“Real Housewives of Beverly Hills” star Erika Jayne‘s estranged husband [Thomas Girardi][/tag/thomas-girardi) was reportedly hospitalized with a serious illness recently amid accusations he stole money from the families of plane crash victims.
The revelation came out during a federal court hearing in the suit filed against Thomas and Erika. An associate at his law firm, Girardi Keese, told the judge Thomas had been, “unavailable in recent weeks due to a serious illness that caused him to be hospitalized for which he sought treatment.”
During the hearing, Thomas’s lawyers attempted their first shot at a defense by playing the health card. According to the L.A. Times, his attorney asked the court to have Thomas undergo a mental competency exam.
Thomas attended the hearing by telephone but did not speak about the accusations. He only acknowledged his presence at the start of the hearing. His lawyer said Thomas had not been assisting them in preparing for the defense. His lawyers claim they have concerns about his mental competency.
One lawyer said, “I’m unsure that he understands either the nature or the gravity of the current situation.”
The health issues popping up feels a bit convenient for someone accused of stealing millions from his former clients. As The Blast previously reported, the class action law firm Edelson PC, who is representing a bunch of Boeing plane crash victims who won a settlement while being represented by Thomas, filed the case.
They claim the families of the victims not receive the full payment and believe Thomas sent the money to Erika’s company. Erika was added as a defendant in the lawsuit. They believe Thomas and Erika used the money to fund their lavish lifestyle.
The hearing didn’t go well for Thomas. The federal judge in the case order Thomas and his law firm’s assets to be frozen. Further, he found Thomas to be in civil contempt of court for failing to explain where $2 million meant for his clients went.
In the suit, the plaintiffs claim Thomas’s law firm, “are on the verge of financial collapse and locked in a downward spiral of mounting debts and dwindling funds” and his “need to fund outrageous lifestyles for himself and his soon-to-be ex-wife Erika Jayne” is the reason for their divorce.”
The judge also noted he was referring the case to the U.S. Attorney’s Office for a possible criminal investigation. Thomas has yet to address the claims he embezzled money from his clients. Erika has also stayed extra silent on the matter. Instead, she has been posting a bunch of photos of herself naked or glammed up.
Earlier this year, Erika filed for divorce from Thomas after 21 years of marriage. In the lawsuit, the plaintiffs call the divorce a “sham” and believe it was meant to hide money from creditors.
