The latest development in the embezzlement case involving top LA lawyer Tom Girardi and his Real Housewives of Beverly Hills star ex Erika Jayne is one that her critics will be pleased with: A judge has reportedly ruled that some of Tom’s former clients will be able to collect the money they’re owed from Erika.
According to court records obtained by PEOPLE, Tom’s ex-clients, Joseph Ruigomez, Jaime Ruigomez and Kathleen Ruigomez, are owed (USD)$11 million which they will be able to collect from the reality star, as per a 2020 litigation.
A judge previously halted the collections from Tom’s assets while he and his law firm, Girardi Keese, were under investigation. But weeks later, is has been reported that Girardi Keese transferred $20 million to Erika’s entertainment business, meaning the Ruigomez’s are now able to retrieve the money from the Real Housewife.
“All assets identified by the Ruigomez family shall be subject to all rights of the Girardi bankruptcy estate and the [Girardi Keese] bankruptcy estate, which parties shall meet and confer in good faith to determine the character/ownership of the identified assets,” the new document states, later adding, “The Ruigomez Family, the Girardi Trustee and the GK Trustee shall cooperate with each other with their collection efforts against Erika.”
Last year, Erika Jayne revealed she’s filing for divorce from the lawyer (who is best known for the Erin Brokovich) and shortly after the announcement, both Tom and Erika were sued for embezzlement and fraud. The lawsuit alleged that their divorce filing was “simply a sham attempt to fraudulently protect Tom and Erika’s money from those that seek to collect on debts owed by Tom and his law firm GK.”
Tom Girardi is also facing a civil lawsuit over claims that his firm embezzled money from the victims of a plane crash.
Earlier this year, the State Bar of California added extra charges against Tom Girardi, which reportedly included misappropriating funds (millions of dollars in client funds, to be exact).
In the midst of all this, Tom Girardi has been placed in a temporary conservatorship after being diagnosed with dementia.
The case was heavily documented on the scalding ABC documentary, The Housewife & The Hustler. Have a read of the most shocking moments from the doco here.
Meanwhile, the trials and tribulations of Tom and Erika’s marriage is being discussed on RHOBH which is now streaming on Hayu, with a new ep dropping tonight.
