Tom Girardi.Photo:Irfan Khan/Los Angeles Times/Getty
Irfan Khan/Los Angeles Times/Getty
A federal judge has determined that embattled ex-lawyerTom Girardiis competent to stand trial, according to multiple reports.
According toThe Los Angeles Times, U.S. District Judge Josephine L. Staton filed an “order finding defendant competent to stand trial" on Tuesday.
The outlet reported that “the order was placed under seal until lawyers for both sides have a chance to identify information in it that they want to be kept confidential, such as health records or other sensitive material.” The order is under seal for at least five days, perCourthouse News.
Tom Girardi arrives at the debut of the Southern California location of Michael Feinstein’s new supper club Feinstein’s at Vitello’s on June 13, 2019.Amanda Edwards/Getty
Amanda Edwards/Getty
The news comes nearly a year after a federal jury in Californiacharged him with five counts of wire fraudfor allegedly embezzling more than $15 million from several of his legal clients in February 2023.
The former attorney, who ran the Los Angeles law firm Girardi Keese, was charged with eight counts of wire fraud and four counts of criminal contempt. David R. Lira and Christopher K. Kamon also worked at the law firm and were both charged with 12 criminal counts.
The State Bar of California disbarred Girardi in July 2022.
Tom Girardi with ex-wife Erika Girardi.Bravo
Girardihas been living “restricted memory care unit"at an assisted living facility since October 2022, following hisdementia and late-onset Alzheimer’s diseasediagnosis in March 2021.
Girardi’s lawyers noted his declining mental state in a court filing in June 2023, causingthe need for a competency hearing to be held. During the third day of the hearing in September 2023, he lashed out at Assistant U.S. Attorney Ali Moghaddas,telling him, “F— you.”
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Moghaddas told U.S. District Judge Josephine L. Staton, perThe Los Angeles Times, “Your honor, I want the record to make clear that the defendant said ‘f— you’ to me.” While the outlet reported that the remark was not able heard in the courtroom, Girardi’s lawyers did not refute the accusation.
source: people.com
