Evidence presented at the trial showed how Girardi siphoned $21 million of firm money to finance Jayne’s entertainment career, while also maintaining two private jets and other luxury items—all while clients begged for their rightful settlements. Among the victims were individuals who had suffered devastating tragedies: a man left in a coma after a gas explosion, a woman whose child was paralyzed in a car accident, and others who had endured life-altering injuries or losses.
Tom Girardi Convicted of Defrauding Clients : A Fall That Began With Lion Air
Girardi’s downfall began in December 2020 when an Illinois federal judge found him in civil contempt for allegedly withholding $2 million from the families of victims in the 2018 Lion Air plane crash. That ruling set off a cascade of accusations, eventually forcing Girardi and his firm into bankruptcy. Now, Girardi, Kamon, and his son-in-law David Lira face another trial related to fraud accusations in the Lion Air settlement.
The Trial’s End, but Not the Legal Battle
Tuesday’s verdict concluded the dramatic trial, where Girardi’s once-formidable defense crumbled under the weight of evidence. The jury was shown a trail of documents, emails, and spreadsheets that prosecutors said proved Girardi had been misusing client funds for years. Under California law, attorneys must keep client trust accounts from becoming overdrawn, but evidence revealed Girardi had used new client money to pay off older obligations, keeping his fraudulent enterprise alive.
