The fall of a legal titan: how a celebrated attorney stole millions from clients

Countries & Cities · Published 15 October 2026 Swipe more like this →

In short: Thomas Girardi was once a celebrated California trial lawyer, famous for landmark cases and high-profile political influence. Yet, beneath his prestigious reputation lay a pattern of systemic fraud and misappropriation. His eventual disbarment and criminal conviction revealed how he exploited his position for decades while evading professional accountability.

Thomas Girardi rose to prominence as a formidable litigator, becoming the first attorney in California to secure a million-dollar-plus award in a medical malpractice case in 1970. His career was marked by significant victories against major corporations, including Pacific Gas & Electric, Boeing, and Lockheed. His work in the Hinkley, California case, which involved a massive settlement for residents suffering from water contamination, even inspired the 2000 film Erin Brockovich, for which he served as an adviser.

Despite these professional accolades, including induction into the Trial Lawyer Hall of Fame in 2003, Girardi’s firm, Girardi & Keese, was quietly collapsing under the weight of financial malfeasance. By January 2024, the shuttered firm faced over $500 million in claims. Investigations revealed that Girardi had misappropriated millions of dollars from vulnerable clients, including families of those killed in the 2018 Lion Air Flight 610 crash. In August 2024, a federal jury found him guilty of wire fraud and embezzlement.

The survival of his career for decades despite numerous complaints remains a point of scrutiny. An internal investigation by the State Bar of California found that, across four decades, the organization received 205 complaints against Girardi but took no action. Employees had accepted gifts and travel from his firm, effectively shielding him from oversight. Following his disbarment in 2022 and subsequent criminal sentencing, Girardi began serving an 87-month prison term in July 2025.

The legal fallout extended to his personal and institutional legacy. His third marriage to performer Erika Jayne, which featured prominently on reality television, ended in divorce. Furthermore, Loyola Law School, where he had once endowed a chair and supported an advocacy center, removed his family's name from its facilities. Girardi, who was diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease in 2021, is currently scheduled for release in August 2031.

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