The Housewife & The Hustler - Part II - The Reckoning (Hulu)

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This 90 minute episode is a follow up to the 2021 special about Tom Girardi's alleged fraud and mishandling of client funds. This post is a recap of the recently released special that features Tom's estranged wife, Real Housewives of Beverly Hills star Erika Jayne.

- It opens with Erika emerging and hugging to meet victims who have been swindled. She says “she doesn’t know what to say” which one of the women asks “Do you know our names?”

- Erika asks them to recount what happened and it cuts to following up with people Girardi has swindled

- Joe Ruigomez, who suffered burns on 90% of his body after the PG&E San Bruno explosion in 2010. His girlfriend was tragically killed. Before Erika’s first season on the RHOBH, an article was released on Girardi not giving Ruigomez’s settlement money. Girardi’s defense was that Mr. Ruigomez would be irresponsible with the funds and he was protecting it in a trust. Ruigomez during a deposition learned that Girardi had no money. Ruigomez still must undergo many surgeries and procedures.



- LA Times reporters Matt Hamilton & Harriet Ryan who have written multiple articles on the saga had heard mumblings of his corruption such as bribes. There have been more than 100 lawsuits against the Girardi Keese firm. After the LA Times published one of their articles about Girardi’s alleged fraud, the man himself called “dozens of times” to demand a retraction threatening the reporters with a lawsuit. Records show a previous complaint showing financial discrepancies where Girardi used settlement funds for his personal divorce attorney and payments to his private jet. He made up records to show clients had been paid using fake names

- The relationship between Tom Layton, at the California State Bar who was supposed to be investigating complaints. Tom Girardi’s wooing and bribing for the organization is highlighted alleging that complaints from clients went nowhere. Layton is said to have received over $1,000,000 in gifts from Girardi including a Girardi Keese AMEX card though he wasn’t a employee

- Clients mentioned how they put his trust in Girardi due to getting large settlements in toxic torts cases
Danny Barnes developed cancer from working near unknown chemicals at Lockheed Martin. Barnes says had he not been stolen from, he would’ve used the money to buy a home in a nicer neighborhood. In the case for Lockheed Martin, a judgement was entered for $33 million but Barnes says most of the suit was done without the clients' knowledge. Each defendant would receive $25,000 which they believed was low. Barnes recounts Girardi scoffing at this saying “you’ve never seen $25,000 at one time. But there’s more money coming”. The clients filed complaints to the California State Bar regarding the firm’s lack of transparency. Barnes later became a paralegal to understand the law. Sadly, Barnes was diagnosed with cancer again.

- Girardi used big money earned from judgements to put money behind politics. When uncovering Tom’s tie to the California State Bar including cronyism, flights on private jets and others, it was determined that two attorneys working for the CA State Bar advocated for Girardi to be disciplined were later fired

- Erika’s attorneys discuss how they help her including one of the lawyers Jim Wilkes who financially helped her outside of fronting attorney fees. Erika Girardi is listed as one of the creditors in Tom Girardi’s bankruptcy case. Alongside his clients, the IRS, and many others. There’s more discussion of the diamond earrings which she still fighting to get back despite the proof they were purchased with client money

- Designers Marco Marco who have designed for Fergie, Katy Perry, and Nicki Minaj were also enlisted by Erika Jayne to help with her performances, the designers scaled up when she was cast on the show.
Erika Girardi says in an episode of RHOBH she had to wear a wire for a case. The case she references: Marco Marco says they received an order but Erika alleges didn’t approve the order accusing the designers of stealing upwards of $800,000. The Secret Service (led by a friend and client of Girardi, Ron Savage) came into the designers’ studio with guns drawn on employees. One half of the design team Chris Psaila was charged with wire fraud - the charges were later dismissed. Psaila during his court battle lost his eligibility to adopt, his brother passed away, and his father was diagnosed with cancer.

- Psaila filed a lawsuit against Erika, Tom, American Express and the Secret Service alleging that they fraudulently reversed legitimate charges for the costumes made.

- “Many attorneys don’t get one complaint to the State Bar. Tom Girardi had over 200.” Some of the victims were able to receive money they were owed from the state bar but that cap is only $100,000. It is likely that many of his former clients will ever be paid.

- The doc also covers Girardi’s competency hearing. Girardi was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s, prosecutors allege that he’s exaggerating. Girardi was later found competent to stand trial.

- Erika says she would never approach the victims when her estranged husband’s fall from grace began because she was being accused of misdeeds. She says to some of the victims: “I trusted my husband as you trusted him to do the right thing. So we’re all kinda in the same boat.”

- Ryan and Hamilton were at the restaurant during the sit down but did not (or not allowed) to ask questions but did express questions about sincerity and the presence of the cameras.

- Erika has not contacted any of the victims she met since the sit down

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