Tom Girardi, an 84-year-old former celebrity lawyer and estranged husband of reality TV star Erika Jayne, has been deemed competent to stand trial for allegedly stealing over $15 million from clients. Despite his defense's claims of Alzheimer's disease affecting his ability to participate in the trial, a federal judge has ruled that he can face charges, which include embezzling funds from various clients who suffered personal tragedies. Girardi, who was once a prominent plaintiff's attorney and was disbarred in California in 2022, could face a lengthy prison sentence if convicted. He also faces separate federal wire fraud charges in Chicago related to the 2018 Lion Air crash.
Tom Girardi, the former lawyer featured on "The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills," has been declared competent to stand trial for embezzling $15 million from clients. Despite previous claims of incompetency, U.S. District Judge Josephine Staton has yet to release her order, pending attorney review for potential sealing. Girardi faces five counts of wire fraud and has also been indicted in Chicago for stealing from the families of Lion Air Flight JT 610 crash victims, with a separate competency update expected from U.S. District Judge Mary M. Rowland.
Tom Girardi, an 84-year-old former celebrity lawyer and estranged husband of "The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills" star Erika Jayne, has been found competent to stand trial for allegedly stealing over $15 million from clients. Despite his defense team's claims of Alzheimer's disease affecting his ability to participate in his defense, a federal judge has ruled that the trial can proceed. Girardi, who was disbarred in California in 2022 and faces additional federal wire fraud charges in Chicago, could face decades in prison if convicted.
Tom Girardi, a former high-profile lawyer and estranged husband of reality TV star Erika Jayne, has been declared competent to stand trial for allegedly embezzling over $15 million from clients. Despite his defense claiming he is incapacitated due to Alzheimer's disease, a federal judge has sealed the order for his competency. Girardi, who was disbarred in 2022 and faces additional charges in Chicago, could face a lengthy prison sentence if convicted.
Tom Girardi, the former attorney accused of stealing over $15 million from clients, has been declared competent to stand trial by a federal judge in Los Angeles. This decision allows for Girardi, who faces wire-fraud charges with the possibility of a lengthy prison sentence, to be held accountable despite his dementia diagnosis. The ruling is significant for the victims of his alleged long-running Ponzi scheme, including those injured in the San Bruno pipeline explosion. Girardi's legal team had argued his profound memory problems rendered him unable to understand the charges or assist in his defense, but prosecutors accused him of exaggerating his symptoms to avoid trial. The full details of the judge's analysis will be revealed once the ruling is unsealed.
Tom Girardi, the ex-husband of "The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills" star Erika Jayne, has been declared competent to stand trial despite his Alzheimer's and dementia diagnoses. The 84-year-old former attorney faces criminal contempt and wire fraud charges in California and separate federal charges in Chicago. His estranged wife, Erika Jayne, has been affected by the legal issues, with the couple previously being named in a lawsuit accusing Girardi's law firm of misusing funds. Jayne has expressed her emotional struggles with the situation, highlighting the personal impact of Girardi's legal and health problems.
