Pop crooner and “Real Housewives of Beverly Hills” star Erika Girardi don quietly settle a long legal battle wey dey over her ex-husband law firm. Na on Thursday, for Los Angeles federal court, she settle the $25-million bankruptcy lawsuit wey the trustee for Tom Girardi and Girardi Keese bring.
The case dey since 2021, when the trustee accuse Erika say she use more than $25 million from the law firm for her personal expenses. Dem say she use the money to prop up her music career as Erika Jayne, where she top charts with dance club hits.
Court records show say between 2008 and 2020, Girardi Keese pay at least $14 million in charges to her American Express account. But Erika claim she no know anything about the source of the money. For one deposition, she say “I did not know how much I spent per month or per year.”
Tom Girardi, the disgraced lawyer, currently dey serve seven-year prison sentence for wire fraud. Dem convict am for stealing millions from his personal-injury clients. The 86-year-old former attorney, once the most prominent trial lawyer for California, go likely spend the rest of his life behind bars.
The settlement come just as the case set to go to trial. The two sides get until Tuesday, May 26, to file settlement notice and dismissal request. The settlement amount no dey disclosed.
Erika Jayne recently address the lawsuit during part one of the “RHOBH” Season 15 reunion. She say “You can file for bankruptcy, or you can fight it out in court. You can go to trial, you can cut a deal, you can die in the streets. I have no idea.”
The trustee lawyer earlier tell Us Weekly say “The law firm paid out over $25 million in expenses which were approved and generated by one person, Erika Girardi.” Erika lawyer deny the accusations, say she no get legal liability.
Erika file for divorce from Tom in 2020 after 21 years of marriage. The divorce dem pause after both them dey named in fraud lawsuit. Erika don always maintain her innocence, say she no know anything about her husband misconduct.
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