Erika Girardi Named in New $2.1 Million Lawsuit for ‘Aiding and Abetting’ Husband Tom
Erika Girardi is facing another legal battle in the aftermath of her estranged husband Tom Girardi‘s alleged embezzlement activities.
The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills star, 50, and her company EJ Global, LLC were named in a $2.1 million complaint filed Thursday, which was obtained by PEOPLE, claiming she “aided and abetted” Tom, 82, in his law firm Girardi & Keese’s alleged financial wrongdoings.
“The complaint is another misguided effort to blame Erika for the conduct of others in which she had no part,” Erika’s attorney Evan C. Borges tells PEOPLE in a statement.
“Erika has no law degree and never worked at or managed her former husband’s law firm,” Borges adds.
“Whatever Mr. Girardi or others at his law firm did or said to the plaintiffs in this case, Erika had no knowledge or role in any of it. The focus should be on Mr. Girardi, his law firm, and anyone else who enabled what he did. Piling on Erika may generate publicity, but it’s without any basis in reality.”
The lawsuit, filed on behalf of attorney Manuel H. Miller and Kathleen Bajgrowicz, mother of the late NFL star Chuck Osborne who died after repeated head trauma in 2012, claims Erika “knew about the scheme” by which Tom allegedly withheld money due to clients and co-counsel. It also alleges that she was aware that victims were “funding her notoriously lavish lifestyle” shown on RHOBH.
Tom and Miller jointly represented Bajgrowicz when she sued the NFL over her son’s death, agreeing to share the fees. After reaching a settlement with the league, Tom was responsible for distributing funds to Bajgrowicz and Miller, but they allege he “lulled Plaintiffs into believing that the funds could not be distributed to anyone until various issues were first resolved.”
Erika’s attorney has since denied her involvement in the embezzlement, while Tom has been diagnosed with Alzheimer’s and dementia, for which he was placed under a temporary conservatorship.
The Pretty Mess artist spoke to PEOPLE this week about how she’s doing while filming season 12 of RHOBH. “Well, everything’s not hunky-dory,” Erika said. “Look, I’ve had a hard time. My life was turned upside down last year, and this is where I’m at and picking up the pieces.
