A NEW documentary exposes the real life of Real Housewives of Beverly Hills cast member Erika Jayne and her marriage to attorney Tom Girardi.
the inner workings of the multimillionaire's legal career and his wife's over-the-top spending habits.
How can I watch the documentary on Erika Jayne and Tom Girardi?
The Housewife and the Hustler first aired June 14, 2021.
The ABC News Original special is .
What is the documentary about?
The documentary examines Tom Girardi's questionable legal practices at the time he was a hotshot lawyer in Los Angeles and Erika's extremely lavish lifestyle.
Girardi's friend, Los Angeles attorney and former president of the Bar Association Brian Kabateck, said that the way multimillionaire was depicted on the Real Housewives of Beverly Hills show was bad for his career and showed that the couple lived beyond their means
“Probably most appalling was talk that they had two airplanes. And that’s crossing the line in what we do. We represent people who are victimized by big corporations and rich people,” Kabateck said in the documentary.
“And here you are putting it out that you’re super wealthy. And that you’re basically the man. We sue the man! You don’t want to be the man and he’s showing people he’s the man."
Do any of Girardi’s victims appear in the documentary?
Girardi’s victims come on camera to speak about their experience with the lawyer and how he allegedly scammed them.
One of the lawyer’s victims Joe Ruigomez— who filed a lawsuit against a gas company after an explosion blew up his house and caused him serious injuries in 2010— spoke about how Girardi who represented the lawsuit failed him.
“Tom promised ‘I’m going to do a good job for you kiddo.’ He really made you feel like you could trust him and he would get the job done,” Ruigomez said in the documentary recalling the first time he met Girardi after waking up from his coma.
The documentary also shows the Ruigomez’s family reactions when they watched the Real Housewives of Beverly Hills in disgust as Erika bragged about their wealth.
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Where is Tom Girardi now?
The once-renowned justice lawyer, Tom Girardi is now accused of embezzling from victims that he pledged to protect as he represented them against corporate giants in court.
The documentary also reveals that the State Bar of California admitted that they didn’t properly investigate complaints against Girardi including some that date back some 40 years ago.
Girardi is currently living in his Pasadena mansion for now until it’s sold, to practice law.