Disgraced Los Angeles attorney Tom Girardi has been convicted of wire fraud after a jury found him guilty of embezzling millions of dollars from clients, including those affected by catastrophic accidents and tragic losses.
Girardi, the estranged husband of “The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills” star Erika Jayne, was found guilty on four counts related to a decade-long scheme. The 80-year-old, who is scheduled for sentencing in December, faces a maximum of 80 years in prison.
Following the verdict, Girardi declined to comment, responding to a journalist’s inquiry with a dismissive “No, No.” His legal team did not provide a response regarding any potential appeal.
Before his fall from grace, Girardi was renowned as a powerful and influential lawyer in Los Angeles, securing multimillion-dollar settlements as a personal injury attorney. His high-profile cases included a lawsuit against Pacific Gas and Electric Company, which inspired the Academy Award-winning film Erin Brockovich, and representing families affected by the 2018 Lion Air Flight 610 crash in Indonesia, as well as Bryan Stow, who sued Major League Baseball after a severe attack in 2011.
According to the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Central District of California, Girardi used the stolen funds to support a lavish lifestyle showcased on Jayne’s reality TV series. Tyler Hatcher of IRS Criminal Investigation criticized Girardi, stating, “Mr. Girardi exploited his clients’ misfortunes on a grand scale. His clients sought his help after significant trauma and injury, yet he violated their trust to fund his own extravagant lifestyle.”
Ahead of his trial, Girardi’s defense argued that his 2021 diagnosis of late-onset Alzheimer’s disease and dementia rendered him mentally incompetent. However, a judge ruled in January that he was fit to stand trial.
During the proceedings, Girardi’s public defenders contended that Christopher Kamon, the former chief financial officer of Girardi Keese, was primarily responsible for the financial scheme. They described Girardi’s role at the firm as a “Weekend at Bernie’s” situation, with others propping him up to maintain the appearance of normalcy.
Kamon, charged alongside Girardi, is set for a separate trial in January. Girardi, Kamon, and David Lira, Girardi’s son-in-law, face similar charges in a separate case in Chicago, scheduled for next year, regarding alleged misappropriation of settlement funds from the Lion Air Flight 610 crash. All three have pleaded not guilty.
The case highlights the severe breach of trust by a once-respected attorney, with far-reaching implications for the victims and the legal community.
