Tom Girardi.Photo:Backgrid / SplashNews.com
Backgrid / SplashNews.com
Tom Girardi, the estranged husband ofThe Real Housewives of Beverly HillsstarErika Girardi, attended a hearing on Wednesday to determine if he is competent to stand trial after beingindicted on fraud chargesin February.
The hearing was held to decide if Tom, 84, should proceed to trial or be held at a government facility for additional evaluation after his lawyers noted his declining mental state in a June filing, according to theLos Angeles Times.
“Where are we going?” Girardi asked while walking through the courtroom on Wednesday, theLos Angeles Timesreports.
Tom Girardi.Backgrid / SplashNews.com
Prosectors claimed in a recent court filing that Tom’s presentation of himself is “an artfully constructed self-serving portrait,” the outlet reported.
“His purposeful manipulation of these proceedings to avoid the consequences of a trial in this matter directly demonstrate how cunning and capable he truly is,” the prosecutors alleged.
David R. Lira — who worked with Tom at the law firm Girardi Keese — and Christopher K. Kamon, the former head of the firm’s accounting and finance department, were both charged with 12 criminal counts.
The trio is accused of stealing more than $3 million intended for relatives of victims killed in the crash of Lion Air Flight 610, the U.S. Attorney’s Office, Northern District of Illinois, said in apress release.
Tom and Lira represented five clients who were family members of passengers killed in the 2018 plane crash. They filed lawsuits against the plane’s manufacturer, Boeing Co., and settled the suits in 2020, according to the press release.
Tom, Lira, and Kamon are accused of stealing more than $3 million of the settlement funds for “improper purposes, including paying the firm’s payroll and operating expenses, and funding settlements to other Girardi Keese clients.”
Erika and Tom Girardi.Steve Eichner/AP
Erikafiled for divorcefrom her estranged husband in November 2020 after 21 years of marriage as the racketeering and embezzlementallegationswere rising. Allegations included both a criminal and civil suit, the latter of which named Erika as well.
Though acivil battle continues, it was recently concluded in one case that the plaintiffs suing Erika for “aiding and abetting” her estranged husband in alleged fraudfailed to prove she had any knowledge of the alleged crimes, which Erika took as a hopeful sign.
“Two years now down the road, we’re getting some really great rulings, and I’m grateful for that,” she said during theRHOBHpanel in October atBravoCon 2022. “And more to go… SoI’m in a much better place, and I’m grateful for that.”
RELATED VIDEO: Embezzlement Suit AgainstErika GirardiDismissed in Illinois, Will Be Refiled in California
Amid hislegal woesand divorce from Erika, Tom was diagnosed withdementia and late-onset Alzheimer’s diseasein March 2021. That July, he was moved to anursing facilitywith 24-hour care.
During a May 2022 appearance onWatch What Happens Livewith Andy Cohen, Erika offeredan update on Tom’s health, telling hostAndy Cohenthat his condition had not improved.
“Tom lives in a memory care facility… Look, I can only say decline and further decline, it will not get better,” she said, noting that Tom still often reaches out, though their phone calls “last about five seconds.”
Cohen then asked Erika how aware Tom is of his legal troubles, to which Erika responded, “He thinks he’s still practicing law.”
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source: people.com
