Loading summary
Transcript96 lines
- [00:00]
A
Hi listeners. This is Saruti from Flesh and Code. I want to say a massive thank you to everyone who joined us on this journey with Travis. Your responses to his story and the conversations it sparked about connection in the digital age have blown us away. Even though Flesh and Code has now wrapped, I've been thinking about all the other ways that people can be vulnerable to manipulation in our digital world. That's why I'm excited to introduce you to to Scamfluencers, a weekly series that uncovers the dark side of influence in the digital age. Hosted by Sachi Cole and Sarah Hagie, each episode exposes how charismatic personalities online can exploit our deepest desires, whether it's for love, wellness, wealth, or belonging. If you've been fascinated by how technology can be used to manipulate human connection in Flesh and Code, then you'll be captivated by these stories of digital deception and the real world consequences when the facade falls away. I'm about to play you an episode of Scamfluencers, so stay tuned while you're listening. Follow Scamfluencers on the Wondry app or wherever you get your podcasts.
- [01:18]
B
Sachi, what would you name your pop star alter ego? Mmm.
- [01:24]
C
Pig Bitch.
- [01:25]
B
Honestly, I knew it was gonna be something gross. I was expecting like butt lover. I don't know.
- [01:34]
C
Yeah, I don't know why you asked me.
- [01:36]
B
It's because in the story I'm about to tell you, a housewife transforms into a pop star named Erika, Jayne. And Sachi. I know you might think you know this story, but she is really just the smallest piece of it. Foreign It's a sunny Southern California day, sometime around 2015 or early 2016. Lisa Vanderpump and her husband are being chauffeured in their black SUV up the driveway of an enormous Pasadena mansion. As Lisa climbs the stone steps, a camera crew follows behind. Lisa is a brunette who wears a chic black cocktail dress with oversized diamond encrusted bracelets. She's a wealthy restaurateur and the matriarch of the Real Housewives of Beverly Hills. She's here to meet the show's newest castmate, Erica, and her husband, Tom Girardi. Erica opens the front door wearing a black mini dress that's conservative, yet sexy. She's a pop star and she has platinum and I mean platinum blonde hair. Erica pours them all wine and takes Lisa and her husband on a tour of her home. It's ostentatious even by Real Housewives standards. It's a 10,000 square foot mansion built in 1928, the interior has lots of chandeliers and Brownie Gold textiles, and it sits on two acres of land with a garden designed by the same firm that planned Central Park. Their first stop. The library has fireplaces at either end of the room. Sexy portraits of Erika hang over each one. The tour continues with Erika showing off a small, high ceilinged room with frescoes and carved crosses. Yes, Sachi, it is a chapel. On the show, Lisa's visibly surprised and has questions about it. Why is there a chapel up?
- [03:27]
D
Because, you know, I'm a spiritual person and I wanted to.
- [03:30]
B
Did you put this in? Yes, I did.
- [03:32]
C
God, the dumb shit rich people buy with their riches.
- [03:36]
B
I know. And I also know you do remember this. And it was crazy to witness on.
- [03:41]
C
TV imprinted in the underside of my eyelids.
- [03:45]
B
Well, Erica has had several number one singles on Billboard's dance club chart. But she didn't pay for this mansion. Her husband, husband Tom, did. He's a legendary Los Angeles attorney known for defending the little guy against big corporations. His claim to fame is that he helped Aaron Brockovich in the case that was turned into the Julia Roberts movie. Tom's mostly quiet during this visit with Lisa Vanderpump, but the luxury on display in his home seems at odds with the type of do gooder legal work that built his towering reputation. Because it turns out, Tom's career helping others is. Seems to be about helping himself. For years, he's been accused of stealing from his clients, people like burn victims and orphans. And now that his and Erica's opulent lifestyle is being televised, it's about to come under the microscope. And when it does, it'll tank Tom's reputation and fuel one of the biggest scandals in Housewives history. Oh, hey. Hey. Thanks for meeting me here on such short notice. This isn't bugged, is it? Bugged? Wait, Jamie, what's going on? It's just you're my only lawyer friend and I need your professional opinion. You see that brand new Hyundai Tucson out there? Yeah. That's all I paid for it. Ah, I think I need to get back to you on that. Do you know what you want? Yeah, I do now.
- [05:10]
E
Deal. So right, it almost feels wrong. Get the car or SUV you've always wanted, plus America's best warranty at the Hyundai getaway sales event. The guilt is real, but so is the savings.
- [05:21]
B
Listen, I don't want to get in your business, but if that's all she paid for it, I'll have what she's having.
