Disgraced Attorney Tom Girardi Convicted of Wire Fraud in $15M Case

Tom Girardi, the once-prominent California attorney, has been found guilty of wire fraud by a Los Angeles federal jury. The 85-year-old disbarred lawyer was convicted on four counts related to the misappropriation of $15 million in settlement funds from his clients.

Girardi, whose legal career spanned nearly six decades, gained national recognition for his involvement in the pollution case that inspired the Oscar-winning film "Erin Brockovich" in 2000. However, his reputation has been tarnished by allegations of financial misconduct that surfaced in 2020, leading to the loss of his law license.

The prosecution accused Girardi of deceiving clients and misusing funds obtained from personal injury settlements. In his defense, Girardi attributed the alleged fraudulent activities to Christopher Kamon, the former chief financial officer of their law firm, Girardi Keese. Girardi's legal team also argued that their client suffers from dementia, a condition affecting millions worldwide.

Judge Josephine Staton of the U.S. District Court for the Central District of California, one of the nation's largest federal courts, previously ruled that Girardi was competent to stand trial, despite claims of cognitive impairment. This decision has implications for a separate case in Chicago, where Girardi faces additional charges.

The Chicago case involves allegations that Girardi, Kamon, and David Lira (Girardi's son-in-law) misappropriated over $3 million intended for families of victims from the 2018 Boeing 737 MAX Lion Air Flight 610 crash in Indonesia. This tragic incident, which claimed 189 lives, led to a worldwide grounding of the aircraft model for nearly two years.

"The verdict has been confirmed, but we have no further comment at this time."

Kamon, who will be tried separately in January 2025, faces his own set of charges. He is accused of embezzling $10 million from Girardi Keese, allegedly spending the funds on home renovations, luxury vehicles, and personal indulgences. Both Kamon and Girardi have pleaded not guilty to all charges in both the Los Angeles and Chicago cases.

The fall from grace of Tom Girardi, who was once a titan in the U.S. plaintiffs bar, has sent shockwaves through the legal community. His firm, Girardi Keese, established in 1965, was renowned for taking on high-profile cases against large corporations. The current allegations highlight the severe consequences of violating the trust placed in attorneys by their clients.

Girardi's personal life has also been under scrutiny due to his connection to reality television. He is the estranged husband of Erika Jayne Girardi, a star of the long-running series "Real Housewives of Beverly Hills," which has been on air since 2010.

As the legal proceedings continue, the case serves as a stark reminder of the importance of ethical conduct in the legal profession and the potential ramifications of financial misconduct. The wire fraud conviction carries a potential sentence of up to 20 years in federal prison, underscoring the severity of the charges against the once-celebrated attorney.