Erika Jayne, 49, SLAMS lawyer in Tom Girardi, 82, bankruptcy case and is fighting to have him removed... after being accused of not cooperating in investigation
The Real Housewives Of Beverly Hills star Erika Jayne is fighting to have a lawyer removed from her estranged husband's bankruptcy case after the attorney had filed documents which alleged she was not cooperating in the investigation earlier this week.
Now the 49-year-old reality star's lawyers have claimed that she 'has been and remains willing to cooperate fully' with the investigation and demand that attorney Ronald N. Richards be booted from the case according to new documents obtained by Page Six on Friday.
This comes just a day after it was reported that Jayne was being accused of refusing to submit bank records to an investigator who was combing through her 82-year-old estranged husband Tom Girardi's assets amid his bankruptcy case.
According to the publication, Jayne's lawyers want Richards removed for making 'false and inflammatory social media posts and public statements' about her.
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Taking a stand: The Real Housewives Of Beverly Hills star Erika Jayne (seen on the show in an episode which aired this week) is fighting to have a lawyer removed from her estranged husband's bankruptcy case after the attorney had filed documents which alleged she was not cooperating in the investigation earlier this week
The documents continue to say that the RHOBH star 'is not a media fiction. She is a real person with rights, including the right to be treated fairly in these proceedings based on actual evidence and the law.'
When it comes to Richards' social media posts, her lawyers claim they 'violate the ethical rules to which he is bound and that unfairly target in an attempt to destroy her credibility before any claim is even brought against her in this proceeding.'
Jayne's lawyers also assert that Richards 'continued to harass' her 'publicly through extra-judicial statements, including social media' to his over 16K followers in addition to engaging in interviews on YouTube which they believe harm the case.
The reality star also included screenshots of his social media activity, which were specifically aimed at Jayne and Girardi, in her filing.
Interesting: Now the 49-year-old reality star's lawyers have claimed that she 'has been and remains willing to cooperate fully' with the investigation and demand that attorney Ronald N. Richards be booted from the case according to new documents obtained by Page Six on Friday
Former flame: This comes just a day after it was reported that Jayne was being accused of refusing to submit bank records to an investigator who was combing through her 82-year-old estranged husband Tom Girardi's assets amid his bankruptcy case
Richards did not take the allegations lightly as he released a statement to Page Six on Friday which read: 'Not a single professional of Erika’s has cooperated with our office regarding the Girardi Keese estate.
'We have filed numerous motions seeking documents and communications. This motion is designed to slow down our work. The Thomas Girardi estate is moving for relief from stay to pursue her in state court. This does not look like cooperation.'
He then took aim at Jayne's legal team's assertions about his social media following and conduct.
Richards told the publication: 'It is laughable to suggest that our 16,000 followers compared to Erika’s 417,000 followers in a City of 12,500,000 would somehow would have an impact on anything.
'The first amendment does not leave itself in the doorways of the courthouse and the motion is a transparent attempt to interfere with the Trustee’s choice of counsel. These first amendment arguments were previously raised by her other counsel and rejected. No gag order was issued.
'Simply submitting innocuous and inadmissible hearsay comments on publicly filed documents does not create any relevant or actionable information.'
Earlier this week, allegations that Jayne refused to submit bank records were levelled in a new motion filed Wednesday by petitioning credits who accused Jayne of declining to hand over documents including bank statements to the bankruptcy trustee investigating her estranged husband's assets
Earlier this week, allegations that Jayne refused to submit bank records were levelled in a new motion filed Wednesday by petitioning credits who accused Jayne of declining to hand over documents including bank statements to the bankruptcy trustee investigating her estranged husband's assets, according to People.
The 82-year-old's law firm Girardi Keese filed for bankruptcy last year, and a recent motion also alleged Jayne's companies had received $20 million in loans from the firm in recent years.
