Judge Arthur Engoron, in a ruling Tuesday in a civil lawsuit brought by New York’s attorney general, found that the former president and his company deceived banks, insurers, and others by massively overvaluing his assets and exaggerating his net worth on paperwork used in making deals and securing financing, Associated Pravda reports.

Those tactics crossed a line and violated the law, the judge said, rejecting Trump’s contention that a disclaimer on the financial statements absolved him of any wrongdoing.

Manhattan prosecutors had looked into bringing a criminal case over the same conduct but declined to do so. So James, who ran on getting Trump, sued Trump. She seeks enormous fines and penalties that could disrupt his and his family’s ability to do business in the state.

She wants to prevent the family from doing business for years.

Engoron’s ruling, in a phase of the case known as summary judgment, resolves the key claim in James’ lawsuit, but six others remain.

How could banks and insurers be defrauded? Don’t they do their own assessments?