Girardi & Keese

Last updated
Girardi & Keese
Headquarters Los Angeles
Date founded1965
Founder Thomas Girardi, Robert Keese
DissolvedJanuary 2021
Website Girardi & Keese at the Wayback Machine (archived December 3, 2020)

Girardi & Keese or Girardi Keese was a Los Angeles law firm headquartered on Wilshire Boulevard. It was founded in 1965 by lawyers Thomas Girardi and Robert Keese. [1] [2] It was known for representing plaintiffs against major corporations, including Merck, Boeing and Pacific Gas & Electric. [1] Chapter 7 Bankruptcy petitions were filed by creditors against the firm in December 2020 and it was defunct by January 2021.

Contents

Girardi and Christopher Kamon, the firm's accountant, were indicted in Los Angeles in 2023 by a federal grand jury for allegedly embezzling more than $15 million from several of the firm's legal clients. [3] Girardi, Kamon and attorney David Lira are also facing disbarment trials and federal wire fraud charges in Chicago. [4]

Prominent cases

Pacific Gas & Electric

One of the firm's best known cases was against Pacific Gas & Electric (PG&E). Residents of the Mojave Desert community of Hinkley, California, blamed incidents of cancer and other diseases on contaminated water leaked from a gas pumping station owned and operated by PG&E. [5] In 1996 the utility company agreed to settle for $333 million, the largest ever paid in a direct-action lawsuit at the time. [6] The case was the inspiration for the film Erin Brockovich (2000) starring Julia Roberts. Girardi was thanked in the credits and served as an adviser on the film. [7]

In 2019, PG&E counter-sued the Law Finance Group, which sued Girardi for funds that he borrowed on behalf of clients. The litigation funder's lawyer said the loan agreement states the loan was to Girardi and his firm. [8]

Merck

In 2007, Merck created a $4.85 billion settlement fund for the thousands of plaintiffs who complained of complications associated with its pain medication Vioxx. It is believed to have been the largest drug settlement ever. [9]

Lion Air crash

The firm represented some of the families affected by the October 2018 crash of Lion Air Flight 610 in Indonesia that killed 189 people aboard the plane. Boeing, the maker of the 737 MAX aircraft, reportedly settled cases for at least $1.2 million per claim. [10] Rather than sending their clients all of their settlement money, federal prosecutors in 2023 said Girardi and his co-defendants embezzled more than $3 million and used it to pay for the law firm's operating expenses and payroll, to pay off credit card bills, and to fund settlements to other clients "whose own settlement funds previously had been misappropriated" by the firm. [11]

Girardi has been indicted on eight counts of wire fraud and four counts of criminal contempt of court connected with the Lion Air case. David Lira, an attorney at the firm, and Christopher Kamon, the former head of accounting at the firm, both were also charged with eight counts of wire fraud and four counts of criminal contempt of court. Lira is married to Girardi's daughter, Jacqueline. [11] [12] A Chicago judge has set a trial date of May 5, 2025, in the cases against Lira and Kamon, but has not set a date for Girardi's trial. [4] With disbarment trials also pending, a state bar judge sanctioned Lira and Kamon in January 2023, for both mishandling and for not protecting client assets. [13]

Disbarment and Chapter 7 bankruptcy

Two Chapter 7 involuntary bankruptcy petitions were filed in December 2020, and no one from the firm, including Girardi, appeared before U.S. Bankruptcy Judge Barry Russell at the first bankruptcy hearing in January 2021 to "discuss the future of his personal assets and those of his Los Angeles firm, Girardi Keese." [14] In April 2021, it was announced that the law office will be sold. [15] On June 1, 2022 Girardi was disbarred and ordered to pay $2,282,507 plus 10% in restitution to clients who never received settlement funds. Girardi was charged with 14 counts of violating ethics rules by the California State Bar. [16] [17]

A February 2023 internal investigation conducted on the State Bar of California by an outside firm found that its employees had accepted gifts, travel, meals, and other items of value from Girardi & Keese, [18] influencing the State Bar to block complaints against the law firm. The Bar disclosed that, across four decades, during which it had received 205 complaints against Girardi, the Bar had taken no action against the attorney, and had dismissed all cases. [19] [20]

Politics

In 2004, the firm gave $50,000 to the unsuccessful effort to defeat the 2004 California Proposition 64.

In 2008, the firm donated $225,000 in support of 2008 California Proposition 93, which was rejected by voters. [1]

In January 2021, Girardi was removed from California Governor Gavin Newsom's Judicial Selection Advisory Committee, which vets judges for the state bench. [21]

Related Research Articles

Disbarment, also known as striking off, is the removal of a lawyer from a bar association or the practice of law, thus revoking their law license or admission to practice law. Disbarment is usually a punishment for unethical or criminal conduct but may also be imposed for incompetence or incapacity. Procedures vary depending on the law society; temporary disbarment may be called suspension.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Erin Brockovich</span> American environmental activist

Erin Brockovich is an American paralegal, consumer advocate, and environmental activist who was instrumental in building a case against Pacific Gas & Electric Company (PG&E) involving groundwater contamination in Hinkley, California for attorney Ed Masry in 1993. Their successful lawsuit was the subject of the Oscar-winning film, Erin Brockovich (2000), starring Julia Roberts as Brockovich and Albert Finney as Masry.

