American Justice

curated filings from notable cases

New York v. Trump et al.

CIVIL FRAUD

The Parties

New York Attorney General Letitia James brought this civil action against Donald Trump, Donald Trump Jr., Eric Trump, Allen Weisselberg, Jeffrey McConney, The Donald Trump Revocable Trust, The Trump Organization, Inc., Trump Organization, LLC, and associated properties and holdings. Ivanka Trump was dropped from the case by an appeal that also reduced the timeframe under consideration.

The Issues

This is a civil business fraud proceeding initiated by the New York State Attorney General with potential criminal referrals to the Manhattan District Attorney and Internal Revenue Service. Before the onset of the trial, the State was granted a partial summary judgment on a claim that the defendants engaged in persistent or repeated fraudulent or illegal conduct in hundreds of valuations and financial statements made over a decade or more.

Remaining at issue were six causes of action hinging on whether the fraud was intentional with regards to each of the Defendants and material in the issuance of loans and insurance policies on preferential terms that could not be obtained otherwise. If the State prevails, the Attorney General seeks the disgorgement of fraudulently obtained profits that could total hundreds of millions of dollars as well as the dissolution of the New York-based business entities and prohibitions against the Defendants doing further business in the state of New York.

The Venue

The Supreme Court of the State of New York, County of New York before Justice Arthur Engoron. This is the trial-level court of general jurisdiction in New York State’s Unified Court System.

Commentary

Timeline

2020

People v. The Trump Org.

The Office of the Attorney General commenced a special proceeding before Justice Engoron, ultimately entering into an agreement to toll the statute of limitations on fraud allegations for roughly 18 months.

Sep 21, 2022

Complaint

The complaint alleges fraud that was intentional and material to the issuance of loans and insurance policies on preferential terms that could not be obtained otherwise. The Attorney General seeks the disgorgement of fraudulently obtained profits that could total hundreds of millions of dollars as well as the dissolution of the New York-based business entities and prohibitions against the Defendants doing further business in the state of New York.

Nov 3, 2022

Independent Monitor

With a preliminary finding of a propensity to engage in persistent fraud, the Court appointed Barbara S. Jones, a retired federal judge, to serve as an independent monitor to oversee ongoing Trump Organization financial statements and asset transfers.

Jan 6, 2023

Ivanka Dismissed

The Appellate Division, First Department, dismisses the complaint against Defendant Ivanka Trump and applies a constrained statute of limitations, narrowing the timeframe to between 2014 and 2021 for tolled Defendants.

Sep 27, 2023

Partial Summary Judgment

The Court grants summary judgment in favor of the State for the first of seven claims against all remaining Defendants.

Oct-Dec 2023

Trial

A non-jury trial to determine materiality, intent, and damages to be applied to each Defendant.

Digital Memorabilia

These blockchain-linked collectibles are fascinating to read and provide long-term decentralized preservation of these important historical documents. Each is embedded in a decentralized reader app to provide long-term accessibility.

Complaint

This civil business fraud proceeding was initiated by the New York State Attorney General. Seven fraud claims were included against Donald Trump, Donald Trump Jr., Eric Trump, Ivanka Trump, Allen Weisselberg, Jeffrey McConney, Trump Organization companies, and associated properties and holdings. The complaint alleges fraud that was intentional and material to the issuance of loans and insurance policies on preferential terms that could not be obtained otherwise.

The Attorney General seeks the disgorgement of fraudulently obtained profits that could total hundreds of millions of dollars as well as the dissolution of the New York-based business entities and prohibitions against the Defendants doing further business in the state of New York.