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Erika Jayne has struck a deal with the trustee presiding over the defunct law firm of her estranged husband, Thomas Girardi.
After initially declining to turn over a pair of $1.4 million earrings Thomas allegedly purchased for her in 2007 with money meant for his former clients, the Real Housewives of Beverly Hills star is said to have worked out an agreement in which she will turn over the jewelry as the trustee attempts to pay back those ex-clients and other creditors Thomas is accused of ripping off.
According to court documents obtained by Radar Online on May 3, Erika and the trustee have confirmed their tentative agreement to a judge, noting that the jewelry will be put into a safety deposit box as they move forward with the process of having the items appraised.
“The appraisal has not been completed. The parties also have been engaged in settlement discussions, including an in-person meeting and several discussions between counsel,” the filing noted.
After the trustee filed a lawsuit against Erika and demanded she turn in the earrings, which Thomas allegedly bought for $750,000, Erika first refused to do so, saying, via her attorney, that she had innocently received the jewelry as a gift.
The refusal didn’t sit well with many and even Erika’s RHOBH co-star, Garcelle Beauvais, weighed in on the legal drama.
“If I was in Erika’s shoes… I would give up the diamonds quickly,” she said on a January episode of The Real.
Attorney Ronald Richards was the first to share the news on Twitter.
“BREAKING: Your voices were heard! Erika Girardi directed her atty to seek a 42 day continuance to discuss settlement [and] get an appraisal. The RT’s [and] public outrage, has caused EG to rethink challenging the earrings. Great work everyone. Your voices matter to someone’s brand!” he declared on May 2.
BREAKING: Your voices were heard! Erika Girardi directed her atty to seek a 42 day continuance to discuss settlement & get an appraisal. The RT's & public outrage, has caused EG to rethink challenging the earrings. Great work everyone. Your voices matter to someone's brand!⬇️411 pic.twitter.com/gUdN7K2GrD
— Ronald Richards (@RonaldRichards) May 3, 2022
In another tweet, Ronald suggested that he and his firm would do whatever they could financially to ensure that the diamonds did not end up back in the hands of Erika.
“Warning: Our office will oppose any settlement with [Erika Jayne] that allows her to keep the earrings. We will also overbid (within economic reason) any attempt to have her buy back the earrings at a discount,” Ronald wrote, also including hashtags for “no profiting off of victims” and “Girardi fraud.”
Warning: Our office will oppose any settlement with @erikajayne that allows her to keep the earrings. We will also overbid (within economic reason) any attempt to have her buy back the earrings at a discount. #noprofitingoffofvictims #girardifraud pic.twitter.com/jsu0JEo3b9
— Ronald Richards (@RonaldRichards) May 3, 2022
In the years since Erika and Thomas’ legal drama began, the reality star and performer has maintained her innocence, claiming she was completely in the dark about the supposed crimes Thomas was committing against his clients.
Also in the filing, it was noted that Erika and the trustee have pushed their next court hearing to June 28 so that there will be enough time for the earrings to be appraised.
The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills season 12 premieres Wednesday, May 11, at 8/7c on Bravo.