Credit: Instagram, SURQ/BACKGRID
Erika Jayne has alluded to the dust settling in her legal drama on recent episodes of The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills. But according to recent posts from an attorney, that doesn’t seem to be the case.
As her estranged husband, Thomas Girardi, 85, potentially evades prison time due to his supposedly dwindling mental state, attorney Ronald Richards has offered a series of updates on Erika’s legal status, sharing that her position is “worsening” after she gave up her fight for a pair of earrings Thomas bought her years ago.
“This is the final status conference report for [Erika Jayne] on the second Trustee case against her. This is from her husband’s Trustee. We filed the one for the law [firm’s] trustee. Contrary to the TV interviews, her legal prospects are getting worse, not better as these trials will come to fruition,” Ronald wrote on X in November.
In the attached documents pertaining to Thomas’ bankruptcy case, which is expected to go to trial, it was noted that the prosecution was hoping for mediation ahead and that the defense, including Erika, was not.
Thomas’ mental state was also mentioned as it was revealed that the trial could last over a week.
In another post on X, Ronald confirmed that Erika was no longer appealing a judge’s ruling that her $1.4 million earrings should be turned over to the court since they were reportedly purchased with money belonging to Thomas’ former clients.
“Erika Girardi is not appealing the earrings turnover decision. This is now final. Erika has finally given up!” Ronald declared. “Order ent. 10/23/24. Judge just signed scheduling order conf. for the $25m fraudulent convey. Trial which will go fwd aft the pretrial conf. on January 28, 2025.”
According to court documents, proceeds from the sale of the earrings will be placed into a trust account, which seems to mean the earnings will eventually be used to repay those who Thomas ripped off.
In a third post on X, Ronald explained why Thomas may not actually serve any time for the crimes he committed against his former clients and others.
“Tom Girardi’s Dec. 20, 2024 sentencing hearing VACATED. The judge is going to consider something other than prison. The law also allows for the hospitalization of a convicted person suffering from mental disease or defect. See 18 USC 4244. He may escape any custodial time,” Ronald shared.
While Thomas and his attorneys have signaled a cognitive decline since shortly after he was accused of running a Ponzi scheme at his now-defunct law firm, Girardi Keese, there have been questions surrounding the legitimacy of the diagnosis.
