As legal pressures mount for Erika and Tom Girardi, The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills star is reportedly preparing to testify against her estranged ex-husband. After filing for divorce from the disgraced lawyer last year, the two have remained distant despite being named in multiple lawsuits together. Now in an effort to clear her name, Erika has agreed to 'cooperate' in an investigation against Tom.
Things aren't looking good for Tom. Since last year, he's been hit with a number of lawsuits accusing him of frauding his clients, business partners, and investors out of millions. Erika had already filed for divorce around the same time that information into Tom's shady business practices came to light. Housewives fans were shocked and in anticipation of what she would reveal on the show. But the recent Hulu documentary The Housewife and The Hustler put the Girardi's legal woes on full display. Now Erika is scrambling to prove her innocence and protect her fame and fortune.
Most recently, Erika was added to a $5 million lawsuit against Tom. With her being married to the legal titan for 21 years, she is guilty by association, with many accusing her of helping Tom spend and hide his money. Creditors forced Tom into Chapter 7 bankruptcy earlier this year over the back owed funds. Now, Erika is gearing up to testify against Tom and turn over her financial records as part of an investigation into her ex-husband, Radar Online reports. Erika is accused of helping Tom embezzle millions from his clients. As a result of Tom's lawsuits, a court-appointed trustee has taken over Tom's finances. The ailing attorney has been selling off assets and working out deals with creditors.
The trustee has listed out property that Tom gave to Erika in an effort to have it returned. But the Bravo star insists that they were "gifts" she should be able to keep. In the $5 million lawsuit, a trustee accounted for over $20 million that Tom's law firm gave to Erika's businesses. Now a trustee is demanding to meet with Erika's landlord, divorce lawyer, and accountant. They will be forced to produce copies of any checks or bank statements related to Erika. But Erika's legal team is fighting back and accusing one trustee, Ronald Richards, of harassing Erika with tweets about the case. She claims Richards' online antics involving the case lead to online trolling about the fraud allegations.
According to Radar Online, her attorney says Erika “remains willing to cooperate fully with the Trustee’s investigation with the Chapter 7 trustee in the related case of debtor Thomas Girardi.” She is also willing to release her financial records. Erika is just asking for a judge to remove Richards from the case. As she awaits the ruling, it looks like the reality star is gearing up to testify against her ex-husband. It's something she knew would eventually happen and hinted at during a recent The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills episode.
Source: Radar Online