A Not So Pretty Legal Mess: Erika Jayne Dropped By Her Lawyers Following Bombshell Hulu Documentary
Erika Jayne has found herself in a not so pretty legal mess. Following the release the bombshell Hulu documentary, The Housewife And The Hustler, the reality starlet has been dropped by her lawyers.
Dinsmore & Shohl LLP was representing Jayne (real name Erika Girardi) amid her estranged husband Tom Girardi’s bankruptcy case but has since filed paperwork to withdraw as Jayne’s counsel, according to court documents.
The law firm notified Jayne, know as The Pretty Mess on Instagram, of its decision no later than Monday — coincidentally (or not?) the same day the buzzed-about documentary dropped on the streaming service.
While it is unclear if the Hulu doc influenced the lawyers' actions, the firm stated "the relationship of trust and confidence that is essential to a properly functioning attorney-client relationship has broken down and, in the good faith assessment of counsel, the relationship is irreparable."
The legal team also told Jayne to seek a new lawyer and warned her of "the potential consequences of not timely securing replacement counsel."
As OK! previously reported Girardi, a prominent Los Angeles attorney, was forced into Chapter 7 by his numerous creditors. He is accused of owing tens of millions to lenders, former clients and business partners.
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The Real Housewives Of Beverly Hills star has not been formally charged with any crimes but the former couple have been accused of embezzling money together meant for her husband's clients. In one pending federal lawsuit, widows and orphans, who lost their loved ones in a plane crash, claim Jayne helped Girardi divert millions they were owed to help fund their lavish lifestyle.
According to court documents, the 49 year-old Bravo star "sought spousal support and requested the court to terminate its ability to award spousal support to Tom." The 82-year-old "responded by asking the court to terminate its ability to award spousal support to Erika" and blatantly "requested that she pay his attorney fees and costs."
“[Tom and Erika are] together in these bankruptcy proceedings," Law360 features reporter Brandon Lowrey explained in the Hulu documentary. "A lot of these debts that they owe in bankruptcy proceedings, [they] owe together, possibly. It’s going to be hard for her to say she didn’t know that anything was going on."
