July 26, 2024
Willkie and co-counsel including Protect Democracy secured the dismissal of The Gateway Pundit’s (TGP) bankruptcy case, clearing the way for Willkie clients Ruby Freeman and Wandrea’ ArShaye (Shaye) Moss to pursue their defamation litigation against the organization.
On July 25, Judge Mindy A. Mora of the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Southern District of Florida dismissed TGP’s bankruptcy case as a “bad faith filing,” finding that TGP had abused the bankruptcy process and sought bankruptcy protection in order to avoid being held accountable in litigation for defaming Ruby and Shaye over their roles as poll workers during the 2020 presidential election.
“Today’s ruling is a major victory for Ms. Freeman and Ms. Moss. It serves as a reminder that the benefits of our bankruptcy system will not be extended to bad faith actors like The Gateway Pundit and its founder Jim Hoft,” said Rachel Strickland, Chair of Willkie’s Business Reorganization & Restructuring Department, in Protect Democracy’s press release.
Willkie’s successful dismissal of TGP’s bankruptcy case follows a similar victory on behalf of Ruby and Shaye against Rudy Giuliani earlier this month. Strickland and her team prevailed in having Giuliani’s bankruptcy case dismissed, allowing Willkie’s clients to move ahead in collecting the money that Giuliani owes them.
Last December, in a landmark defamation suit, Willkie secured $148.1 million in damages for Ruby and Shay for the harm Rudy Giuliani caused by spreading lies that they had intentionally undermined the results of the 2020 election in Georgia.
The Willkie pro bono team in the bankruptcy court case was led by partner Rachel Strickland with counsel Aaron Nathan and associate James Burbage, alongside co-counsel from Protect Democracy and DuBose Miller.
Read Protect Democracy’s press release on the TGP decision here and learn more about the Giuliani defamation case here.
On July 25, Judge Mindy A. Mora of the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Southern District of Florida dismissed TGP’s bankruptcy case as a “bad faith filing,” finding that TGP had abused the bankruptcy process and sought bankruptcy protection in order to avoid being held accountable in litigation for defaming Ruby and Shaye over their roles as poll workers during the 2020 presidential election.
“Today’s ruling is a major victory for Ms. Freeman and Ms. Moss. It serves as a reminder that the benefits of our bankruptcy system will not be extended to bad faith actors like The Gateway Pundit and its founder Jim Hoft,” said Rachel Strickland, Chair of Willkie’s Business Reorganization & Restructuring Department, in Protect Democracy’s press release.
Willkie’s successful dismissal of TGP’s bankruptcy case follows a similar victory on behalf of Ruby and Shaye against Rudy Giuliani earlier this month. Strickland and her team prevailed in having Giuliani’s bankruptcy case dismissed, allowing Willkie’s clients to move ahead in collecting the money that Giuliani owes them.
Last December, in a landmark defamation suit, Willkie secured $148.1 million in damages for Ruby and Shay for the harm Rudy Giuliani caused by spreading lies that they had intentionally undermined the results of the 2020 election in Georgia.
The Willkie pro bono team in the bankruptcy court case was led by partner Rachel Strickland with counsel Aaron Nathan and associate James Burbage, alongside co-counsel from Protect Democracy and DuBose Miller.
Read Protect Democracy’s press release on the TGP decision here and learn more about the Giuliani defamation case here.
