Title: Trump Tower Triplex Fraud Ruling Highlights Mockery of Defense Arguments in Damaging Verdict
In a significant ruling that found Donald Trump, his sons, and the family business liable for fraud, Manhattan Supreme Court Justice Arthur Engoron didn’t hold back in mocking the defense’s arguments regarding the calculation of square footage in the Trump Tower Triplex. The Judge’s scathing remarks included references to the Marx Brothers’ classic film Duck Soup, signaling his disbelief in the defense’s claims.
Engoron highlighted that the documents presented clearly contain fraudulent valuations used by the defendants, violating the law. However, the defense maintained that there was no such thing as objective value and urged the court not to trust its own eyes. Engoron didn’t shy away from expressing his skepticism, and even inserted a footnote featuring a quote from Chico Marx in Duck Soup: well, who ya gonna believe, me or your own eyes?
The Judge proceeded to address the square footage discrepancy pertaining to the Trump Tower Triplex, the residence Trump has lived in for many years, which was found to have been overestimated by a factor of three. He went on to dismiss the defense’s explanation that calculating square footage is a subjective process, stating that Trump’s attorney, Christopher Kise, ultimately admitted in a later oral argument that square footage is indeed an objective number.
Engoron bluntly concluded that a discrepancy of this magnitude, identified by a real estate developer measuring his own living space over decades, could only be deemed as fraud. With that in mind, the Judge swiftly imposed severe consequences on Trump’s legal team even before the civil case reached trial.
The sanctions ordered amounted to $7,500 each for Trump’s lawyers. Additionally, Engoron deemed Trump, Donald Trump Jr., Eric Trump, and the Trump Organization responsible for fraud. Business certificates were canceled, and a retired judge, Barbara S. Jones, was appointed as an independent monitor for the Trump Organization. Engoron also instructed the involved parties to provide the names of no more than three potential independent receivers to oversee the dissolution of the canceled LLCs within a 10-day period.
This ruling adds to the legal troubles faced by Donald Trump and his family, as they navigate various lawsuits and investigations. The outcome of this specific case raises questions about the integrity of the Trump Tower Triplex’s valuation and the defense’s attempt to dismiss objective measurements. As these developments unfold, the ramifications may be significant for the Trump Organization and its future operations.
In conclusion, Justice Engoron’s ruling, coupled with his mockery of the defense’s arguments, underscores the seriousness of the fraud accusations against Donald Trump, his sons, and the family business. The revelation of the inflated square footage casts doubt on the accuracy of the Trump Tower Triplex’s valuation, raising concerns about potential wrongdoings. It remains to be seen how this ruling will impact the ongoing legal battles involving the former president and his organization.
