Joseph Ruigomez and his parents, Jaime and Kathleen, have just filed a lawsuit against Thomas Girardi amid his involuntary bankruptcy case.
Years after Joseph was awarded an $11 million settlement from the Pacific Gas and Electric Company after suffering burns over 90 percent of his body as a result of a gas pipeline explosion, he and his family members are requesting the Real Housewives of Beverly Hills cast member not be let off the hook after failing to hand over the funds.
According to a report shared by Radar Online on April 29, Joseph and his family believe they are owed $11,747,245.95 and are asking that the judgment not be discharged as part of Thomas’ Chapter 7 bankruptcy.
Following the September 2010 explosion, which killed Joseph’s girlfriend, Thomas and his firm, Girardi Keese, represented Joseph in a personal injury lawsuit against PG&E. However, after PG&E agreed to the $11 million settlement and turned over the funds to Thomas, he failed to pass them on to the family in full and instead told them he would “invest” the money on their behalf.
According to court documents, Thomas, whose wife, Erika Jayne, filed for divorce in November 2020 in the midst of his legal drama, told the family their investment would earn interest at a guaranteed rate of at least 6.5%. But after making just a couple of payments, Thomas stopped transferring the family Joseph’s settlement funds.
“Despite repeated promises to pay the Ruigomez’s their remaining amount due, Debtor and GK failed to pay the Ruigomez’s the entirety of their funds due and owing,” the documents explained.
In addition to reportedly stiffing the burn victim out of millions, Thomas is also accused of failing to pay a car crash victim $700,000.
Earlier this year, after being targeted with several lawsuits, Thomas’ creditors forced him into involuntary bankruptcy. In the months since, Thomas has claimed to be mentally incompetent.
The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills season 11 premieres on Wednesday, May 19, at 8/7c on Bravo.