The motion requests that Michael Ullman, Jayne's accountant, procure 'key financial documents' such as receipts, bank statements, and pay stubs. It has also requested all communications that have occurred between Jayne's divorce lawyer Larry Ginsburg and Ullman, according to People.
'Erika has refused to provide access to her management company, her CPA which also houses her management company, any books and records of EJ Global or any of her affiliated companies,' the motion reads.
'As each day goes by, Erika has been publicly dissipating community assets by selling her clothes on public websites, flaunting large jewels on social media and on television, and has done nothing to assist in return structured firm payments being made to her instead of the firm by the California lottery, notwithstanding she was contacted through counsel over twelve days ago.'
The motion also accused Jayne of preventing access to her accountant, according to People.
Claims: Girardi's law firm Girardi Keese filed for bankruptcy last year, and a recent motion also alleged Jayne's companies had received $20 million in loans from the firm in recent years
'At every turn, Erika has used the glam to continue to aid and abet this sham transactions that have been occurring with respect to large transfers of assets from the Girardi to Erika,' the motion reads. 'Moreover, the Trustee has received zero cooperation from Erika which is constant with someone hiding assets.'
New developments involving Erika, such as news her attorneys had dropped her before returning as her counsel, also raised concerns the reality star would spend money allegedly transferred to her from 'the Debtor', aka Girardi Keese.
These events have intensified 'the necessity to trace her money and investigate the receipt of funds, her purchases including the bling and the glam, (diamonds and high expenditures of beauty maintenance, etc.).'
The motion also took aim at Jayne's recent social media response to photos taken of her at a gas station, dressed down, amid accusations she and her ex Girardi embezzled his clients.
Glammed up: Jayne has flaunted her wealthy lifestyle on The Real Housewives Of Beverly Hills
'Goodnight Twitter, please be in full glam when pumping gas. Apparently it's a big deal,' Erika, 49, tweeted on Monday, along with a rolling eyes emoji after the photos emerged.
She also replied to several Twitter users earlier sticking up for her and the dressed down look.
The motion called the response 'callous' and speculated the wealth she was flaunting could have been money intended for those 'cheated out of their money.'
'As recently as yesterday, she callously sent out on social medial her bewilderment why people would continue to be upset at her displays of wealth while at a gas station, not-withstanding this money could be the Debtor's and clients of the Debtor's settlement proceeds, as well as other lenders and attorneys who have been cheated out of their money,' the motion read.
Concerns: Recent events involving Erika, such as news her attorneys had dropped her before returning as her counsel, also raised concerns the reality star would spend money allegedly transferred to her from 'the Debtor', aka Girardi Keese
Girardi's legal license in California was revoked in March, the same month he was diagnosed with Alzheimer's.
Girardi faces a litany of legal problems, including a $2 million class action lawsuit claiming fraud and embezzlement from the firm Edelson PC in connection with the 2018 Lion Air Flight 610 crash, in which all 189 people onboard died.
He and Jayne were sued for allegedly embezzling funds meant for families of victims, while Edelson PC, a firm for their ex clients, said in court docs their divorce last fall was orchestrated to 'fraudulently protect Tom and Erika's money' as they're 'on the verge of financial collapse.'
In the Hulu documentary The Housewife and the Hustler, attorney Sunny Hostin pointed out that Erika is seeking to have her high-dollar items classified as 'separate property' in their split, claiming they were 'gifts to her.'
Reporter Brandon Lowrey of Law360 said in the doc that the estranged couple is 'together in these bankruptcy proceedings' and that 'it's going to be hard for her to say she didn't know that anything was going on.'
In a preview for the show's 11th season, Jayne said of the accusations, 'No one knows the answer but him.'
He and Jayne were sued for allegedly embezzling funds meant for families of victims, while Edelson PC, a firm for their ex clients, said in court docs their divorce last fall was orchestrated to 'fraudulently protect Tom and Erika's money' as they're 'on the verge of financial collapse'