New York court rejects Donald Trump bid to delay trial to determine damages from real estate fraud

A New York court on Thursday rejected Donald Trump's request to delay a civil trial, after a judge ruled Trump committed fraud for years while building his real estate empire.

New York Supreme Court Justice Arthur Engoron ruled Tuesday that Trump committed fraud in overstating the value and misstating the square-footage of properties for bank loans. He scheduled a non-jury trial to begin Monday to determine penalties, with state Attorney General Letitia James seeking $250 million.

Trump argued at the state appeals court that Engoron failed to follow rulings that would have narrowed the allegations at the heart of the lawsuit. But the appeals court turned aside that challenge.

Engoron estimated the trial to determine penalties could last three months. The case is one of a handful of civil and criminal trials Trump faces in the next year as he campaigns for president.

Trump’s lawyers sued Engoron on Sept. 14, accusing him of failing to comply with a June appeals court order that he narrow the scope of the trial based on the statute of limitations. The lawsuit asked that the trial be postponed until the matter was resolved.

An appeals court judge, David Friedman, placed a temporary hold on the trial while the full appeals court considered the case. The appeals court didn’t rule on Trump’s underlying complaints Thursday, but said the trial could go forward.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: NY court rejects Trump bid to delay real-estate fraud trial