For the last few years, Erika Jayne has been duking it out in multiple court battles. Sometimes, it is hard to keep track of all her legal battles. On the most recent season of the Real Housewives of Beverly Hills, Erika seemed to finally get things going her way. She was able to redecorate her home and seemed to be finally enjoying her life again. However, just as the season wrapped, more news of her legal troubles was revealed.
Erika Jayne’s lawyer messed up in $300k fashion designer lawsuit
Erika has found herself in a $300,000 lawsuit by a designer. According to The Sun, the Pretty Mess singer allegedly falsely accused him of credit card fraud. The 53-year-old accused Marco Marco, a costume business, of allegedly illegally overcharging her American Express card for up to $900,000. Christopher Psaila, who is a partner with Marco Morante, spent years designing outfits for Erika. The duo has also worked with Britney Spears and Katy Perry. Both men sued Erika over her claim and “accused her of a conspiracy to try and win back money she was never wrongly charged for in the first place.”
The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills star has been fighting the pair, but she may have just lost the case. The news outlet has reported that she might instantly forfeit over $300,000 due to her lawyer failing to show up to an important court hearing. Christopher is suing Erika in California, while Marco has filed his lawsuit in Florida. The legal documents in Florida claim “tortious interference with business relationships, tortious interference with contracts, defamation, defamation by implication.”
RHOBH’s Erika Jayne is heading back to court
Marco is suing Erika and her two assistants, Laia Ribatallada and Michael Minden, for more than $300,000 each. According to the docs, Jim Wilkes, the singer’s lawyer and once love interest, didn’t attend an important case management conference. It turns out Jim didn’t file his motion to dismiss the case correctly, and now the Florida court has struck a motion. Documents read, “The Court will entertain a motion for default by Plaintiff.”
Erika has denied any wrongdoing. In the California lawsuit, Christopher has accused “Erika of intentionally filing for fraudulent refunds through American Express and then bribing a Secret Service agent through her husband to pursue false felony charges against him.” The costume designer is suing for more than $18 million and was charged in 2017 with wire fraud and aggravated identity theft. However, the case was dismissed in September 2021. Christopher is suing for “malicious prosecution and conspiracy.” Erika’s recent motion to dismiss the suit has been denied. To make matters even more interesting, the former head of the Secret Service in LA and two agents have already been excused from the lawsuit with documents noting, “This case reflects the corruption of the federal judicial system.”
What happened to Erika Jayne’s ex Tom Girardi’s legal case?
For 55 years, Tom Girardi was known as one of the most powerful lawyers who got big settlements for his clients. He worked on high-profile cases like Pacific Gas and Electric which inspired the movie Erin Brockovich and Lockheed Martin and Boeing. In November 2020, Erika filed for divorce, and Tom found himself in a complicated situation. He was accused of embezzling client funds for his own personal spending, and his former law firm partner sued him. Then, the law firm filed for bankruptcy. Tom has since been disbarred and found guilty of embezzling more than $15 million from his former clients.
In 2021, Tom was diagnosed with dementia and late-onset Alzheimer’s disease. In August 2024, Tom Girardi was found guilty of wire fraud. He is now seen as the opposite of Robin Hood as he stole from the needy and gave to the rich. Erika has denied any knowledge of her estranged husband’s wrongdoings. Erika is still being sued by Tom’s bankruptcy trustee, Elissa Miller, for $24 million. The trustee claims Erika knew that “Girardi Keese was secretly paying her expenses between 2007 and 2020.” A judge has recently been assigned to the case. The trial date will be set in the District Court in California.
The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills is available to stream on Peacock.
