Erika Jayne's Estranged Husband Tom Girardi Speaks Out About Conservatorship As Multiple Legal Proceedings Continue
After being placed in a temporary conservatorship earlier this year amid health issues, multiple lawsuits and his split from Erika Jayne, Tom Girardi is finally speaking out.
The 82-year-old attended a virtual court hearing on Wednesday, June 9. "Obviously, I disagree with the conservatorship altogether," he told a judge as his brother, Robert Girardi, was put in control of his person, estate and finances.
"I think that we should put together the reasons why the conservatorship should be dissolved, and then we’ll address it, address the court," Girardi added. "Right now, I have nothing to say to the court."
However, the judge still ruled that Robert should take control over decisions regarding Girardi's health and care, daily matters, estate and finances.
Girardi was placed under the temporary conservatorship in February. One of his attorneys reportedly claimed in court in December 2020 that his client had been hospitalized for a "serious illness," raising questions about his mental competency. In March, court documents revealed Girardi had been diagnosed with late-onset Alzheimer's and dementia.
"There was an urgent need for Bob Girardi to have the power to engage counsel in the bankruptcy proceeding on his brother’s behalf, and Tom’s court-appointed counsel clearly agreed, as did the court today," Robert’s attorney, Nicholas Van Brunt, previously told Us Weekly.
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In November, it was confirmed that Girardi and Jayne, 49, had split after 20 years of marriage.
"After much consideration, I have decided to end my marriage to Tom Girardi," the Real Housewives of Beverly Hills star said at the time. "This is not a step taken lightly or easily. I have great love and respect for Tom and for our years and the lives we built together. It is my absolute wish to proceed through this process with respect and with the privacy that both Tom and I deserve. I request others give us that privacy as well."
However, the split quickly became the least of their problems when the estranged couple were sued in December for allegedly embezzling $2 million in settlement funds intended for the families of victims of a 2018 plane crash. Edelson PC claimed that the divorce was "simply a sham attempt to fraudulently protect Tom’s and Erika’s money from those that seek to collect on debts owed by Tom and his law firm."
Later the same month, the lawyer was hit with another lawsuit, which alleged that his company had breached an agreement with Wells Fargo Vendor Financial Services. The bank is seeking payment for an outstanding $882,715 bill.
His former firm partner, Robert Keese, has also sued to dissolve their business venture, 1126 Wilshire Partnership, after Keese and other attorneys alleged that Girardi didn't pay them the estimated $315,000 they earned from the partnership and claimed he pocketed the cash "for his own personal gain."
"Erika was completely unaware of the very serious allegations that were being made against Tom in court," a source told Us Weekly. "Tom always handled all of the finances and that was how they handled things. Erika feels betrayed by Tom because she completely trusted him."