- [05:26]
E
It's a great day for a new Hyundai at the Hyundai Getaway sales event going on now. Get 0% APR for 60 months plus 0 payments for 90 days on all Hyundai, Palisade, Santa Fe and Santa Fe hybrid models. And check out our other great deals at your Hyundai dealer today. Offer end September 2nd. Call 562-314-4603 for details.
- [05:47]
B
Tyler Perry Sisters is all new only on Beta. It's the calm before the storm and anything can happen. With the stress of jobs, relationships, depression and jealousy, the Sistas get pushed to the edge of their breaking point. Can they lean on each other and remain strong through it all? Through the changes and hardships, bonds are tested and the Sistas circle may never be the same. Tyler Perry Sistas all new Wednesdays at 9, 8 Central only on BET. From Wondery. I'm Sarah Hagie.
- [06:20]
C
And I'm Sachi Kol.
- [06:22]
B
And this is Scamfluencers. Come and give me your attention. I won't ever learn my lesson. Turn my speakers to 11. I feel like a legend. Tom Girardi had a reputation as the heroic lawyer getting justice for the underdogs. And Erica Girardi was a globetrotting pop star. But behind that shiny facade was a dark reality for this lion of California law and his fabulous famous housewife. Things are about to get all too real. This is episode one of a two part series. I'm calling it the Power Broker and the Pop Star Legend. Tom's legal aspirations date back at least to 1957. It's the year he graduates high school in Los Angeles and starts attending Loyola Marymount University with the goal of going to law school. He's 18 years old, handsome and clean cut, sporting close cropped hair. Tom wants to follow in the footsteps of his hero, fictional lawyer Perry Mason. Perry Mason is a legal drama set in Los Angeles. And in it, defense attorney Perry Mason takes on difficult cases, always sticking up for the underdog. He's exactly the type of guy Tom aspires to be. Here's what Tom tells the International association of Top Professionals years later.
- [07:46]
F
I watched that show for two decades. I thought, man, to ever be like Perry would really be great.
- [07:54]
B
After undergrad, Tom graduates from law school and starts out as a trial lawyer. Think slip and falls, car accidents and medical malpractice. Then in 1965, he starts a firm with an attorney named Robert Keys. They call it Girardi and kiss. About five years later, Tom wins a $1.4 million verdict, the biggest malpractice in California at the time. He's Also getting chummy with politicians like Jerry Brown. He works to get him elected governor of California in 1975 and later brags about influencing him to make judicial appointments. When asked about this claim, a spokesperson for Brown told the LA Times that Tom was, quote, just one of hundreds who offered an opinion on judicial candidates.
- [08:41]
C
You know, I thought I knew a lot about tomorrow Girardi, but I didn't know how much political capital he used to have.
- [08:49]
B
Sachi, this is just the beginning. Over time, Tom starts to focus on toxic torts lawsuits where victims allege damage from chemicals and pollutants. Years later, Tom talked about that transition in an interview with the International association of Top Professionals.
- [09:08]
F
You know, when I was a baby lawyer, none of my cases had a moral aspect to them. The lady slipped and fell in the ice cream at the drugstore. They didn't want her to slip and fall. Now, in almost all these cases, there's a moral aspect.
- [09:22]
B
One of the most high profile examples of these cases comes in the early 90s when Tom represents more than 600 Lockheed employees. The employees allege they were exposed to toxic chemicals while building stealth bombers. In one of the jury cases representing 38 of the workers, Tom wins a 300 million verdict. That's a huge payout for the victims and for Tom's firm. Thanks to massive wins like this one, Tom's living an increasingly big budget lifestyle. He's become fly your friends to the World Series in a private jet type rich. He spent decades building a reputation as the best in his field. And it's this reputation that leads a young single mom to ask for his help with the case of a lifetime. It's the spring of 1993. I imagine Erin Brockovich is sitting in a bougie conference room with Tom Girbardi. Erin is a legal clerk and she's disarming and direct. She's beautiful, with big blonde hair, big jewelry, and by her own description, big boobs. Beside her is her boss, Ed Masri, who is in his 60s with big glasses and a pretty good head of hair himself. He runs a small law firm in Westlake Vill, just north of Los Angeles. Aaron and Ed are here to talk to Tom about a case they need help with. Sachi, what do you know about the very famous Erin Brockovich case?
- [10:54]
C
I have seen the movie Erin Brockovich a lot. I could probably recite the two different number monologues she gives. The one that she gives to Aaron Eckhart and then the one that she does later with the phone numbers. Yeah, very important, very formative.
