Ex-celebrity lawyer Tom Girardi found competent to stand trial for alleged $15 million client thefts

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Disgraced Los Angeles celeb lawyer Tom Girardi has been discovered competent to face trial on costs that he stole greater than $15 million from his purchasers.

A federal decide filed a discover of the temporary order Tuesday below seal. Attorneys for each side got 5 days to determine any data in it that they want the decide to maintain confidential.

Girardi, 84, is the estranged husband of “The Actual Housewives of Beverly Hills” star Erika Jayne.

Girardi pleaded not responsible in Los Angeles final 12 months to wire fraud on costs that he embezzled from purchasers, together with an Arizona widow whose husband was killed in a ship accident; a Los Angeles couple injured in a automotive wreck that paralyzed their son; and a person who was severely burned within the 2010 San Bruno gasoline pipeline explosion.

If convicted, he could possibly be sentenced to many years in federal jail.

The Related Press despatched messages to his public defenders searching for remark.

At situation within the competency listening to was whether or not Girardi understood the fees and proceedings towards him and will assist together with his personal protection. His attorneys argued that he was unable to participate within the trial as a result of he has been recognized with Alzheimer’s illness, which they stated has left him confused and with reminiscence issues. He at the moment is staying within the reminiscence care unit of a nursing dwelling.

Prosecutors contended that Girardi was exaggerating his signs.

As one of many nation’s most distinguished plaintiff’s attorneys, Girardi took on highly effective companies, film studios and Pacific Gasoline and Electrical in a case that led to a $333 million settlement, which was portrayed within the 2000 Julia Roberts movie “Erin Brockovich.”

However his legislation empire collapsed, he was disbarred in California in 2022 over consumer thefts, and he faces mounting authorized issues.

Girardi additionally faces federal wire fraud costs in Chicago, the place he’s accused of stealing about $3 million from members of the family of victims of a 2018 Lion Air crash that killed 189 folks.

The Chicago court docket is predicted to observe the competency resolution in California.