Edward Davis (Ed) Fagan is a former American reparations lawyer who was disbarred for his conduct involving dishonesty, fraud, deceit, or misrepresentation.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">State Bar of California</span> Californias official attorney licensing agency

The State Bar of California is an administrative division of the Supreme Court of California which licenses attorneys and regulates the practice of law in California. It is responsible for managing the admission of lawyers to the practice of law, investigating complaints of professional misconduct, prescribing appropriate discipline, accepting attorney-member fees, and financially distributing sums paid through attorney trust accounts to fund nonprofit legal entities. It is directly responsible to the Supreme Court of California. Its trustees are appointed by the Supreme Court, the California Legislature, and Governor of California. All attorney admissions are issued as recommendations of the State Bar, which are then routinely ratified by the Supreme Court. Attorney discipline is handled by the State Bar Office of Chief Trial Counsel, which acts as prosecutor before the State Bar Court of California. The State Bar has been cited for its corrupt practices during the 21st century, and is subject to reforms issued by its governing body, the California Supreme Court.

Edward Louis Masry was an American lawyer, a partner in the law firm of Masry & Vititoe and also a mayor and city councilman for the City of Thousand Oaks, California. With the help of his legal assistant Erin Brockovich, Masry built a case against the Pacific Gas & Electric Company (PG&E) of California in 1993. Their successful lawsuit was the subject of the Oscar-winning film, Erin Brockovich (2000), starring Julia Roberts as Brockovich and Albert Finney as Masry.

Robert A. Clifford is a Chicago trial lawyer and principal partner at Clifford Law Offices. Clifford's firm specializes in "personal injury, medical malpractice, mass torts, consumer and health care fraud, product liability, and aviation and transportation disasters." He attended DePaul University for both his undergraduate work and Juris Doctor, finishing in 1976. The firm was founded in 1984 to represent plaintiffs in personal injury and wrongful death cases.

Stanley M. Chesley is a disbarred former Ohio trial lawyer. He is the husband of federal judge Susan J. Dlott.

Thomas Vincent Girardi is a former attorney and co-founder of the now-defunct Girardi & Keese, a downtown Los Angeles law firm. He was disbarred in 2022 after accusations of defrauding clients. He is separated from his third wife, the performer Erika Jayne, with whom he occasionally appeared on The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills in their Pasadena mansion. In August 2024 he was found guilty of stealing tens of millions of dollars from his clients, and will be sentenced in December 2024. He faces another trial in 2025 in Chicago on similar charges of fraud.

Mikal Watts is an American attorney from San Antonio, Texas and a prolific donor to the Texas and national Democratic Party, and candidates running for office as Democrats. He formed an exploratory committee to run for Senator of Texas against incumbent John Cornyn in the 2008 U.S. Senate elections, but announced on October 23, 2007 his decision not to run.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Erika Jayne</span> American singer and television personality (born 1971)

Erika Girardi, known professionally as Erika Jayne, is an American singer, television personality and actress.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Heller Ehrman</span>

Heller Ehrman LLP was an international law firm of more than 730 attorneys in 15 offices in the United States, Europe, and Asia. Heller Ehrman was founded in San Francisco in 1890 and had additional offices located in most of the major financial centers around the world including New York City, Los Angeles, Washington, D.C., London, Beijing, Hong Kong and Singapore.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Stephen Yagman</span> American lawyer

Stephen Yagman is an American federal civil rights lawyer, who also handles criminal defense and habeas corpus matters. He has a reputation for being an exceptionally zealous advocate in cases regarding allegations of police brutality. He has argued hundreds of federal civil rights cases before a jury, and has been involved in over a hundred and fifty federal appeals and certiorari petitions before the United States Supreme Court.

Stephen Gerard Larson is a former United States district judge of the United States District Court for the Central District of California and a partner in the Los Angeles law firm of Larson LLP, which he co-founded in 2016 as Larson O'Brien LLP. He consistently ranks among the top litigators in the U.S., having been recognized by The Best Lawyers in America© for his work in Commercial Litigation and Criminal Defense: White-Collar since 2015.

Scott W. Rothstein is an American disbarred lawyer, convicted felon, and the former managing shareholder, chairman, and chief executive officer of the now-defunct Rothstein Rosenfeldt Adler law firm. He funded an extravagant lifestyle with a $1.2 billion Ponzi scheme, one of the largest such in history.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Edelson</span> American law firm known for class action lawsuits

Edelson PC is an American plaintiffs' law firm that focuses on public client investigations, class actions, mass tort, and consumer protection laws. Edelson’s cases include class action settlements against Facebook for $650 million (2021), social casino apps for nearly $200 million (2021), and a $925 million verdict against ViSalus (2020.)

