In 2024, Real Housewives of Beverly Hills alum Tom Girardi was convicted of embezzling over $15 million. Diagnosed with late-onset Alzheimer’s disease in 2021, Tom now lives in a memory care facility. At this time, lawyers are unable to complete his sentencing due to his medical condition.
His estranged wife Erika Jayne is also being sued. Filed in 2021, the suit claims Tom dipped into trust accounts that his law firm, Girardi Keese, held for clients. Allegedly, he used those funds to pay his wife’s expenses between 2007 and 2020.
The lawsuit against Erika was filed by Tom’s bankruptcy trustee, Elissa Miller. Claiming Erika knew where the money was coming from, Ms. Miller wants that money back. However, Erika has always denied any wrongdoing, saying she had no knowledge of her husband’s shady business practices.
RHOBH star Erika Jayne is accused of spending $24 million from ex Tom Girardi’s fraudulent cash
Now The U.S. Sun has confirmed that a judge has been assigned to the case, and a trial will most likely take place this summer.
The trustee claims Erika received $24 million which Tom deposited to her personal accounts. In court documents, she argued that Erika used Tom’s personal American Express account “to pay for expenses she incurred in pursuit of her entertainment career … In addition, [Tom] paid all of [Erika’s bills and invoices] … for services obtained or products purchased by Ms. Girardi in pursuit of her entertainer/actor/singer/writer career.”
The trustee’s legal team further claims the expenses were recorded on law firm books as loans. The team is suing Erika personally, as well as her businesses EJ Global, LLC and Pretty Mess, Inc. The lawsuit contends “Ms. Girardi knowingly and willingly participated in Mr. Girardi’s criminal enterprise, and the money used to pay her business expenses were monies from that criminal enterprise.”
Erika’s legal team is claiming that the payments to Erika were an alleged debt of EJ Global and not a personal debt. They also allege, “No promissory note exists … Girardi Keese was fully capable of preparing such a written memorialization of EJ Global, LLC’s alleged debt obligation but never did so.”
Her team also argues that “accusations that Ms. Girardi knowingly and willingly participated in a criminal enterprise are false, not supported by any evidence whatsoever, malicious, and should be stricken.”
Furthermore, Erika’s legal team argues that her only mistake was “trusting her then-husband, an ostensibly successful and sophisticated attorney.”
An insider with knowledge of the case commented, “[Erika’s] never going to settle.” So, a trial it is then.
The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills airs Tuesdays at 8/7c on Bravo.
TELL US – DO YOU THINK ERIKA WILL BE CLEARED? OR IS SHE GUILTY?
