Tom Girardi guilty on all counts

A federal jury found disbarred plaintiffs' attorney Tom Girardi guilty on four counts of wire fraud today following a three-week trial in Los Angeles.

Girardi, 85, was not taken into custody. Sentencing was set for Dec. 6. His convictions under U.S. Code 1343 carry a maximum sentence of 20 years in federal prison and large fines for each count.

"Tom Girardi built celebrity status and lured in victims by falsely portraying himself as a 'Champion of Justice,'" U.S. Attorney Martin Estrada said in a news release. "In reality, he was a Robin-Hood-in-reverse, stealing from the needy to support a lavish, Hollywood lifestyle. Today's verdict shows that the game is up - we can all now see this defendant for what he was and the victims he callously betrayed."

Assistant U.S. Attorneys Ali Moghaddas and Scott Paetty prosecuted the case.

Girardi had no obvious physical reaction when the verdict was read and ignored shouted questions from reporters as he left the courthouse. His attorneys -- Federal Defenders Charles J. Snyder, Samuel O. Cross and J. Alejandro Barrientos -- declined comment.

The 12-person jury delivered the unanimous verdict to U.S. District Judge Josephine L. Staton after less than a day of deliberation. The Department of Justice accused the once powerful attorney of funding his lavish lifestyle by pilfering more than $15 million in settlement money from four clients between 2010 and 2020. U.S. v. Girardi et al., 2:23-cr-00047 (C.D. Cal., filed Jan. 31, 2023).

Girardi faces similar federal charges in the Northern District of Illinois, along with his son-in-law and former Girardi Keese attorney, David R. Lira, and the defunct law firm's former chief financial officer, Christopher Kamon.

Lira, a trial lawyer at Engstrom Lipscomb & Lack, is also fighting a State Bar case that could lead to disbarment.

Kamon, a co-defendant in the Los Angeles case, was severed from the trial. He is scheduled to face a jury for his alleged role in the scheme sometime next year. He pleaded not guilty to the charges and is in custody. He is represented by Pasadena attorney Michael V. Severo.

Girardi's defense attorneys argued throughout the Los Angeles trial that Kamon is the one to blame for clients not being paid. The federal defenders said Kamon siphoned off millions from the law firm, taking advantage of Girardi's age, ill health and cognitive disabilities.

"Mr. Girardi exploited his clients' misfortunes on a grand scale," IRS Criminal Investigation Special Agent in Charge Tyler Hatcher in the DOJ news release. "His clients sought his help in the wake of significant trauma and injury, yet he violated their trust to steal from them and fund his own lavish lifestyle, and he will now face the consequences of his actions."

The Chicago indictment stems from allegations the three stole more than $3 million in settlement funds intended for the families of 189 people killed in a 2018 Boeing Co. airline crash in Indonesia. U.S. v. Girardi et al., 1:23-cr-00054 (N.D. Ill., filed Feb. 1, 2023).

During a status conference earlier this year, U.S. District Judge Mary M. Rowland in Chicago scheduled a March 2025 trial date for Lira and Kamon. She paused the proceeding against Girardi until a verdict was returned in the California case.