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Michael Avenatti</span> American attorney

Michael John Avenatti is an American former attorney currently incarcerated in federal prison for felony fraud and extortion. He is best known for his legal representation of adult film actress Stormy Daniels in lawsuits against then U.S. President Donald Trump, and his multiple convictions for attempting to extort sports apparel company Nike and defrauding and embezzling settlement money from a series of other clients. In the late 2010s, Avenatti appeared extensively on television and in print as a legal and political commentator, and as a representative for prominent clients.

Reid Collins & Tsai LLP is a national trial law firm with offices in New York, Austin, Dallas, Wilmington, and Washington, D.C. The firm represents plaintiffs in complex commercial litigation on a mixed-fee or contingency-fee basis.

Asbestos bankruptcy trusts are trusts established by firms that have filed for reorganization under Chapter 11 of the United States Bankruptcy Code to pay personal injury claims caused by exposure to asbestos. At least 56 such trusts were established from the mid-1970s to 2011.

Emily D. Baker is an American legal commentator, podcast host, and former deputy district attorney. She is best known for her YouTube channel and podcast, "The Emily Show," where she provides legal analysis and commentary on high-profile cases and pop culture events. She is a former Los Angeles County Deputy District Attorney, from 2004 until 2020.

References

  1. 1 2 3 "Girardi and Keese". Ballotpedia. Retrieved 2020-05-08.
  2. ↑ "Girardi & Keese - Company Profile and News - Bloomberg Markets". www.bloomberg.com. Retrieved 2020-05-08.
  3. ↑ "Grand Jury Charges Disbarred Plaintiffs' Lawyer Tom Girardi with Wire Fraud for Allegedly Embezzling Over $15 Million in Client Money". www.justice.gov. 2023-02-01. Retrieved 2024-03-30.
  4. 1 2 Thomas, David (February 2, 2024). "Girardi firm lawyers get 2025 trial date in Chicago fraud case". reuters.com. Retrieved March 31, 2024.
  5. ↑ Lack, Walter (January 4, 1994). "Erin Brockovich, Famous Trials". lawbuzz.com. Archived from the original on May 11, 2000.
  6. ↑ "Erin Brockovich: the real story of the town three decades later". ABC News. June 10, 2021. Retrieved 2024-03-31.
  7. ↑ Goldstein, Matthew (January 13, 2021). "A Hall of Fame Lawyer, a 'Real Housewife' and a Stunning Fall". nytimes.com. Retrieved March 30, 2024.
  8. ↑ Todd, Ross (January 24, 2019). "Girardi Keese Partner Bucks Back Against Alleged $15M Debt to 'Miserable, Rotten' Litigation Funder" . The Recorder.
  9. ↑ "Timeline: The Rise and Fall of Vioxx". NPR.org. November 10, 2007. Retrieved March 31, 2024.
  10. ↑ Johnson, Eric M (July 7, 2020). "Boeing settles nearly all Lion Air 737 MAX crash claims - filing". Reuters.com. Retrieved March 31, 2024.
  11. 1 2 Feurer, Todd (2023-02-01). "Lawyer for Lion Air crash victims indicted for embezzlement - CBS Chicago". www.cbsnews.com. Retrieved 2024-03-31.
  12. ↑ "4th Annual Fall Alumni Mass". Mayfield Junior School. 2008-12-05. Retrieved 2024-03-31.
  13. ↑ Ryan, Harriet; Hamilton, Matt (January 23, 2024). "Two lawyers at Tom Girardi's law firm sanctioned over mishandling of client money". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 26 May 2024.
  14. ↑ "At 1st Bankruptcy Hearing, Embattled Attorney Tom Girardi Is a No-Show", by Amanda Bronstad, The Recorder, January 5, 2021.
  15. ↑ “ Tom Girardi's Law Office Will Be Sold Soon, as His Home Goes on the Market, Trustee Tells Court”, by Amanda Bronstad, The Recorder, April 27, 2021.
  16. ↑ Cutler, Joyce E. (2022-06-01). "Tom Girardi Disbarred, Court Orders $2.3 Million Restitution (1)". Bloomberg Law News. Retrieved 2024-02-02.
  17. ↑ Weiss, Debra Cassens (2022-06-03). "Plaintiffs lawyer Tom Girardi, estranged husband of 'Real Housewives' star, is disbarred". ABA Journal. Retrieved 2024-02-02.
  18. ↑ Cutler, Joyce E. (2023-03-13). "Girardi Probe Shows Internally Corrupt California State Bar". Bloomberg Law News. Retrieved 2024-02-08.
  19. ↑ Ryan, Harriet; Hamilton, Matt (2022-11-03). "Tom Girardi faced more than 150 complaints before State Bar took action, records show". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 2024-02-02.
  20. ↑ Weiss, Debra Cassens (2023-03-13). "State bar finds 'shocking past culture of unethical and unacceptable behavior' in its handling of Girardi complaints". ABA Journal. Retrieved 2024-02-02.
  21. ↑ Lowrey, Brandon (January 27, 2021). "Girardi's Legacy In Shambles Amid 'Shakespearean' Scandal - Law360 Pulse". www.law360.com. Retrieved 2024-03-31.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.