Tom Girardi admitted to hospital on the eve of his mental evaluation hearing
Update on Thomas Girardi's Hospitalization and Legal Woes
Looks like disgraced lawyer Tommy G, who snatched millions from his own clients and got himself disbarred, can't make it to a crucial hearing due to a hospital visit. His hospitalization comes just a day before the scheduled hearing, where a federal judge was set to decide whether he gets shipped to the slammer or a medical facility.
The juicy details came from his defense team, who filed a request to delay the hearing for a week or two, stating that Tommy G was whisked away by ambulance from an Orange County nursing home and admitted to the hospital due to some liver funk.
His reps claimed he'll likely be stuck there for a few days, but insisted he wants to be there in person for the hearing. They argued a no-show would infringe on his rights. But, the judge's yet to make a call on that.
This latest twist in the sordid tale of Tommy G - once a big shot lawyer in LA and a political donor - doesn't come as a surprise. During his trial last year, the prosecution painted the Girardi Keese law firm as a Ponzi-like scheme, sucking up to $100 million in client funds to maintain his wife's lavish lifestyle and her music career. Erika Girardi, a cast member on "The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills", had a lot to do with that cushy lifestyle.
Prosecutors want a 14-year stint for Tommy G, but his lawyers argued he's not fit for prison due to dementia and cognitive decline. They wanted him to stay in his nursing home. To evaluate his condition, the judge ordered a medical evaluation at a federal prison in North Carolina. The docs there said he didn't need special treatment, although the full report's yet to be released.
His legal team had disputed those findings and wanted to subpoena the report's authors. In a recent hearing, experts were supposed to testify about Tommy G's mental status and back up their claims. But with his hospitalization, that hearing's been postponed.
Last month, Tommy G's ex-CFO, Christopher Kamon, was sentenced to 10 years in the pokey for his part in the large-scale fraud. And both Tommy G and Kamon face additional charges in Chicago for misusing millions in settlement funds.
Sources: 1. Girardi's ex-CFO sentenced to 10 years in prison for defrauding clients 2. Tom Girardi underling faces discipline charges over $53-million payout kept secret from clients 3. Tom Girardi to surrender to federal prison for medical evaluation, judge rules
Additional Read:
- Tom Girardi's hospitalization highlights the ongoing legal battle and his declining health.
- Reports of the medical evaluation at the federal prison in North Carolina hint at the depth of Girardi's health issues.
- In the recent court hearing, experts were set to discuss Girardi's mental status and the implications for his defense. However, his hospitalization has caused a delay.
- Tommy G's hospitalization in Los Angeles occurred a day before the scheduled hearing, adding another layer to his ongoing legal woes in California.
- The urgent issue at hand is whether Thomas Girardi will be sent to prison or a medical facility, a decision that the judge is yet to make.
- The defense team's request for a delay in the hearing is based on Tommy G's current hospitalization due to liver issues.
- Despite his hospitalization, Tommy G's reps insist he wants to attend the hearing to safeguard his rights, although the implications for his absense are uncertain.
- The health-and-wellness and mental-health aspects of this case are under scrutiny, with experts set to testify about Tommy G's condition.
- In light of his hospitalization, the scheduled hearing on crime-and-justice issues concerning Tommy G's mental status has been postponed.
- The general news about Thomas Girardi's hospitalization and legal woes in Los Angeles also includes reports about additional charges in Chicago related to misused settlement funds.
