As Thomas Girardi and his firm, Girardi Keese, are being forced into Chapter 7 bankruptcy, new details are being revealed about the proceedings. Also, a new report is revealing Tom’s son-in-law is no longer speaking to him after resigning from his law firm.
Earlier this week, it was reported that Thomas’ many creditors, including two of his former firm partners, filed documents against him in a Federal Court in California as his son-in-law was also dragged into a $2 million lawsuit against The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills attorney and his estranged wife, Erika Jayne.
According to a report by the LA Times, Thomas’ son-in-law David Lira, who originally resigned from Tom’s law firm in June, has also resigned from his new law firm — Johnston Hutchinson & Lira law firm — after being named by Edelson PC in their $2 million lawsuit against Thomas and Erika, which accuses the couple of embezzling money from families of victims of a 2018 plane crash in Indonesia.
In court papers filed this week, David, who is married to Tom’s daughter, claims he repeatedly urged his father-in-law to pay out the settlement money from the Boeing case to the Indonesian clients.
“Similar exchanges with increasing intensity followed with the final confrontation on the day Mr. Lira resigned and left the firm,” David’s attorney Edith Matthai stated.
David’s attorney also claims David hasn’t spoken to Tom since June 13 — the day he walked out of the Girardi Keese offices.
Meanwhile, a second report is now sharing some new details on Tom’s involuntary bankruptcy proceedings.
“The debtor is generally not paying such debtor’s debts as they become due,” the court documents, obtained by The Blast on December 22, read.
According to the report, the creditors listed in the petition include Thomas’ former partners, Robert Keese, who claims he’s owed over $1.5 million, and Jill O’Callahan, who says she is owed $757,000. A family member of one of Thomas’ former clients was also listed.
If the court approves the involuntary bankruptcy petition, Thomas’ legal issues will all be dealt in one place, including the many lawsuits against him. And, after the court appoints a trustee to look over his assets, his wealth will be distributed to those owed.
Although Erika requested she be given spousal support by Thomas after filing for divorce after two decades of marriage last month, Thomas demanded she not be awarded with support, and now, with his potential bankruptcy pending, her request might be affected.
As the outlet explained, Erika and Thomas were accused of a “sham” divorce weeks ago after he allegedly made a payment of over $20 million to her entertainment company.
Photo Credit: Sheri Determan/WENN/Alamy, Jeffrey Mayer/MEGA