Erika Jayne has been slapped with a federal lawsuit demanding she returns money “fraudulently” transferred to her by her now-estranged husband Thomas Girardi.
According to court documents obtained by Radar Online, the trustee presiding over Tom’s bankruptcy has filed a civil lawsuit against the Real Housewives of Beverly Hills star. The defendants in the suit are Erika individually and her companies EJ Global and Pretty Mess Inc.
In the newly filed lawsuit, the trustee says Girardi assigned his rights to a 2012 court settlement to his wife.
He says the Pretty Mess singer has collected $242,658 in payments between 2012 and 2021. Per the deal, Jayne is set to receive another $78,000 in payments in the years 2022 through 2025.
The trustee reveals they “intercepted” $19,760 that was sent to Jayne and have placed it in a trust account until a final decision is made about the money,
The trustee also says Jayne received jewelry and other luxury items purchased by Girardi. In court documents via Radar Online, Girardi is accused of assigning the rights to the settlement to Jayne in an attempt to hide his money from creditors.
The suit also says the expensive items he purchased were to hide his assets. “Plaintiff is informed and believes and, on that basis alleges thereon that the Debtor and the Defendants conspired to conceal the Transfers and keep these assets away [from] the Debtor’s creditors.”
The trustee says he only recently learned about the transfers of assets. The suit trashes Jayne saying, “the defendant Erika has used her glamour and notoriety to continue to aid and abet in sham transactions that have occurred with respect to large transfers of assets from the Debtors to the Defendants.”
According to Radar Online, he is demanding the return of the money received plus the luxury items. Jayne has refused to speak directly about the allegations.
As previously reported, it was revealed this week that the Real Housewives of Beverly Hills star may have to repay settlement funds intended for her estranged husband’s former clients amid allegations that Tom’s firm gave Erika’s companies $20 million over the years. The Ruigomez family, who were featured in Hulu’s The Housewife and the Hustler, can pursue a collections lawsuit against Erika to obtain the $11 million they are owed from Tom.
“The Ruigomez Family, the Girardi Trustee and the GK Trustee shall cooperate with each other with their collection efforts against Erika,” the court documents obtained by Us Weekly read.
Erika and Tom made headlines in November 2020 when the Bravo reality star filed for divorce after 20 years of marriage. The following month, the estranged couple was sued for fraud and embezzlement.
In addition to accusing them of swindling $2 million in settlement funds intended for families of victims of a 2018 plane crash, class action firm Edelson PC claimed in federal court documents that the divorce was “simply a sham attempt to fraudulently protect Tom’s and Erika’s money from those that seek to collect on debts owed by Tom and his law firm.”
Tom faced a second lawsuit later that month, alleging that his company breached a written agreement and conversation with Wells Fargo Vendor Financial Services. The bank sought immediate payment on the $882,715 outstanding bill.
In September 2020, Tom told the court that he lost millions of dollars and has “no money” left. The 82-yar-old was placed under a temporary conservatorship in February when his brother assumed control of his daily activities and personal care. One of Tom’s attorneys claimed in court in December 2020 that he was hospitalized for a “serious illness,” raising questions about his mental competency. Court documents revealed in March that Tom was diagnosed with late-onset Alzheimer’s and dementia.
However, in July 2021, a judge ruled that some former clients of Tom can pursue a collections lawsuit against Erika. According to court records obtained by PEOPLE, Tom's former clients, Joseph Ruigomez, Jaime Ruigomez, and Kathleen Ruigomez, will be able to collect the $11 million they are owed by him per a 2020 litigation.
According to court docs, Erika revealed that she “has nothing to hide” and has already expressed a “full willingness to cooperate and produce” documents to the court. In newly filed documents via Radar Online, the Bravo reality star said she will turn over all bank and financial records. However, she wants the lawyers to agree to not leak the documents.
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