Erika Jayne Could Face Jury in Explosive $25 Million Fraud Trial as Fashion Designer’s $300K Lawsuit Adds Fuel to Her Legal Firestorm

Erika Jayne could be headed to a jury trial by the end of the year to face the $25 million lawsuit that Thomas Girardi‘s bankruptcy trustee filed against her in July 2021.

As the 53-year-old Real Housewives of Beverly Hills cast member attempts to have Marco Marco designer Marco Morante‘s lawsuit against her dismissed, attorney Ronald Richards has offered an update on Erika’s impending trial, sharing details about the next scheduled court date and when the trial could ultimately begin.

After first explaining that the trustee presiding over Thomas’ bankruptcy case, Elissa D. Miller, had taken action against Erika, accusing her and her now-suspended business, EJ Global, of using over $25 million of funds meant for Thomas’ former clients, Ronald shared that Erika had claimed it was her LLC that owes the money.

“The CA Franchise Tax Board already found this business to be sham and only for tax deductions. We are hopeful that on June 4, 2025, the Court will set a jury trial,” he wrote, along with a series of court documents. “Erika believes it will be a ten-day jury trial. Here are the relevant pages of the status report. Both sides want the case heard by this judge and not have any portions sent back to the bankruptcy court.”

“We believe a trial will be set before the end of the year. This is clearly the greatest imminent threat facing Erika today,” he added.

🚨🚨Update on the complaint our office filed on July 14, 2021 against Erika Girardi aka @erikajayne.
This is an action brought by Plaintiff in her capacity as the trustee (the “Trustee”) of the bankruptcy estate of Girardi Keese (“GK” or “Debtor”), a law firm which was managed… pic.twitter.com/TbcseRhksP

— Ronald Richards (@RonaldRichards) May 15, 2025

Ronald also offered an update on Marco’s case against Erika. 

As RHOBH fans will recall, Marco and his Marco Marco co-founder, Christopher Psaila, filed separate lawsuits against Erika, claiming she falsely accused them of making $800,000 in fraudulent charges to her American Express, costing them millions — and their business.

Noting that Erika hired a new attorney in an effort to have the case dismissed after another attorney, Jim Wilkes, made a clerical mistake that resulted in a potential $300,000 judgment against her, Ronald stated that Marco’s attorneys had made moves to pursue the judgment.

“Erika’s new attorney has wishfully assumed that the Court’s prior striking of the prior motion does not preclude a new motion to dismiss. For whatever reason, Morante’s attorneys didn’t move for default. Why not? They are not providing a reason for not doing so for now. Does Morante want this case going on as long as the $25m fraud case against Erika?” Ronald wondered. “Jim has wisely given the torch to new counsel that didn’t drop the ball in the Florida case to avoid prejudice to his ward and client, Erika Girardi.”

Update on MARCO MORANTE's case against Erika Girardi in a Florida lawsuit where she is represented by her legal benefactor Jim Wilkes. Wilkes had his motion to dismiss stricken back in March. She through Wilkes has now hired an attorney for a limited appearance to file a new… pic.twitter.com/FkcYIlRr4N

— Ronald Richards (@RonaldRichards) May 17, 2025

The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills is on hiatus ahead of its 15th season.