Widows and Orphans Face Legal Setback in Erika Jayne Legal Battle, RHOBH Star Seeks to Block Lawsuit Over Allegedly Embezzled Funds

by Lindsay Cronin Comments
0 comment
Widows and Orphans of Plane Crash Victims Face Legal Setback as They Attempt to Collect Allegedly Embezzled Funds From RHOBH's Erika Jayne

Credit: Jen Lowery / MEGA

Widows and orphans of a 2018 Boeing plane crash in Indonesia were just faced with a major setback amid efforts to collect the millions in embezzled funds they are reportedly owed from Thomas Girardi.

As the group attempts to go after Real Housewives of Beverly Hills cast member Erika Jayne, who is accused of helping her now-estranged husband embezzle $2 million from them, the trustee presiding over bankruptcy proceedings against Thomas is objecting their motion.

According to court documents obtained by Radar Online on October 19, the trustee is trying to block Thomas’ creditors from pursuing the RHOBH cast member, even though she is accused of using their money to fund her lifestyle.

After Edelson PC, the law firm representing the widows and orphans, requested they be allowed to file lawsuits against Erika in an attempt to collect their missing millions, noting that she is not a part of Thomas’ bankruptcy and has assets they could potentially seize, the trustee expressed opposition.

“Edelson does not seek to obtain assets that ever belonged to estate. Instead, it seeks its own, traceable assets that were embezzled by Tom and potentially given to Erika. The automatic stay provides no protection to a third party in this circumstance,” the firm stated in their request.

But according to the trustee, she believes the victims will be taken care of from the $25 million lawsuits she filed against Erika months ago. In the suit, the trustee demands Erika return the money her husband’s law firm, Girardi Keese, transferred to her in recent years.

The trustee also said that if Edelson PC were allowed to collect from Erika, it would “disrupt” their investigation against her.

Another set of court documents obtained by Radar Online reveal Erika is attempting to block a potential lawsuit against her, also from Edelson PC, saying she doesn’t have much money.

According to Erika, she doesn’t believe she should be brought into the lawsuit because she was never employed as a lawyer at Girardi Keese and wasn’t in charge of managing the firm. She also said she was a “complete stranger and has no knowledge of whatever transpired at” the firm and therefore has no knowledge about the money owed to the widows and orphans.

Erika, who filed for divorce from Thomas in November 2020, went on to say in court documents that she’s “been trying to make it on her own since” the filing and that “her only assets are her personal possessions and income she received from her work as an entertainer, including from the Real Housewives program.”

The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills season 11 reunion continues with part three next Wednesday, October 27, at 8/7c on Bravo.