The Daily Fuckup

Donald Trump’s lawyers went to New York’s intermediate appellate court on Sept. 14, 2023, with an emergency request aimed at stopping the civil fraud trial that had been scheduled to start Oct. 2. The case was brought by New York Attorney General Letitia James, who accused Trump and his company of misstating asset values by as much as $3.6 billion over several years. That figure was an allegation in the lawsuit, not a court finding at that stage. ([apnews.com](https://apnews.com/article/7453bc6b19939053a7415cc745f2c148?utm_source=openai))

The filing did not end the matter. Justice David Friedman granted an interim stay that same day, which temporarily put the trial on hold while a five-judge panel considered the request on an expedited basis. Court notices and later reporting said the panel was expected to rule within days, not immediately. ([apnews.com](https://apnews.com/article/7453bc6b19939053a7415cc745f2c148?utm_source=openai))

Trump’s lawyers used an Article 78 petition to challenge Judge Arthur Engoron’s refusal to grant a further delay and his handling of the case’s scope. Their complaint argued that the trial should not go forward until the appellate issue was resolved. ([ny1.com](https://ny1.com/nyc/all-boroughs/ap-top-news/2023/09/14/donald-trumps-last-minute-legal-challenge-could-disrupt-new-york-fraud-trial?utm_source=openai))

The pause turned out to be temporary. On Sept. 28, 2023, the appellate court rejected Trump’s bid to delay the trial and lifted the stay, clearing the way for the bench trial to begin as scheduled on Oct. 2. ([apnews.com](https://apnews.com/article/d8934da24e78ca0cedab7303efdf48bd?utm_source=openai))