On January 4, 2024, ABA Journal reported that disbarred California lawyer Tom Girardi, once known for his successful personal injury practice and representing the plaintiffs in the film Erin Brockovich, had been found competent to stand trial in Los Angeles federal court for allegedly embezzling over $15 million from clients.
Girardi, 84, who is married to Real Housewives of Beverly Hills star Erika Girardi but is currently estranged, is accused of stealing settlement funds intended for victims of the 2018 Lion Air Flight 610 crash in Indonesia. His competency had been in question due to claims of suffering from dementia, but U.S. District Judge Josephine Staton found him fit to face charges after conducting an assessment.
Girardi previously lost his law license in June 2022. His former firm, Girardi Keese, was also forced into bankruptcy amid over 100 complaints filed by the bankruptcy trustee seeking to recover more than $140 million allegedly owed to casinos, past employees, and other law firms and companies. Girardi now resides in an assisted living facility.
However, with the competency ruling, he will have to answer in court for his alleged crimes of misappropriating client settlement funds totaling over $15 million in Los Angeles and more than $3 million intended for Lion Air crash victims’ relatives in Chicago.
Source: ABA Journal
