Special counsel wants to question Erika Girardi’s lawyer, accountant

A special litigation counsel is asking to examine the lawyer and accountant of Thomas V. Girardi's estranged wife.

The request came in two motions filed by special litigation counsel Ronald N. Richards on Tuesday and Wednesday in the bankruptcy proceedings against Girardi's defunct firm, Girardi Keese.

Tom Girardi is accused of stealing millions of dollars in client money. Creditors have claimed the money was used to fuel Erika Girardi's lifestyle as a member of the cast of "The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills."

A bankruptcy trustee appointed Richards special counsel to find any assets transferred from Girardi Keese to Erika Girardi. In re: Girardi Keese, 20-BK21022 (C.D. Cal. Bankruptcy Ct, filed Dec. 18, 2020).

Richards wants to question Erika Girardi's accountant, Michael J. Ullman, and her divorce lawyer, Larry A. Ginsberg of Harris Ginsberg LLP. In the motions, Richards stated that the parties might have information about possible fraud conducted by Erika and Tom Girardi.

Ullman is the agent of process for Pretty Mess Inc., the successor company Erika created after the bankruptcy proceedings against Girardi started. According to Richards, the company may have been used to hide funds allegedly embezzled by her attorney husband.

Richards recently claimed that Erika has received millions of dollars in loans from her husband and his former law firm. According to the motion, Erika is using Ullman's business address as her corporate address.

Richards is asking the court to require both parties to produce documents, such as financial statements and evidence of money transfers, to determine if they were paid with fraudulent funds.

-- Henrik Nilsson