A New York judge has ruled that former New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani must face a $10 million lawsuit accusing him of sexual assault, sexual harassment, and wage theft.
Judge Nicholas Moyne, of the state Supreme Court for New York County, denied Giuliani’s motion to have the lawsuit dismissed in its entirety, finding that the complaint by Noelle Dunphy, who says she was employed by Giuliani, states legally cognizable claims and any factual disputes over the credibility of her claims are a matter for summary judgment or trial.
Giuliani has disputed the allegations entirely and maintains that his relationship with Dunphy was a brief, consensual romantic relationship rather than an employment relationship.
The lawsuit was filed by Dunphy in May 2023. According to Dunphy, Giuliani hired her in 2019 as a director of business development and executive assistant for the Giuliani companies, which included his law firm and a security firm. She alleges she was promised a salary of $1 million per year, which Giuliani insisted must be both deferred and kept secret pending the conclusion of his divorce proceeding. As an added inducement, Dunphy maintains that Giuliani offered to provide her with pro bono legal representation in an ongoing domestic violence dispute involving an abusive ex-partner.
Dunphy alleges that Giuliani used his position of power as her boss and attorney to subject her to a hostile work environment, sexual harassment, and gender-motivated violence. Her complaint details several instances wherein Giuliani allegedly forced her to perform oral sex and engage in sexual intercourse without her consent, often while she and/or Giuliani were intoxicated.
Dunphy further alleges she was subjected to sexist, racist, and homophobic remarks.
According to Dunphy, she was terminated in January 2021, without cause and without receiving any compensation after she confronted Giuliani about her fear of him.
The case will now proceed to discovery.
Giuliani had previously attempted to have the case moved to a federal court but that attempt was rejected and the matter was returned to the New York State Supreme Court.
Giuliani filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in December 2023 after being ordered to pay $148 million for defaming Georgia election workers. However, his bankruptcy petition was dismissed, leaving him liable for the damages.
Top Photo: Former Mayor of New York Rudy Giuliani speaks during a news conference outside a federal courthouse in Washington in 2023. (AP Photo/Jose Luis Magana, File)
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