A not so pretty mess.

Erika Jayne’s legal issues continue to grow, according to a new article from Page Six.

The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills star and two former Girardi Keese employees are being sued for fraud and theft by Nicolas Cage’s ex-girlfriend Christina Fulton.

Fulton is seeking $700,000 plus in the lawsuit, which claims that Tom Girardi and his former colleagues Samantha Gold and John Kelley Courtney misappropriated settlement funds to support their lifestyles.

In January 2016, Fulton was involved in a car accident where she sustained severe injuries. Following the automobile accident, she sought out Girardi Keese for legal representation. Gold served as Fulton’s primary counsel while Courtney was a senior attorney on the case.

In March 2019, the case concluded with a confidential settlement agreement in the amount of $924,300,000.

Fast forward to July 2022 when Fulton learned via “newly discovered financial documents” what happened to her nearly $1 million in settlement funds.

Documents proved that Fulton’s settlement funds were deposited into Girardi Keese’s bank account without her consent.

“This was a complete outright forgery as [Fulton] never endorsed this check and certainly never agreed to have it deposited,” the lawsuit claims.

“This negotiated check was in fact a forgery and a lie. The check was never held in trust but spent. It is beyond shocking and the pale that the firm would conceal the arrival of the check and not obtain Ms. Fulton’s endorsement as required by law.”

According to her lawsuit, Fulton only received $190,000 of her settlement between April 2019 and September 2020.

This maneuver was part of Girardi’s grift “to dupe his clients into waiting for money by dribbling small payments.”

Fulton’s attorney also claims there is proof that the settlement funds were disbursed to Girardi Keese in three separate installments: $214,000 on April 26, 2019, $1 million on April 12, 2019, and $300,000 on April 10, 2019.

As for why Erika is named in the lawsuit, Fulton claims there is proof that her funds were allegedly “diverted to Erika” via her company, EJ Global. The funds were later transferred to Pretty Mess Inc.

Per the lawsuit, Fulton alleges that Tom and Erika used the funds “as their own assets” to “pay for their lavish lifestyle.”

“The funds were treated as community property,” court documents allege.

“Erika used the money to pay off her expenses,” the suit claims. “For at least 12 years, all of her expenses were paid by Girardi Keese as she was generating them. No one withdrew money from the firm other than Erika Girardi.”

One of the attorneys representing Fulton is none other than Erika’s arch nemesis, Ronald Richards.

Richards claims that “many people in Hollywood trusted Tom and Erika in their legal matters.”

He adds that Erika and Tom were a “public couple who preached wealth and success.”

“Erika profited off of these funds, which [were] used to provide content for the ‘Housewives’ show to which she was paid for. She directly received vendor payments from these funds and personally benefited from the misappropriation of our client’s settlement,” Richards continues.

Despite the claims, Erika’s attorney, Evan C. Borges, notes that his client is a “non-lawyer” who had “no role” in her husband’s legal career.

Borges adds that Erika simply “thought she was married to an extremely wealthy attorney with a financially successful law firm.”

And that this lawsuit is just another attempt to make Erika responsible for her estranged husband’s actions.

“It’s a distraction tactic and specious for lawyers representing former [Girardi & Keese] clients to use Erika’s lifestyle and persona on a ‘Housewives’ show as an excuse to sue her,” Borges adds. “The focus should be on Tom Girardi and, where supported by evidence, the lawyers, accountants, and financiers who enabled his misconduct and wrongdoing.”

The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills airs on Wednesdays at 8 pm on Bravo.

The drama in this week’s episode of the Real Housewives of Beverly Hills picks up at Sutton Stracke’s holiday luncheon.

While I’d like to rehash every tiny detail of the episode  I need to just to get a quick and dirty recap up for you all to discuss!

The drama at Sutton’s party heats up when Garcelle confronts Erika for cursing out her 14 year old son.

Erika completely owns it and apologizes to Garcelle for her actions while also praising her parenting.

