivanka.

The Appellate Division in Manhattan said James has the power to sue over “repeated or persistent fraud or illegality”, but that the allegations against Ivanka were too old and should have been dismissed.

James first filed the lawsuit against Trump in September, accusing the Trump Organization of “numerous acts of fraud and misrepresentation”. The suit seeks $250m in damages and proposes to bar the Trumps from running businesses in New York.

[...]

The trial is expected to begin in October before the state Supreme Court in Manhattan.

  aljazeera

...but hey, do what you want...you will anyway.

Trump deposition in New York case

Former United States President Donald Trump spent nearly seven hours answering questions in a New York lawsuit that accuses him and three of his children of fraud, according to his lawyer.

  al Jazeera

Could that be the first full day's work he's ever done?

New York Attorney General Letitia James has accused the former president, Donald Trump Jr, Eric Trump and Ivanka Trump of lying to tax authorities, lenders and insurers for years as part of an “incredible” fraud at the Trump Organization.

[...]

Trump previously attended James’s office in August, during which he refused to answer most questions and invoked his right to silence several hundred times.

Christopher Kise, a lawyer for Trump’s businesses, said the former president spent nearly seven hours answering questions about his “extraordinary business success” and that “everyone will scoff at the notion any fraud took place” once the facts are out in the open.

I'm scoffing at THAT right now.

James’s lawsuit alleges that the Trump family routinely misstated the value of the Trump Organization’s properties for their own enrichment.

Pour one out for the Trumps. Poor things.

Trial is set for October 2.

...but hey, do what you want...you will anyway.

"It wasn't me"

Ivanka Trump, the eldest daughter of former president Donald Trump, has asked for a delay in bringing the $250m fraud lawsuit filed against her, her brothers, her father and their family’s eponymous real estate company to trial because a defence arguing that she wasn’t responsible for fraudulent financial statements issued by the company will take more time to prepare.

In court documents, Ms Trump’s attorneys argue that the fraud complaint filed last year against her and her co-defendants by New York Attorney General Letitia James “does not contain a single allegation that Ms. Trump directly or indirectly created, prepared, reviewed, or certified any of her father's financial statements”.

“Other individuals were responsible for those tasks,” her lawyers wrote.

  Independent UK

So how much more time do they need to say that?

The judge overseeing the fraud lawsuit, New York State Supreme Court Justice Arthur Engoron, has said the 2 October trial will commence on time “come hell or high water,” but Ms Trump’s request for delay cites the “unique” circumstances of her role in the case and notes that she has not been accused of lying about her father’s finances despite her former role as a top executive at the Trump Organization.

[...]

Ms Trump’s father has also asked for a delay in the trial and argued that a later start date is "borne of necessity" in part due to the "staggering volume" against the company.

Of course he has. Delay is his middle name.

“Defendants have had ample time and opportunity to familiarize themselves with the matter. Instead, they have waited until the eve of the fact discovery deadline to only just begin their process of conducting discovery to prepare for trial, and now seek more time,” the attorney general’s office said.

...but hey, do what you want...you will anyway.

UPDATE 09/14/2023:  Trump is now suing the judge.

Crybaby crying

Sending his flying monkeys after another official by publicizing that person's name.

What Judge Arthur Engoron is actually doing is making decisions concerning a lawsuit against Trump and his three eldest children for $250 million over the alleged use of inflated company financial statements to mislead lenders in obtaining loans.

The suit was filed last month by New York Attorney General Letitia James (whom Trump always insists on calling “Peekaboo”). James’ office asked Engoron for “an expedited preliminary conference” to quickly schedule the trial for next year, arguing that the Trumps are engaged in an “ongoing” fraud.

James is seeking to prevent the Trumps in the interim from conducting business in the state and to curtail their access to loans.

[...]

Engoron earlier this year held Trump in contempt of court for failure to turn over documents demanded by James.

Trump and his attorneys tried — and failed — to get Engoron bounced from the case.

  HuffPo

James lowered the boom

New York Attorney General Tish James raised eyebrows when she refused last-minute settlement overtures from former president Donald Trump. Her 222-page lawsuit filed Wednesday doubles down, asking for wide-ranging penalties against Trump, including $250 million and various bans that would bar Trump and his three oldest children from selling or acquiring real estate or applying for loans in New York for five years — potentially crippling measures for a company that depends on plastering the family name on properties for profit.

It’s not hard to see why James is taking such a hard line. She has a winning hand.

  Renato Mariotti @ Politico

Continue reading.

One day I may count up all the serious lawsuits hanging over his head right now.

...but hey, do what you want...you will anyway.

UPDATE:

UPDATE:

The persistence of Letitia James

[New York Attorney General Letitia] James’ office has rejected at least one settlement offer from Trump’s legal team after negotiations started over the summer, the [New York] Times reports based on anonymous sources familiar with the matter.

It’s still possible that a deal could be reached and negotiations are expected to continue in the coming days.

[...]

Trump could be sued for fraud if negotiations fail, the Times notes, and the publication reports the AG’s office is also considering suing at least one of Trump’s children—Ivanka Trump, Donald Trump, Jr., or Eric Trump—who have all served as Trump Organization executives.

  MSN

All three have earned charges.

James’ office has been conducting a civil probe into the Trump Organization and its financial dealings since March 2019, which expanded to include a separate criminal investigation in May 2021. The investigation is looking into whether the Trump Organization fraudulently inflated or deflated the value of his assets on financial statements for personal gain, which the AG’s office revealed in January it had found “significant” evidence of. The AG’s office is working in cooperation with the Manhattan District Attorney’s office, which has also been conducting a criminal probe of the Trump Organization since July 2019. Trump himself has not yet faced any consequences in that investigation [...]

And not just that one.

[...] but the Trump Organization and its longtime Chief Financial Officer Allen Weisselberg were indicted in July 2021 for alleged tax fraud. Weisselberg has taken a plea deal confessing his guilt to all 15 charges against him, which will result in a five-month prison sentence, while the Trump Organization will face a trial in October for its alleged crimes.

And somewhere in the bullshit tangle that is US corporate law, there are regulations that prevent individuals from suffering any damages that their corporations incur. Alas, I'm not up on those regulations, and I'm too sick of Trump shit to try to research if that applies here. I'm content to wait to find out.

...but hey, do what you want...you will anyway.

Even after Trump Foundation was forced to shut down for the same reason...

...but hey, do what you want...you will anyway.