Erika Jayne's Husband Thomas Girardi Fights $15 Million Dollar Lawsuit
Jan. 19 2019, Updated 2:42 p.m. ET
Erika Jayne's husband Thomas Girardi is reportedly fighting a lawsuit that alleges he received loans totaling $15 million to fund his law firm. As The Blast first reported, The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills star's spouse, 79, calls the claims "slanderous."
But according to legal documents, Girardi and his law firm, Girardi Keese, are being sued by Law Finance Group company, which contends that they loaned Girardi a total of $15 million to fund the operations of his firm.
The lawsuit alleges that they believed the money was used "to maintain Mr. Girardi’s lavish lifestyle."
But Girardi told The Blast, "“The truth of the matter is this. I have not taken one penny from the law firm in the past three years. I have devoted everything to assist in the cases that we have here. Further, the money that was borrowed, we agreed to repay in approximately two weeks before the lawsuit. It is slanderous that the money was for my 'lifestyle' … every penny went for costs in cases that the firm is handling."
However, the plaintiffs claim in court docs that Girardi breached a repayment plan they agreed to in August 2018. The deal was for him to make monthly payments, along with a $1 million payment by the end of October, and $5 million by January 1, 2019.
Legal papers show that Law Finance Group contends that Girardi originally agreed to use the Pasadena home he lives in with Jayne, 47, as collateral in case he defaulted.
But those suing Girardi claim he hasn't repaid them anything yet. Bravo viewers have seen the Girardis' lavish home on RHOBH.
Law Finance Group is seeking the full $15,151,989 they assert that Girardi owes, plus damages. Jayne, who uses a different last name from her much older husband, originally moved from Atlanta to New York to pursue show business. She raised her son, Tommy Zizzo, as a single mom.
Eventually, she moved to Los Angeles, married Girardi, and hit it big as a singer and TV housewife. Jayne, who appeared on season 24 of Dancing with the Stars after her RHOBH fame, has said of her husband, "We try to spend as much time as possible together. And his schedule is two times busier than mine! He’s running his firm and they’re incredibly busy. It’s not like he’s at home waiting for me. I’m trying to catch up with him! Tom is the most supportive partner a woman could ever ask for. He is so proud and just so happy for me. I’m really grateful for that."
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The sexy blonde reality TV star has noted that her own Erika Jayne persona is all about "glitz, glamour, fun, sex, love and escape."
But now fans are wondering--did her outsized lifestyle with husband Girardi cause his financial problems?
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