Gothamist

A non-profit newsroom, powered by WNYC.

Gothamist

WNYC Listen Live

Donate

 

 

Arts & Entertainment

Staten Island Lawyer Demands <em>Game Of Thrones</em>-Style Trial By Combat


By

Ben Yakas

Published Aug 8, 2015

Modified Aug 8, 2015


Share

FacebookTwitterRedditEmail


Never miss a story

 Email address

By submitting your information, you're agreeing to receive communications from New York Public Radio in accordance with our Terms .

One of these men is dead, the other is in agonizing pain

 

HBO


By

Ben Yakas

Published Aug 8, 2015

Modified Aug 8, 2015


Share

FacebookTwitterRedditEmail


We rely on your support to make local news available to all

Make your contribution now and help Gothamist thrive in 2026. Donate today

Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations

Game Of Thrones is a TV show in which dragons and undead zombies wander around a fantasy universe in which an endless winter is always coming. Even though you probably aren't able to change faces like the folks in The House Of Black & White in real life, you can have certain GOT experiences in real life—just ask the Staten Island lawyer who has demanded a trial by combat!

According to The Wrap, attorney Richard Luthmann has been accused of aiding a client in committing fraudulent transfer. In response, Luthmann has invoked his right to a trial by combat if the charges are not dismissed:

Defendant invokes the common law writ of right and demands his common law right to Trial By Combat as against Plaintiffs and their counsel, whom plaintiff wishes to implead into the Trial By Combat by writ of right.

In his filing, Luthmann goes into a detailed history of the practice, arguing that trial by combat was never outlawed in the United States or in New York state. Luthmann told SI Live that he chose to make the request to highlight what he perceives as "ludicrous" allegations against him.

"They want to be absurd about what they're trying to do, then I'll give them back ridiculousness in kind," said Luthmann, who you probably won't be surprised to learn is a big GOT fan. "If these people want to insist on having it out, then we'll have it out."

Instead of recounting the history of trial by combat from 11th century conquest of England by Duke William II of Normandy to the founding of the Thirteen Colonies, Luthmann could have just hired the guy in the video below as his attorney.

Luthmann seems like the kind of attorney who should be focusing on the case of Jon Snow v. v Benioff/Weiss.

Tagged

game of thrones

richard luthmann

staten island

trial by combat


Ben Yakas

Ben Yakas is a former Gothamist reporter.

Read more

Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations


Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations


MORE arts-entertainment

How the NYC Marathon has changed in the last 50 years

Spoiler alert: It's still 26.2 miles.

By

Hannah Frishberg

Published Oct 14, 2026 at 2:36 p.m. ET


A visit to Art of Play, the Brooklyn store in an animatronic bird beef with Kelly Clarkson

"Kelly Clarkson has put us in danger," says the co-owner of Art of Play.

By

Sonia Rao

Arts & Entertainment

A visit to Art of Play, the Brooklyn store in an animatronic bird beef with Kelly Clarkson

"Kelly Clarkson has put us in danger," says the co-owner of Art of Play.

By

Sonia Rao


The hottest way to show you're an authentic New Yorker is… riding a Citi Bike?

By

Lindsay Lee Wallace

Is NYC’s hottest attraction the free observation deck at 1 Centre Street?

By

James Ramsay

What happens when NYC kids take lessons in rock music? Really good bands.

By

Jayson Greene


Never miss a story

Catch up on the most important headlines with a roundup of essential NYC stories, delivered to your inbox daily.

Sign upEmail address

By submitting your information, you're agreeing to receive communications from New York Public Radio in accordance with our Terms .