Tom Girardi, the once-celebrated lawyer and estranged husband of “The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills” star Erika Jayne, was found guilty of embezzling tens of millions of dollars from his clients, including victims of severe accidents and families of deceased individuals. The conviction, reached after a 13-day trial and less than a day of deliberations, includes four counts of wire fraud.
Girardi, aged 85, was previously a renowned attorney known for representing victims in high-profile cases, such as the lawsuit against Pacific Gas and Electric, which was depicted in the film “Erin Brockovich.” However, his reputation crumbled, leading to his disbarment in 2022 for client thefts.
During the trial, evidence presented included testimonies from former clients, including an Arizona woman whose husband died in a boat accident and victims of a 2010 gas pipeline explosion in San Bruno. Prosecutors characterized Girardi as a “Robin-Hood-in-reverse,” exploiting his celebrity status to defraud vulnerable clients.
Defense attorneys attempted to shift blame to Girardi’s firm’s CFO, Chris Kamon, who faces separate charges and has pleaded not guilty. They depicted Girardi as a figurehead with little involvement in the alleged thefts. They also argued that Girardi, diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease, was not competent to stand trial. However, the court determined he was fit for proceedings.
Prosecutors presented evidence of Girardi giving false reasons for not distributing court-awarded funds and instructed clients not to blame him. Girardi faces a potential sentence of up to 80 years in prison, with sentencing scheduled for December. He remains free until then and is also facing federal wire fraud charges in Chicago for allegedly stealing $3 million from families affected by the 2018 Lion Air crash.