- [11:10]
B
I have her phone number. You want her number, too? I'll tell you everything. I love her. I love her. Well, for those who don't know, the gist of it is this. In the 50s and 60s, Pacific Gas and Electric Company, or PGE, dumped hundreds of millions of gallons of chromium tainted water into unlined holding ponds. The contamination leaked into the water supply of a California town called Hinckley. In the following decades, residents started getting cancer and other health issues. They think that chromium in their water is making them sick. Ed and Aaron know they have a big case. But as more plaintiffs join, it gets overwhelming. They need a legal heavyweight on their team. By this point, Tom has sued insurance companies and oil and chemical companies. And after hearing about this PG&E case, he joins a team. Tom and his firm start working on the case, interviewing plaintiffs, gathering documentation, and negotiating with PGE. And in 1996, three years after Girardi became involved, they forced PGE to settle for $333 million. Aaron talked about Tom's role in the case in an interview decades later. You know, I just certainly didn't do Hinckley alone. Had the law firms not come together and the people and all of us in sync, it wouldn't have turned out this way. Tom's career is cruising, but his personal life has hit the skids. He's headed for a messy divorce from his second wife. But soon a new romantic match is about to rock his world. It's the late 90s, about two years after the PG and E settlement. Erika Choi is in her late 20s. She's working as a cocktail waitress in LA while trying to make it as an actor. She's a natural beauty with blonde hair and skin as smooth as a Neutrogena commercial. Sachi, just so you know, a lot of our details about Erika's life at this time come from her memoir, Pretty Mess. We reached out to Erica's lawyer, and he did not respond to the request for comment. In her memoir, Erika writes that she grew up in Georgia. After graduating, she moved to New York to chase her dreams. She booked some roles, like playing the very first character to die on Law and Order.
- [13:37]
C
Gotta give it to her.
- [13:38]
B
Yeah. This is one of the most iconic things a housewife has ever done. A person has ever done. Being the first corpse.
- [13:45]
C
Yeah.
- [13:46]
B
And while in New York, Erica got married and had a son. But she and her husband divorced about 18 months later. Erica writes in her book that she saw this as the push she needed to head to Hollywood. She left her son behind with his dad, and now she's in LA working at a restaurant called Chasen's. It just so happens to have a powerful investor and patron named Tom Girardi. Tom's around 60 at this time, and he's often at Chasen's upstairs club, holding court with other lawyers, journalists and politicians, people he hopes to get on his side. And he catches Erica's eye. Here's how she describes the attraction in the audiobook of Pretty Mess.
- [14:27]
D
When he spoke, he made me feel like I was the only person in the room. Heck, he made me feel like I was the only person in the world. It was inspirational.
- [14:37]
B
While Erica says she makes the first move, she slips Tom her number. Things progress quickly, and just a few months later, Erica moves into Tom's mansion. He suggests she quit her job, and she agrees. On her last shift, she dramatically dumped her uniform in the garbage bin. She's about to put her acting ambitions on hold to be Tom's wife. But Tom's about to bring her into the celebrity spotlight. In January 2000, about two years after they meet, Erica gets a call from Tom, who is now her fiance. Erica writes in her memoir that Tom's calling with exciting news. He says that his friend, Judge Paul Flynn can marry them that day. Judge Flynn is just one of Tom's many friends slash colleagues. He actually oversaw Snoop Dogg's 1995 murder trial. Snoop, by the way, was acquitted. Since both Tom and Erica have previously been married, they want to keep the ceremony low key. Erica goes to the Gucci store and picks out a long silvery satin dress. When they arrive at the Los Angeles Country Club, Judge Flynn walks off the green all casual, and puts on a robe over his golf clothes. One of the witnesses is Tom's best friend, Robert Baker. Robert unsuccessfully defended O.J. simpson in a wrongful death civil suit. Tom and Erica are married in a small reading room at the Los Angeles Country Club. Then they hop on their jet and fly to Las Vegas to have dinner at their favorite restaurant. And they never sign a prenup. Here's Erica explaining why in her audiobook.
- [16:18]
D
Mr. Girardi knows the law so well that a prenup is not going to do shit. As any lawyer will tell you, there is always a way around a prenup, even if you think it's ironclad. Tom was going to protect himself no matter what. And what did I need to protect? The little red convertible and trash bags full of clothes I rolled up with?
- [16:37]
B
Woof.
- [16:39]
C
When you think about, like, the financial burdens that people put themselves through in order to get married. It is crazy that we do it. You're like, hey, I like you so much. I want to carry all your debt forever.
- [16:52]
B
Yes. I also would like to say she's doing a great job reading this audiobook. You feel like she's talking to you. I'm like, yeah, I guess that's true. I'm convinced. I don't know, Sarah.
