The drama surrounding Real Housewives of Beverly Hills star Erika Jayne has reached a fever pitch as she faces a blockbuster $25 million lawsuit tied to her estranged husband Tom Girardi’s now-shuttered law firm. According to court documents exclusively obtained by Us Weekly, a federal judge has set February 10, 2026, as the date for a trial that promises to unravel a tangled web of financial misconduct, glamour, and betrayal.
The legal firestorm erupted after Girardi, 86, filed for bankruptcy amid allegations that he owed millions to creditors and clients. The once-powerful attorney was sentenced to 87 months in federal prison in June 2025 for orchestrating a years-long embezzlement scheme, siphoning millions from his clients’ funds. Now, the spotlight has turned to Jayne, 54, as a court-appointed trustee seeks to claw back over $25 million allegedly funneled from Girardi’s firm to fuel her lavish lifestyle.
The trustee’s lawsuit paints a damning picture, accusing Girardi’s law firm of using stolen client money to bankroll Jayne’s company, EJ Global, over a 12-year period. The staggering sum—$25,592,261.26 to be exact—allegedly covered everything from Jayne’s American Express bills to her glamorous persona, including jewelry, luxury items, and the high-cost “glam squad” that helped craft her pop-star image. “The payments were exclusively for the benefit of [Jayne and her company],” the trustee claims, asserting that the funds were used to “promote Erika personally.”
Jayne, however, is fighting back with fierce denials. The RHOBH star insists she had no knowledge of her husband’s illicit dealings, claiming she trusted Girardi and his firm to manage her finances. Her attorney, Evan Borges, told Us Weekly, “Erika, an entertainer with a 12th-grade education, was never an attorney and relied on [Girardi’s] superior knowledge and expertise.” Borges emphasized that Jayne never worked at Girardi’s firm and had no reason to suspect the money funding her career was tainted.
In a bold defense, Borges added, “It is undisputed that Erika never received even a penny from the transactions at issue. Her biggest mistake was putting trust in her then-husband.” He slammed the trustee’s lawsuit as “senseless bullying,” arguing that Jayne has been unfairly targeted for her ex-husband’s crimes. Notably, during Girardi’s criminal trial, the government never accused Jayne of wrongdoing, nor was she called as a witness.
The trustee isn’t buying Jayne’s innocent-spouse defense. Court filings dismiss her claims as “meritless,” pointing to her status as Girardi’s spouse and an “insider” who benefited directly from the firm’s payments. The lawsuit alleges that Jayne either signed or authorized every charge on her American Express card—totaling over $14 million—and approved vendor payments worth another $11 million, all while knowing she couldn’t personally cover the costs. The trustee calls this a “recognized badge of fraud,” arguing that Jayne’s active participation in the spending undermines her claims of ignorance.
Set to last 7-10 days, the upcoming trial is poised to be a spectacle, with Jayne’s financial future and public image hanging in the balance. As the trustee seeks to hold her accountable for every penny of the $25 million, the reality star is determined to clear her name. Meanwhile, her divorce from Girardi remains unresolved, adding another layer of complexity to her legal battles.
Despite the chaos, Jayne is forging ahead with her life. She’s currently filming season 15 of RHOBH, where viewers can expect her to address the ongoing drama. Off-screen, she’s found new love with John “Shrek” McPhee, signaling her determination to move forward. But with a trial date looming, the question remains: will Erika Jayne emerge unscathed, or will the court hold her responsible for the millions allegedly spent on her glittering career?