In legal circles, Thomas Girardi of Giradi-Keese is known for representing Erin Brockovich in the litigation against Pacific Gas & Electric.
In his personal life, he is known for being the husband of Erika Jayne. She is the star in Real Housewives of Beverly Hills.
And to the plaintiff class in the employee litigation against Lockheed Corporation, Girardi is now known as nothing but a swindler. He is being sued for allegedly using the $130 million he won for clients for paying business expenses and personal use.
The Daily Mail reports:
"In the lawsuit [Paul] Kranich alleges it is a case of 'conspiracy, criminal fraud, theft and breach of trust in which Thomas V. Girardi, Girardi-Keese ... and other attorneys and employees of Girardi-Keese participated in and aided and abetted a scheme to defraud their clients by charging excessive fees and costs and fraudulently converting settlement proceeds ...'"
The original litigation focused on alleged chemical exposure of employees at Lockheed.
The complaint filed against Girardi notes that he wound up charging the plaintiff class a 40% contingency fee. His usual agreement had been for one-third for many of the settlements.
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