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The Pretty Mess singer blames her drunken antics on mixing her new medication with one too many margaritas.

https://twitter.com/jaysrealityblog/status/1547437418516717568?s=21&t=b8knoGczrKIXklJx01NVtg

The apology turns sideways when Kyle injects and defends Erika getting a little tipsy. This rubs Garcelle the wrong way and she accuses Kyle of jumping ship yet again.

Kyle and Garcelle gloss over the drama but rehash it during lunch a few days later with Sheree. Garcelle insinuates that she thinks Erika could be developing a drinking problem amid her recent antics. She also worries about Erika mixing drinking with her anxiety meds. Kyle disagrees and says she doesn’t want to put labels on anyone especially when it comes to possible substance abuse issues.

https://twitter.com/jaysrealityblog/status/1547441786838196229?s=21&t=b8knoGczrKIXklJx01NVtg

Meanwhile, Diana and Sutton meet for lunch and it’s quickly clear that these two will NEVER be friends.

Sutton says she’s confused because she thought they left things off on a good note following their drama at Garcelle’s party.

Diana admits she was being fake with Sutton and thinks everything Sutton says is to one up the other person. The RHOBH newbie was so passive agressivo that Sutton had to leave the lunch. While Sutton knows she and Diana will never be friends she believes they can be cordial to each other during group events.

https://twitter.com/jaysrealityblog/status/1547445105249984514?s=21&t=b8knoGczrKIXklJx01NVtg

The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills airs on Wednesdays at 8 pm on Bravo.

The plot thickens!

Just when you think the drama between Erika Jayne and attorney Ronald Richards couldn’t get any stranger – it does!

On Wednesday, the attorney announced via Instagram that he and his wife Lauren Boyette Richards are in the process of trying to purchase Tom Girardi and Erika’s former Pasadena mansion.

For context, Richards was a trustee in Tom’s bankruptcy case before stepping down. He’s also currently involved in a $5 million fraud lawsuit against Erika.

Despite the potential conflict of interest, Richards and his wife put in a $6.9 million offer on the Pasadena estate.

“Since our offer will be part of any motion to approve, we are releasing it now so you are aware @laurenboyetterichards and I are attempting to purchase @theprettymess”s house from the Trustee. This is so our followers can see how the victims’ money was spent and to get a piece of the decadence,” Richards shared via Instagram

“We will also use it for a public forum on first amendment activities, something Erika and her legal team strongly are against. They want secret hearings and trials, not public scrutiny. We will have her deposition there along with other players in the case,” he continued.

“Ultimately, the property will be rehabbed and liquidated after the Estate proceeds are disbursed. We are hopeful there are no further delays in selling this deteriorating asset that is having its equity eroded on a monthly basis. Let’s finally make a deal.”

Richards’ wife was a little less subtle when she announced the news on her Instagram. The former actress/model tagged Erika in the posts and taunted her saying, “Awe, she’s cute. What should we name her?”

In another post, she continued her taunts: “Finally ready for that tea @theprettymess? Perhaps after I renovate the place.”

Naturally, the Real Housewives of Beverly Hills star couldn’t help but comment on this all. I mean it’s pretty bizarre.

“Uhhh how are you going to get this museum past the homeowners association? I think they like their privacy,” Erika commented on Richards’ post.

She added, “Wow! I’m THAT important! I knew you and your wife were SUPER FANS. This really confirms it. Enjoy.”

Richards quipped that he’s “a fan of justice.”

However, Richards’ wife jumped into the conversation and got into a squabble with Erika.

“@Laurenboyetterichards does it bother you that your husband is OBSESSED with me? Kinda weird,” Erika commented.

Boyette-Richards replied, “don’t flatter yourself. I’ve never even seen the show. Working on what matters most- getting monies owed back to these hundreds of victims. Something you should be more focused on instead of your ‘glam.'”

Check out what else they had to say to each other below!

I don’t often agree with Erika but these two are obsessed with her and are clearly desperate for their 15 minutes of fame.

The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills airs on Wednesdays at 8 pm on Bravo.