The Final Verdict: 5 Shocking Updates On Thomas Girardi's Prison Sentence, Conservatorship, And Erika Jayne Divorce

The dramatic downfall of Thomas V. Girardi, once a legendary high-powered litigator in Los Angeles, has reached its final, devastating chapter with a federal prison sentence handed down in 2024. This stunning development confirms the complete collapse of a career built on high-profile cases and a lavish lifestyle, which was infamously showcased on *The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills* (RHOBH). As of late 2024, the former attorney is no longer a free man, having been convicted of stealing millions from his own clients.

The latest updates, current as of December 2025, paint a grim picture: a convicted felon, now an elderly man grappling with severe health issues, is serving time while the complex legal and financial fallout continues to unfold. The ongoing saga involves a multi-million-dollar bankruptcy, a conservatorship, and the unresolved marital status with his estranged wife, Erika Jayne, making his story one of the most compelling and tragic legal dramas of the decade.

Thomas Girardi: A Complete Biography and Legal Profile

• Full Name: Thomas Vincent Girardi
• Born: June 3, 1939 (Currently 86 years old as of 2025)
• Place of Birth: San Francisco, California
• Education: Loyola Law School (J.D., 1964)
• Career: Former Attorney, Co-founder of the now-defunct law firm Girardi & Keese
• Notable Legal Work: Known for "David v. Goliath" mass tort cases, most famously the 1993 Pacific Gas and Electric Company (PG&E) case, which was the inspiration for the film *Erin Brockovich*.
• Wives: Karen Weitzul (divorced), Kathy Risner (divorced), Erika Chahoy (Erika Jayne, filed for divorce in 2020)
• Children: One daughter, Erin, from his first marriage.
• Legal Status (2024/2025): Convicted of four counts of wire fraud; sentenced to 87 months (7 years and 3 months) in federal prison; disbarred by the State Bar of California.
• Health Status: Diagnosed with Alzheimer's Disease and dementia; under a legal conservatorship.

The 2024 Conviction: Wire Fraud and an 87-Month Sentence

The year 2024 marked the definitive end of Thomas Girardi’s legal freedom. After years of civil lawsuits, investigations, and the spectacular collapse of his powerful law firm, Girardi & Keese, the federal government secured a conviction on serious criminal charges.

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In August 2024, a federal jury found Girardi guilty on all four counts of wire fraud. The charges stemmed from a devastating scheme where he was accused of embezzling over $15 million from his own clients. These victims were often the most vulnerable—individuals who had won settlements from major corporations for catastrophic injuries or loss of life, including the families of victims from the tragic Lion Air Flight 610 crash and a burn victim from a natural gas pipeline explosion.

The severity of the crime was met with a significant punishment. Girardi was sentenced to 87 months in federal prison, which amounts to over seven years. Despite his advanced age and documented health issues, including dementia, the court deemed the theft from his clients so egregious that a prison term was necessary to deliver justice and deter other attorneys. He was ordered to surrender to federal authorities, officially beginning his incarceration and transforming his life from a celebrity lawyer to a federal inmate.

The Complexities of Girardi's Conservatorship and Health

A crucial and deeply unsettling layer to Thomas Girardi’s legal battles is his health and the resulting conservatorship. This legal status has been a point of contention and discussion throughout his criminal trial, raising questions about his competency to stand trial and his ability to serve his sentence.

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Girardi was diagnosed with Alzheimer's Disease and dementia in early 2021. Due to his demonstrated short-term memory loss and inability to manage his affairs, a California court placed him under a legal conservatorship in July 2021. His younger brother, Robert Girardi, was appointed as the conservator, tasked with overseeing his person and estate.

The conservatorship status did not ultimately prevent the criminal trial from moving forward. The court determined that he was competent enough to face the charges of wire fraud, leading to his conviction and subsequent sentencing. His current living situation is complex; while he is now serving his prison sentence, reports have indicated he has been hospitalized, further complicating his incarceration and raising concerns about the level of care he will receive while in federal custody.

Erika Jayne and the Unresolved Divorce Status

The shocking legal drama began for the public when *The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills* star Erika Jayne filed for divorce from Thomas Girardi in November 2020, citing irreconcilable differences. However, despite the passage of time and the complete collapse of Girardi’s professional life, the divorce remains legally unresolved as of late 2024.

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The primary reason for the delay is the massive network of lawsuits, bankruptcy proceedings, and criminal charges surrounding Girardi. Erika Jayne and her legal team have maintained that the divorce cannot be finalized until the complex financial entanglements—specifically the Girardi Keese bankruptcy estate—are sorted out.

In a surprising and somber update, Erika Jayne's lawyer indicated in 2024 that the divorce may never be finalized. Given Thomas Girardi’s age and severe health issues, it is possible that he could pass away before the legal proceedings conclude, meaning Erika Jayne would remain legally married to him at the time of his death. This bizarre legal limbo keeps the reality star tied to a man who is now a convicted felon, even as she attempts to distance herself from the Girardi Keese scandal and the associated debt and litigation.

The Battle for Victim Recovery in the Girardi Keese Bankruptcy

The true victims in this entire saga are the former clients of Girardi & Keese who were defrauded by their own attorney. The law firm's bankruptcy is ongoing, and the focus of the legal system is on tracing and recovering the stolen funds to repay the creditors and victims.

The firm, which operated for 55 years, was revealed to have been run like a Ponzi scheme, using new client settlements to pay off old debts and fund the Girardi's extravagant lifestyle. The bankruptcy trustee is aggressively pursuing various lawsuits against former associates, litigation funders, and other entities in an effort to recover assets.

While the process is slow and arduous, every new settlement or recovered asset offers a glimmer of hope for the victims. The pursuit of justice for the families of the Lion Air crash and other injured parties is a central theme in the continuing legal fallout, with the ultimate goal being restitution for the massive financial and emotional damage caused by the disgraced attorney. The conviction and prison sentence for Thomas Girardi provide a measure of criminal accountability, but the financial recovery for the victims remains a critical, ongoing civil battle.