Erika Jayne looks scruffy in first outing since ex Tom Girardi’s conviction for stealing $15M… after his downfall ended $480k-per-year glam squad era

Erika Jayne looks scruffy in first outing since ex Tom Girardi's conviction for stealing $15M... after his downfall ended $480k-per-year glam squad era

As a seasoned paralegal with decades of experience under my belt, I must say this story about Tom Girardi is as heartbreaking as it is infuriating. I’ve seen many unscrupulous lawyers in my time, but none quite like Mr. Girardi. The allegations against him are staggering – preying on clients in their darkest hours, stealing millions from his own firm, and leaving victims high and dry while he splurged on luxuries.


On a subdued note, Erika Jayne made an appearance on Wednesday, marking the first time seen since her separated spouse, ex-lawyer Tom Girardi, received a conviction for embezzling $15 million from his clients.

85-year-old former lawyer was convicted on four counts of defrauding his clients, who were either gravely injured or mourning, by unlawfully taking their settlement funds on Tuesday.

In simpler terms, Girardi was charged with operating a large-scale Ponzi scheme, deceiving clients, and using the misdirected millions for his personal expenses such as private planes, high-end vehicles, elite club subscriptions, expensive jewelry for Jayne, and twenty million dollars to support her acting pursuits.

Hi there! As a lifestyle enthusiast, I’d rephrase it like this: In LA this past week, I noticed that Jayne, famously known from The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills, appeared to carry an air of melancholy during our casual encounter. Hope this helps!

She looked as if she wasn’t wearing any makeup, choosing instead a casual outfit consisting of an oversized blouse, shorts and slippers.

Erika Jayne looks scruffy in first outing since ex Tom Girardi's conviction for stealing $15M... after his downfall ended $480k-per-year glam squad era

One day following Girardi’s conviction, her observation occurred. Throughout his trial, he remained expressionless, revealing minimal emotion as Judge Josephine Staton declared the judgments. These judgments impose potential sentences of up to 20 years in prison for each charge.

During the three-week trial, Girardi appeared almost unrelated to his former self, the renowned lawyer, as he donned crumpled khaki trousers, an open-collar, checkered blue-and-white shirt, and a worn-out gray coat with visible blue lining. This attire was a stark contrast to his previous wardrobe of designer suits costing over $2000, which once earned him spots on best-dressed lists, and his triumphs in personal injury cases that graced the covers of magazines.

It took the jury of seven men and five women only four and a half hours of deliberation to reach their guilty verdicts – two hours Tuesday and two-and-a-half hours yesterday.

Girardi must return to court for sentencing on December 6. 

As a devoted admirer, I’d rephrase it this way: I, a follower, speak of Girardi – the man who established the distinguished law firm Girardi & Keese, whose struggle against a significant California utility company served as the foundation for the Academy Award-winning film Erin Brockovich. Recently, he faced four charges of wire fraud, to which he pleaded not guilty.

In 2020, his lavish lifestyle took a turn as accusations surfaced that he had misappropriated millions from the compensation settlements he received on behalf of the 2018 Lion Air plane crash victims in Indonesia.

The tragic air crash, resulting in the loss of 189 lives, forms the foundation for ongoing criminal accusations against Girardi in Chicago. Similarly, he has also entered a plea of not guilty to these charges that are yet to be resolved.

Throughout the court proceedings, it was revealed that the disgraced lawyer treated his clients’ settlement money as if it were his own personal savings account, from 2010 to 2020.

Erika Jayne looks scruffy in first outing since ex Tom Girardi's conviction for stealing $15M... after his downfall ended $480k-per-year glam squad era
Erika Jayne looks scruffy in first outing since ex Tom Girardi's conviction for stealing $15M... after his downfall ended $480k-per-year glam squad era
Erika Jayne looks scruffy in first outing since ex Tom Girardi's conviction for stealing $15M... after his downfall ended $480k-per-year glam squad era

In court on Monday, Assistant U.S. Attorney Scott Paetty stated that Girardi Keese functioned as a criminal hideout, with Tom Girardi serving as their leader and mastermind.

‘Girardi Keese was a house of cards built on the lies of Tom Girardi.’

Jayne and Girardi had a relationship that lasted for 21 years, but their divorce, initiated by Jayne following the Lion Air accusations, has been delayed due to Girardi Keese filing bankruptcy in 2021 with over $100 million of debt. Notably, Jayne did not attend her soon-to-be ex-husband’s trial.

In 2022, when accusations were made against him, Girardi’s legal team presented him as a person struggling with dementia.

‘He got old, he got sick, he lost his mind,’ his attorney Charles Snyder told the court.

‘All the lights were on but there was nobody home. He lost touch with reality.’

Additionally, Girady’s lawyers implicated another individual, Christopher Kamon, aged 49, who held the position of Chief Financial Officer at Girard Keese. They claim that Kamon embezzled anywhere from $50 million to $100 million from the corporation.

Kamon is facing an upcoming separate trial in which he’s charged with similar counts to Girardi’s.

Erika Jayne looks scruffy in first outing since ex Tom Girardi's conviction for stealing $15M... after his downfall ended $480k-per-year glam squad era

At the court proceedings, the prosecution conveyed to the jury that Girardi took advantage of his clients during their most difficult times, when they were enduring severe injuries or grieving the loss of dear ones.

In a heart-wrenching situation, Joe Ruigomez, who was struggling financially due to exorbitant medical bills resulting from a 2020 gas explosion at his home that tragically took the life of his girlfriend, was misinformed by Girardi about his PG&E utility settlement. Instead of receiving $5 million as he was led to believe, Joe discovered that his actual settlement was worth $50 million.

In April 2018, Judy Selberg, another one of Girardi’s clients, enlisted his services to file a wrongful death lawsuit. This followed the unfortunate incident where her husband, Paul, lost his life in a boating mishap.

Four years post their settlement, Girardi hasn’t received a significant chunk of the $500,000 she was awarded.

Additionally, he pointed out the $2.5 million settlement that Erica Saldana was due to receive, a sum crucial for covering the medical expenses stemming from the severe injuries sustained by her one-year-old son in a car accident.

Due to the failure of Girardi to compensate her as agreed, Josie Hernandez was forced to file for bankruptcy following a dispute over unpaid compensation stemming from a medical device-related injury claim.

In each instance, when clients inquired about the payment of their funds from Girardi, he would provide reasons such as a claim on the settlement (lien) or a delay due to a ‘holdback’, mentioning IRS complications or the necessity for a judge’s approval before disbursal. However, these explanations were untrue.

The assistant U.S. attorney explained in court that the individual repeatedly deceived his clients regarding the reason for their unpaid fees. He did so intentionally, as he didn’t wish to return their money since it had already been expended.

hidden from public view, he was secretly misappropriating his clients’ assets. Such actions were heartless and inhumane towards those affected.

‘He was buying two private jets while his clients weren’t getting paid…. This this case is a simple and sad story of trust violated and greed.’

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2024-08-29 06:49

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