Erika Jayne, star of Real Housewives of Beverly Hills, is facing a significant legal challenge as she heads to trial in a civil lawsuit that has now tied her even closer to her disgraced ex-husband, Tom Girardi. The lawsuit, filed by Girardi’s bankruptcy trustee Elissa Miller, accuses Jayne of using more than $24 million in funds allegedly embezzled by Girardi in a long-running fraud scheme.
The case is set to unfold in the coming months, and its outcome could have a major impact on Jayne’s financial future and public image. While Erika Jayne has continuously denied any wrongdoing, insisting she was unaware of the questionable financial dealings happening within her former husband’s law firm, Girardi Keese, the legal battles are far from over.
The Allegations and Lawsuit
According to the U.S. Sun, Erika Jayne, 53, is being sued for over $24 million in a civil lawsuit filed by Elissa Miller, the bankruptcy trustee handling the aftermath of Girardi’s criminal activities. Girardi was found guilty in 2022 of wire fraud after being accused of embezzling $15 million from clients over a period of ten years through what has been described as a “Ponzi scheme.”
The trustee’s lawsuit, filed in September 2021, claims that Jayne was well aware of the illicit payments made to her by her ex-husband’s firm. Specifically, the lawsuit alleges that Girardi Keese used funds from their fraudulent activities to cover Jayne’s personal expenses between 2007 and 2020. As Miller’s legal team detailed in court filings:
“The Trustee contends that Ms. Girardi knowingly and willingly participated in Mr. Girardi’s criminal enterprise and the money used to pay her business expenses were monies from that criminal enterprise.”
The lawsuit suggests that Jayne, who has long maintained her innocence, used Girardi’s personal American Express credit cards to cover expenses related to her entertainment career. This includes charges for services and products that allegedly supported her efforts as an entertainer, actor, singer, and writer.
Legal Back-and-Forth
Despite the severity of the accusations, Erika Jayne’s legal team has vigorously denied any misconduct. They argue that the payments were recorded as advances or loans on the books of her business, EJ Global, LLC, and should not be considered personal debts owed by her. They also emphasized that no formal promissory note was ever created to document any alleged debts, and thus, they argue, the lawsuit is based on “false” accusations.
Her defense further claims:
“The Trustee’s above-referenced accusations that Ms. Girardi knowingly and willingly participated in a criminal enterprise are false, not supported by any evidence whatsoever, malicious, and should be stricken.”
This marks a stark contrast to the trustee’s stance, which asserts that Jayne played an active role in the fraudulent activities, particularly since she benefited directly from the misappropriated funds.
Moving Forward: The Trial and What’s at Stake
As the case progresses, a trial date has been set to take place, likely after June 2025. Judge Anne Hwang will oversee the proceedings in district court, and both parties are expected to present their cases with a select list of witnesses, including Miller and Jayne herself. Expert testimony, including that of Nicholas R. Troszak, a bankruptcy and forensic accounting specialist, will be introduced in the coming weeks.
For Jayne, the stakes are high, both personally and professionally. The reality star, who filed for divorce from Girardi in November 2020, has faced a slew of lawsuits related to the Girardi Keese scandal. On the latest season of Real Housewives of Beverly Hills, she candidly opened up about the emotional toll the legal battles have taken on her:
“It’ll be four years in like two weeks that I left home and everything happened. Yeah, four years. So in that four years I’ve been able to accept a lot of things, heal through a lot of things, and I will continue to do that.”
Jayne’s legal issues have been a central theme in her storyline on the reality series, with her constantly asserting that she was unaware of her ex-husband’s criminal activities. But as the civil lawsuit looms larger, the reality star’s claims will be put to the test in court.
The Bigger Picture: Tom Girardi’s Conviction and Ongoing Legal Troubles
Erika Jayne’s legal woes are intricately tied to the downfall of Tom Girardi, her estranged husband. Girardi, once a highly respected attorney, was convicted in August 2022 of wire fraud for stealing millions from clients, including victims of the 2018 Lion Air crash. He is currently awaiting sentencing, and while suffering from dementia, he was deemed fit to stand trial. Federal prosecutors are seeking a 14-year prison sentence and restitution of over $3.7 million.
In light of the ongoing investigations and his conviction, Girardi’s financial legacy continues to haunt those associated with him, including Jayne. With no clear resolution in sight for the civil lawsuit, it appears that Erika Jayne’s legal battles are far from over.
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