Prominent Lawyer Sues Rudy Giuliani for Nearly $1.4 Million in Unpaid Legal Fees
October 4, 2022
NEW YORK – In a shocking turn of events, a lawyer who had represented Rudy Giuliani for several years has filed a lawsuit against him, claiming that the former New York City mayor owes nearly $1.4 million in unpaid legal fees. The lawsuit was filed on Monday by Robert Costello and his firm, Davidoff Hutcher & Citron LLP.
The lawsuit alleges that Costello and his firm provided legal representation to Giuliani in various matters, including criminal investigations by the U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of New York and the Fulton County District Attorney’s Office. They also claim to have represented Giuliani during the U.S. House Jan. 6 committee’s investigation and in litigation surrounding more than 10 lawsuits filed against him in state and federal courts. Additionally, they state their involvement in representing Giuliani in disciplinary proceedings regarding his law license in the District of Columbia and New York.
Giuliani quickly responded to the lawsuit, criticizing Costello and expressing his personal hurt. In a statement to CBS News, Giuliani said, “It’s a real shame when lawyers do things like this, and all I will say is that their bill is way in excess to anything approaching legitimate fees.” However, Costello fired back, stating that Giuliani’s personal affront is unjustified considering his outstanding debt of $1.4 million. Costello also revealed that Giuliani only claimed the fees were excessive when it was announced that they would sue.
According to the lawsuit, Giuliani has paid only a fraction of the accumulated tab, with his most recent payment being $10,000 on Sept. 14. The suit claims that he still owes $1,386,196.10.
This is not the first time that Costello has gone after a high-profile figure for unpaid legal bills. In February, he sued Steve Bannon, former White House chief strategist, for the same reason and was awarded nearly $500,000 by a New York judge in July.
Costello’s relationship with Giuliani has been significant over the years. In March, he was thrust into the spotlight when he was requested to appear before a grand jury investigating a case involving former President Donald Trump. He was also present with Giuliani in late April during a meeting at Mar-a-Lago, where they sought financial help from Trump for Giuliani’s mounting legal expenses.
Giuliani and Trump are currently facing indictment alongside 17 others, accused of running a “criminal enterprise” in their efforts to undermine Georgia’s 2020 presidential election results. Both have pleaded not guilty in the case.
Despite these legal battles, Trump hosted a fundraiser in support of Giuliani on Sept. 7, raising funds for his defense. Giuliani’s New York City apartment is also currently up for sale, listed at $6.5 million.
It remains to be seen how this lawsuit will unfold in court, but it presents another challenge for Giuliani, who has already faced significant legal scrutiny in recent years.
*CBS News investigative reporter Graham Kates contributed to this article.*