Former President Donald Trump has scored a small victory in a New York appeals court, paving the way for him to continue pursuing a lawsuit against his niece, Mary Trump. The court ruled on Thursday that Trump has standing to sue Mary for breaching confidentiality agreements made in a 2001 settlement over the estate of Fred Trump Sr., the former president’s father.
The ruling overturns a previous decision by a New York judge who had dismissed Trump’s lawsuit, arguing that it was not permitted under New York laws barring frivolous lawsuits intended to silence opponents. However, the five-judge appeals court panel disagreed, stating that Trump has the right to sue his niece for breaching the confidentiality agreements.
The lawsuit stems from a 2018 New York Times article that shed light on Trump’s finances, revealing substantial funds he had received from his father. Mary Trump was later revealed to be one of the sources for the story, which she discussed further in a memoir. Trump has called the book “stupid” and “vicious.”
The court’s ruling does not guarantee that Trump will be successful in his lawsuit against Mary. Trump had originally sought $100 million in damages, but the court noted that he may still be able to secure funds for the breach of contract claim even without proving actual damages.
The win for Trump comes as the jury deliberates in his New York criminal trial, where he faces 34 counts of falsifying business records. The trial has lasted five weeks, and there is no timeline for how long the jury will deliberate. Once the New York case concludes, Trump faces three additional indictments related to election charges in Washington, D.C., and Georgia, as well as classified documents charges in Florida.
