LOS ANGELES — LOS ANGELES (AP) — Disbarred celebrity lawyer Tom Girardi was convicted Tuesday of embezzling tens of millions of dollars from his clients, including several with severe physical injuries and families of people killed in accidents.
After a 13-day trial and less than a full day of deliberations, the federal jury in Los Angeles found the 85-year-old Girardi guilty of four counts of wire fraud.
Girardi is the estranged husband of “The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills” star Erika Jayne and appeared on the show himself dozens of times between 2015 and 2020.
He was once among the most prominent lawyers in the nation, often representing victims of major disasters against powerful companies. One lawsuit against California’s Pacific Gas and Electric utility led to a $333 million settlement and was portrayed in the 2000 Julia Roberts film “Erin Brockovich.”
But his law empire collapsed, and he was disbarred in California in 2022 over client thefts.
Former clients who testified against Girardi included an Arizona woman whose husband was killed in a boat accident and victims who were burned in a 2010 gas pipeline explosion in San Bruno, south of San Francisco.
“Tom Girardi built celebrity status and lured in victims by falsely portraying himself as a ‘Champion of Justice,’” U.S. Attorney Martin Estrada said in a statement after the verdict. “In reality, he was a Robin-Hood-in-reverse.”
An email to Girardi’s attorneys seeking comment on the conviction was not immediately answered.
During trial, defense lawyers sought to blame the thefts on his firm’s chief financial officer, Chris Kamon, who is charged separately and has pleaded not guilty. They portrayed Girardi as a mere figurehead in recent years, with a valuable name.
Prosecutors played jurors voicemails in which Girardi gave a litany of false reasons why money that a court had awarded could not be paid, including tax and debt obligations and judge authorizations. He frequently told them, “Don’t be mad at me.”
Girardi’s attorneys also had argued that he was not competent to stand trial because he had been diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease. Issues with his memory had led another court to put him in a conservatorship under his brother.
But prosecutors contended that Girardi was exaggerating his symptoms, and a judge ruled that he was competent for trial.
Girardi could get as much as 80 years in prison at his sentencing, which is scheduled for December. A judge has allowed him to remain free until then.
Girardi also faces federal wire fraud charges in Chicago, where he is accused of stealing about $3 million from family members of victims of a 2018 Lion Air crash that killed 189 people.
Tom Girardi, once a prominent celebrity lawyer known for his high-profile cases and lavish lifestyle, has recently fallen from grace after being disbarred and convicted of embezzling millions of dollars from his clients. Girardi’s downfall has shocked the legal community and raised questions about the ethics and accountability of lawyers who handle large sums of money on behalf of their clients.
Girardi, who rose to fame as a successful personal injury attorney representing clients in cases against major corporations and celebrities, was disbarred in March 2021 by the California State Bar for misappropriating millions of dollars in settlement funds that were meant for his clients. The State Bar found that Girardi had diverted the funds to support his extravagant lifestyle, which included expensive cars, private jets, and a multimillion-dollar mansion.
In addition to being disbarred, Girardi has also faced criminal charges for his actions. In December 2021, he pleaded guilty to charges of embezzlement, conspiracy to commit mail and wire fraud, and tax evasion. He was sentenced to 71 months in federal prison and ordered to pay restitution to his victims.
The case against Girardi has shed light on the potential dangers of lawyers who have access to large sums of money on behalf of their clients. It has also raised questions about the oversight and regulation of attorneys who handle settlement funds and other financial transactions.
In response to Girardi’s case, legal experts have called for stricter regulations and oversight of lawyers who handle client funds. They argue that more transparency and accountability are needed to prevent similar cases of embezzlement and misconduct in the future.
Girardi’s case serves as a cautionary tale for both clients and lawyers alike. Clients should be vigilant in monitoring their attorneys’ handling of their funds and should not hesitate to question any discrepancies or irregularities. Lawyers, on the other hand, should adhere to strict ethical standards and always act in the best interests of their clients.
Overall, the case of Tom Girardi serves as a stark reminder of the importance of trust, integrity, and accountability in the legal profession. It is a sobering reminder that even the most successful and respected lawyers are not immune to temptation and wrongdoing. As the legal community grapples with the fallout from Girardi’s actions, it is crucial that steps are taken to prevent similar cases from occurring in the future.
