Tom Girardi Deemed Competent to Stand Trial by Judge: Reports

A federal judge has found former attorney Tom Girardi competent to stand trial, according to multiple reports.

According to Los Angeles TimesU.S. District Judge Josephine L. Staton issued an “order declaring the defendant competent to stand trial” on Tuesday.

The outlet reported that “the order has been placed under seal until lawyers for both sides have had a chance to identify information in it they want to keep confidential, such as medical records or other sensitive material.” The order has been under seal for at least five days, according to Court News.

Tom Girardi, estranged husband of ‘RHOBH’ star Erika Girardi, accused of fraud

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

The news comes nearly a year after a federal grand jury in California indicted him on five counts of wire fraud for allegedly embezzling more than $15 million from several of his legal clients in February 2023.

That same month, Girardi, 84, was also indicted on fraud charges by a federal grand jury in Chicago for allegedly stealing more than $3 million in settlement funds from the families of passengers killed in the 2018 crash of Lion Air Flight 610.

The former attorney, who ran the Girardi Keese law firm in Los Angeles, was charged with eight counts of 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.

Girardi was disbarred from the bar by the California State Bar in July 2022.

What you need to know about Tom Girardi and the allegations against the disgraced former attorney

Tom Girardi with ex-wife Erika Girardi. Bravo

Girardi has been living in a “limited memory care unit” at an assisted living facility since October 2022, after being diagnosed with dementia and late-stage Alzheimer’s disease in March 2021.

According to court records previously obtained by PEOPLE, his diagnosis of dementia, classified as a “major neurocognitive disorder,” was the reason his younger brother Robert Girardi became the official guardian of Girardi’s person and estate in July 2021. He and The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills star Erika Jayne is in the midst of divorce proceedings.

Girardi’s lawyers noted his deteriorating mental state in a June 2023 court filing, prompting the need for a competency hearing. During the third day of the hearing in September 2023, he lashed out at Assistant US Attorney Ali Moghaddas, telling him, “F— you.”

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Moghaddas told U.S. District Judge Josephine L. Staton, pers Los Angeles Times“Your Honor, I want the record to be clear that the defendant said ‘f— you’ to me.” Although the outlet reported that the remark could not be heard in the courtroom, Girardi’s lawyers did not deny the accusation.

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Source: HIS Education