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A federal lawsuit accuses prominent Los Angeles lawyer Thomas Girardi of stealing funds owed to relatives of plane crash victims to secure “a public image of obscene wealth” for himself and his wife, pop singer and “Real Housewives of Beverly Hills” star Erika Jayne.
The lawsuit alleges that Girardi embezzled proceeds from settlements that plane maker Boeing paid in compensation to dozens of families earlier this year. The lawsuit was filed in Chicago US District Court on Wednesday by Edelson PC, an Illinois law firm that worked with Girardi to represent the surviving relatives of the victims.
“Tom resorted to diverting products from the colonies that should have been directed to his customers – including … the widows and orphans who lost loved ones in the tragic crash of Lion Air Flight 610 – in order to continue to finance his sumptuous and that of Erika. Beverly Hills lifestyles, ”according to the complaint.
The Lion Air flight crashed into the ocean off Indonesia in 2018, killing all 189 people on board. The plane was a 737 Max, the jet that Boeing later failed due to issues with its anti-stall software.
Girardi, who is best known for his work on the toxic tort cases against Pacific Gas & Electric depicted in the movie “Erin Brockovich,” did not immediately return messages seeking comment.
He refused to hand over the money despite months of demands, according to the lawsuit.
Jayne, whose legal name is Erika Girardi, married the famous lawyer in 2000 but filed for divorce last month, citing irreconcilable differences. Its representatives did not return requests for comment.
The lawsuit argues that the divorce “is simply a fraudulent attempt to fraudulently protect Tom and Erika’s money from those seeking to collect debts owed by Tom” and his company, Girardi Keese.
The amount Boeing paid the families is confidential but “substantial,” according to the lawsuit.
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