Erika Jayne and Tom Girardi. Shutterstock (2)
Tom Girardi, the estranged husband of Erika Jayne, stated that he is not going to testify at an upcoming listening to associated to the Lion Air Flight 610 case.
The previous lawyer, 82, informed a Chicago federal decide on Monday, August 9, that if he’s referred to as to the stand, he’ll invoke his proper to stay silent, Law360 reported. The September listening to is expounded to contempt fees stemming from the December lawsuit that accused Girardi and his agency of misappropriating funds supposed for households of the victims of the Lion Air airplane crash.
After the protection staff conceded that $2 million in settlement funds had been lacking, the decide discovered each Girardi and his agency, Girardi Keese, in contempt and froze their belongings.
In December 2020, class motion agency Edelson PC alleged in court docket paperwork that Girardi and Erika, 50, embezzled the settlement funds supposed for the Lion Air households. The agency additionally accused the previous couple of saying their divorce to guard their belongings.
“Whereas Erika publicly filed for divorce [in November 2020], on info and perception, that ‘divorce’ is solely a sham try to fraudulently shield Tom’s and Erika’s cash from those who search to gather on money owed owed by Tom and his legislation agency GK,” the paperwork claimed.
The lawsuit additionally alleged that Tom’s “have to fund outrageous existence for himself and his soon-to-be ex-wife” was the rationale for the divorce submitting, claiming that the disgraced lawyer used settlement funds to “launch private ensures, pay down loans, route the cash to family and friends and fulfill different excellent money owed.”
For her half, the Fairly Mess creator has denied understanding something about Tom’s funds or the whereabouts of the allegedly lacking settlement funds. In a midseason trailer for The Actual Housewives of Beverly Hills launched final month, when the ladies are discussing Tom’s authorized hassle, Erika says, “If he stole the cash, I’d wish to know the place it’s.”
Earlier in season 11, the previous Broadway star stated that she’d requested Tom to elucidate the Lion Air state of affairs to her, however claimed he refused. “I saved asking. And I used to be constantly shut out,” she stated through the July 14 episode. “I [pleaded], I begged, I attempted. I pushed as laborious as I may till I couldn’t push anymore.”
Erika has not been charged with any crimes, however in June, a decide ordered her to show over all of her monetary information. The next month, Tom’s conservatorship was made official after he was identified with dementia earlier this yr. His brother, Robert Girardi, was initially appointed his non permanent conservator in February.
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