- [17:03]
C
I think she's getting really bad legal advice from her husband, who would be pretty conflicted.
- [17:10]
B
Well, regardless, Tom's making a commitment to Erica, but in the end, he's in charge. As Erica explains on one of her first episodes of Real Housewives, Tom is always the boss.
- [17:22]
D
As American of fact, in my cell phone, it comes up the boss. The boss is calling.
- [17:27]
B
Surrounded by powerful friends in exclusive places. He must feel like he's untouchable. It helps to have judges on call for big personal moments like this and for when Tom needs serious professional favors. Because in the background, some less than ethical behavior is starting to come to. A couple of months after Tom and Erica get married, reporter Kathleen Sharp is following a major lead. She has light brown shaggy hair and bangs. She gives off serious journalist vibes. Kathleen's been talking to former plaintiffs in the PG and E case, and she discovers that the case never went to trial. It started in open court, but when the judge assigned to the case retired, Tom told the victims that it could take five more years to get a new trial date. So Tom convinced them to voluntarily enter arbitration. That's where private judges mediate between the two sides in order to reach a settlement. At this time, Tom is still taking on cases where he can flex his trial litigation skills. But the arbitration approach has upsides, like control. The process does have quicker settlement times, but arbitration isn't monitored by the government, and judges are incentivized to keep the lawyers happy so they'll be hired again. This shifts the power into the hands of the lawyers and away from the victims they're representing.
- [18:54]
C
This sounds gross. I'd love to hear how the legal system can be perverted at every turn.
- [18:59]
B
Yeah, and there's also a major lack of transparency in private arbitration. The findings aren't made public, so PG&E's role and any scientific evidence uncovered in the case is unknown. That means a huge public safety issue like water contamination is essentially decided in secret by corporations and attorneys like Tony Tom, who represents victims who often don't understand how the legal system works.
- [19:26]
C
I feel safe. I feel super, super safe.
- [19:29]
B
Yeah. And Kathleen the reporter also uncovers that Tom had personal ties to some of the private judges involved. One even officiated his second wedding, the one right before he married Erica. Side note, we reached out to Tom through his lawyer and did not hear back. After the case wraps, Tom took some of the judges on a Mediterranean cruise, which the judges eventually repaid him for. Here's Kathleen describing it to CNBC's American Greed.
- [19:58]
F
There would be butlered waiters with silver.
- [20:01]
B
Trays full of champagne or bikini clad ladies frolicking on the sun drenched decks. It gave decadence a bad name. One of the plaintiffs in the PGE case is a woman named Carol Smith. She tells Kathleen she has questions about how the PGE settlement money was distributed. Payouts supposedly varied based on the medical records of the residents, but Caril says that no one ever asked for hers and she doesn't understand why her husband, who had 17 tumors removed, got less money than people with similar or less serious health issues. Carol tells Kathleen about other red flags like that Gerard E. Kees allegedly deducted $10 million in expenses but never explained where that money went. And some of the victims who were minors were allegedly charged way more than California's limit of legal fees. Tom's clients are starting to doubt his reputation as a champion of justice, but Tom's ability to create his own myth is about to get supercharged by a star making turn in Hollywood.
- [21:12]
F
Why choose a Sleep Number Smart Bed Can I.
- [21:14]
C
Make my site softer?
- [21:15]
E
Can I make my site firmer? Can we sleep cooler?
- [21:19]
F
Sleep number does that cools up to eight times faster and lets you choose your ideal comfort on either side your Sleep Number setting It's the Sleep number Biggest sale of the year all beds on sale up to 50% off the limited edition smart bed plus free home delivery with the purchase of any smart bed ends Monday. All Sleep Number Smart beds offer temperature solutions for your best sleep. Check it out at a Sleep number store or sleepnumber.com today.
- [21:42]
G
Searching for a romantic summer getaway escape with Rich Girl Summer, the new Audible original from Lily Chiu the exquisitely talented Philippa Sue. Returning to narrate her fifth Lily Chu title. This time Philippa is joined by her real life husband, Steven pasquale. Set in Toronto's wealthy cottage country, a.k.a. the Hamptons of Canada, Rich Girl Summer follows the story of Valerie, a down on her luck event planner posing as a socialite's long lost daughter while piecing together the secrets surrounding a mysterious family and falling deeper and deeper in love with the impossibly hard to read and infuriatingly handsome family assistant Nico. Caught between pretending to belong and unexpectedly finding where she truly fits in, Valerie learns her summer is about to get far more complicated than she ever planned. She's in over her head and head over heels. Listen to Rich Girl Summer now on audible. Go to audible.com richgirlsommar.
