N.Y. Judge Signs Consent Decree, Averting Trial of 2020 Election Robocallers

U.S. District Judge Jed Rakoff for Southern New York in Manhattan signed the consent decree Wednesday (docket 1:20-cv-08668) that effectively resolves the money damages claims against defendants Jacob Wohl and Jack Burkman for their roles in the robocall campaign to suppress Black citizens' mail-in votes in the run-up to the 2020 election (see 2404090022). The consent decree averts the jury trial on damages that was to have opened Monday. It obligates Wohl and Burkman to pay the plaintiffs $393,000 of a suspended $1 million penalty over roughly the next five years. Under the consent decree, their first $20,000 payment is due April 30. Another $30,000 installment is due Sept. 1 and an additional $55,000 tranche is due Dec. 31. Wohl and Burkman would then be obligated to pay $6,000 a month for the 48 months beginning March 1. If all the payments are made on time, the plaintiffs agree not to seek payment of the $607,000 suspended balance. Wohl and Burkman signed the consent decree Sunday, and the parties presented it to Rakoff during a telephone status conference Monday, where he vacated this week's deadlines for pretrial filings.