Jan. 20: Dispatches from the Court: George Guldi's Trial Continues

Former Suffolk County Legislator is back in court in Riverside before Judge James Doyle as his trial continues. Guldi is defending himself against charges of forgery, grand larceny, criminal possession of a forged instrument and insurance fraud.

11 a.m.

Guldi’s trial reconvenes, but it stopped short by a fire drill that sent everyone in the courthouse outside.

Noon

With everyone back inside the courthouse, Judge Doyle held a discussion prior to the jury’s arrival with the defense and prosecution regarding a request by the defense to be provided with unredacted material. The document contains the name of a high level official that may be involved with a key witness, Ethan Ellner. Ellner has not yet taken the stand. 

Judge Doyle denied the request saying it is not relevant to the case.

On Jan. 7, as reported by Newsday, Suffolk County Executive Steve Levy was subpoenaed by Guldi to appear as witness. Levy is a long-time friend of Ellner. 

12:30 p.m.

Attorney Shari Barak, whose firm represented DLJ Mortgage Capital, was called to the witness stand by the prosecution. Barak discussed the timeline of foreclosure proceedings on Guldi’s property, located at 44 Brusy Neck Ln in Westhampton Beach. 

During her testimony, she noted that Ethan Ellner notarized the first deed transfer on the home from George Guldi’s father, Walter to Guldi.

She also said the sale of Guldi’s property was scheduled seven times and adjourned for several reasons, including four bankruptcies that Guldi filed.

1 p.m.

The court broke for lunch.

4. p.m.

Guldi finished cross-examining attorney Shari Barak, and he also cross-examined attorney Alan Mendelsohn, a Chapter 7 trustee for Guldi's bankruptcy claim.

The prosecution called Bruce Schlosser, an insurance adjuster with East Coast Adjustment LLC. Schlosser said Guldi's mortgage was for $1.4 million, substantially more than the home was worth, and Guldi was negotiating to refinance.

Schlosser said Guldi said he wanted to replace his house that burned down with a $4 to $5 million house, but he told Guldi there is no way the insurance company would pay out more than $1 million.

Schlosser said one $60,000 check and another one for $225,000 were issued to Guldi for the contents of his house, and a $863,000 check was written out to Guldi and Countrywide. The latter check should have been endorsed by both of them, but the $863,000 would go to Countrywide, he said.

4:35 p.m.

Testimony continued with Bruce Schlosser centering on an additional living expense claim that Guldi submitted to his insurance company. 

According to Schlosser, Guldi received payment from his insurance company for living expenses for a home he owned at 44 Brushy Neck Lane in Westhampton Beach after his home at 9 Griffing Avenue in Westhampton Beach burned down. 

While insurance companies normally don’t pay out living expenses for a home an individual already owns, Guldi claims it was a rental property and that he paid a monthly fee to a managing agent.

 4:55 p.m.

Court finished for the day. The case will resume Friday at 11 a.m.