Chicago Prosecutors Reconsider Case Against Disgraced Lawyer Tom Girardi

Federal prosecutors in Chicago are reassessing their criminal case against Tom Girardi, the disbarred California attorney, following his recent conviction in Los Angeles. This development comes as the legal community awaits Girardi's sentencing, scheduled for December 6, 2024, in the California case.

Last month, a Los Angeles jury found Girardi, 85, guilty on four counts of wire fraud for misappropriating $15 million in client settlement funds. The Chicago charges, which may now be dropped, accuse Girardi and two associates of misusing over $3 million owed to families of victims from the 2018 Boeing 737 MAX Lion Air Flight 610 crash in Indonesia.

A spokesperson for the Chicago U.S. attorney's office stated, "We are currently considering our options as to whether to proceed with the charges against Mr. Girardi, in light of his recent conviction in the Central District of California." Girardi's federal defender, Seema Ahmad, confirmed the prosecutors' deliberations but refrained from further comment.

The potential dismissal of the Chicago charges does not mean they will be inconsequential. Prosecutors indicated that these allegations "will be presented as relevant conduct" during Girardi's sentencing in Los Angeles, where he faces up to 20 years in prison for each wire fraud count.

Girardi's fall from grace marks a stark contrast to his once-prominent status in the U.S. legal community. He gained national recognition for his involvement in the case that inspired the film "Erin Brockovich" and was the first attorney in California to secure a $1 billion lawsuit verdict. His law firm, Girardi Keese, founded in 1965, was once regarded as one of the most successful plaintiffs' firms in the United States.

The disgraced lawyer's career unraveled in 2020 when fraud allegations surfaced, leading to the collapse of his firm in December of that year and the revocation of his law license by the California Supreme Court in June 2021. Girardi had been a respected figure in the legal community, having served on the California Judicial Council from 1995 to 1998 and being inducted into the Trial Lawyer Hall of Fame by the California State Bar in 2003.

The Boeing 737 MAX crash, central to the Chicago case, occurred on October 29, 2018, resulting in the deaths of all 189 people on board. This tragedy became intertwined with Girardi's legal troubles, highlighting the far-reaching consequences of his alleged misconduct.

As the legal proceedings continue, Girardi's case serves as a cautionary tale within the legal profession. His dramatic fall from a celebrated attorney to a convicted fraudster has sparked discussions about ethics, oversight, and accountability in the legal system.

"The State Bar of California is committed to addressing past failures in our discipline system. We have implemented significant reforms to ensure that all complaints are thoroughly investigated, regardless of who they are filed against."

The ongoing saga surrounding Tom Girardi continues to captivate public attention, not only due to his legal career but also because of his connection to popular culture through his estranged wife, Erika Jayne Girardi, a star of "The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills." As the December sentencing approaches, the legal community and the public alike await the final chapter in this complex and controversial case.