Disgraced Los Angeles celebrity lawyer, Tom Girardi, has been deemed competent to stand trial on charges of stealing over $15 million from his clients. The decision was made by Judge Josephine L. Staton of the Central District of California, who filed a notice of the brief order under seal on Tuesday. Both the prosecution and defense were given five days to identify any information they would like to keep confidential.

Girardi, 84, is famously known as the estranged husband of "The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills" star, Erika Jayne. He pleaded not guilty in Los Angeles last year to wire fraud charges, which accused him of embezzling funds from various clients. These clients include an Arizona widow whose husband died in a boat accident, a Los Angeles couple whose son was paralyzed in a car wreck, and a man who suffered severe burns in the 2010 San Bruno gas pipeline explosion. If convicted, Girardi could face decades in federal prison.

The competency hearing revolved around whether Girardi understood the charges against him and could actively participate in his own defense. His lawyers argued that his diagnosis of Alzheimer's disease rendered him unable to comprehend the proceedings and left him with memory problems. As a result, Girardi currently resides in the memory care unit of a nursing home. However, the prosecution contended that Girardi was exaggerating his symptoms.

Tom Girardi was once known as one of the nation's most prominent plaintiff's attorneys, taking on powerful corporations and winning a $333 million settlement in a case against Pacific Gas and Electric. This landmark case was even portrayed in the 2000 film "Erin Brockovich," starring Julia Roberts. However, his law empire eventually crumbled, leading to his disbarment in California in 2022 due to client thefts. Girardi now faces a myriad of legal problems, including federal wire fraud charges in Chicago, where he is accused of stealing approximately $3 million from family members of victims of the 2018 Lion Air crash that claimed 189 lives. The Chicago court is expected to follow the competency decision made in California.

Thomas Vincent Girardi, the disgraced ex-lawyer, allegedly embezzled more than $15 million from his clients. The 84-year-old, who was previously known as the husband of a “Real Housewives” star, has now been declared competent to stand trial. Judge Josephine L. Staton made the announcement after a three-day competency hearing, filing an "order finding defendant competent to stand trial" in the Central District of California. The full order has been sealed, and attorneys have been given the opportunity to identify which parts should remain confidential.

Girardi, who was diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease in 2021, currently resides in the memory ward of a nursing home in Orange County. He is facing multiple counts of wire fraud, with each count carrying a potential prison sentence of up to 20 years. These charges stem from Girardi's tenure as the owner of Girardi & Keese, a prominent law firm based in Los Angeles. Over a span of 10 years, ending in December 2020, he is accused of embezzling millions of dollars from his clients. Despite his previous success as a lawyer, Girardi's law empire began to crumble due to ongoing legal issues, ultimately leading to his disbarment from the State Bar of California in July 2022.

As of now, Girardi's attorney has not provided any comment on the matter. The case has garnered significant attention, with media outlets closely following the developments. Tracy Wright from Fox News contributed to this report.