- [22:39]
B
I feel like Erin Brockovich is released in movie theaters in March 2000. It's directed by Steven Soderbergh and stars Julia Roberts and immediately has Oscar buzz. Tom Girardi was already wildly successful before the movie comes out, but afterward it put his firm on the map like never before. The movie is based on the huge case Tom helped the real life Aaron win against pge. There's no character named Tom Girardi in the movie. One character is a composite of him and several other LA lawyers. But Tom's name does appear during the end credits under special thanks. In interviews, he says he's on set every day acting as a consultant, and he loves it. Later, he tells a reporter about a time he was having dinner with Bill Clinton when Julia Roberts walked over to talk to him because of their time together on set.
- [23:39]
C
What a lame brag. I like Julia Roberts, too, but you're not gonna catch me on here saying things like that.
- [23:46]
B
You know what? I say the same thing. But if you say hi to me before a former president, I will tell people, yeah, you know what?
- [23:55]
C
You're right. I'm on board now. I'm on Tom Jordy's side.
- [24:00]
B
Well, obviously Tom is loving all of the publicity. And a month after the movie comes out, he gets even more. And this time it's not so positive. Kathleen publishes another side of the PG and E case. Her article runs on Slate.com with the headline Erin the Real Story. In it, she writes about the pitfalls of private arbitration and exposes how Tom took some of the judges on a Mediterranean cruise. According to her reporting, the cruise inspired a study into private arbitration. It's led by the Chief justice of the California Supreme Court, Ron George. He recommends that arbiters disclose their relationships with lawyers whose cases come before them and not accept gifts. But the Erin Brockovich movie overshadows Kathleen's reporting. It cements Tom's reputation as a heroic lawyer. Kathleen can probably only watch in frustration as Tom leans harder into his celebrity image. By 2001, he's reportedly taking in more than a quarter of a million dollars. Every month, his firm expands into a second building on Wilshire Boulevard near downtown la. But but despite how large it's grown, the firm doesn't offer its legal staff the chance to make partner. Tom owns 100% of the corporation. It's an unusual arrangement, and it gives him unchecked power over the company and its finances. Even still, new lawyers are clamoring for jobs at the famous firm. Girardi Kees has a great reputation, and its lawyers get deep expense accounts to take clients to games at the Staples Center. Tom even pays for lawyers, luxury cars and a tailor for their suits and shirts. He's come a long way since he was a college kid idolizing Perry Mason. And Erica is there by his side, enjoying his life of luxury. But her ambition is fighting to come out. And when it does, it'll make everything so much more complicated. It's around 2008, and Erika Girardi is taking the stage at the Nymphomaniacs Ball in San Francisco. It's a sex party held at a huge old theater turned nightclub called Pleasure Zone. The spotlight reflects off the rhinestones on Erica's blue catsuit. It was made by a designer who's created looks for Britney Spears, RuPaul, and Michael Jackson. Erica's music career is just starting out, and this is her first gig. The Nymphomaniac Ball is Moe's, definitely not a charity board event, but Erica writes that it's not a big scandalous orgy like she imagined. It's mostly couples making out at this time. She's around 35 and has spent eight years being Tom's number one fan. And now she's ready for some fans of her own. Here she is talking about it in her TED Talk years later. Yes, you heard that right, her TED Talk.
- [27:03]
D
I was hiding. I was hiding behind my husband Tom, a very successful lawyer. And as Tom's wife, I have become Erika Girardi. And I never wanted to say anything disagreeable and I never wanted to make waves.
- [27:18]
B
So Erica turns to her first love, performing. She was introduced to a songwriter who penned songs for Madonna, Stevie Nicks, and Britney Spears, and he helped Erica develop an alter ego. Erica Jayne Erika Jayne is different from Mrs. Girardi, the picture perfect housewife. She's a vixen, powerful and unapologetic. Erika describes her return to performing in her memoir, Pretty Mess. Can you read this excerpt? Sachi yeah.
- [27:48]
C
It says, without my project, I would have been relegated to a life of shopping, sitting on a few charity boards of no consequence and standing silently by my husband's side, full of unrealized potential. Oh, that's sad if she's already thinking about, like, legacy and potential, like God she did not help herself at all. She had all of that money and, like, the best thing she could think to do with it was like, I'll make myself Madonna.
- [28:15]
B
Well, when she releases her first single, rollercoaster, that same year, it hits number one on Billboard's US Dance club charts. She follows that up with eight more number one tracks, including One Hot Pleasure, Party People, Ignite the World, and Painkiller. According to Erika, Tom is incredibly supportive of her career, including financially. And Tom loves to show her off. One time, when hosting an event for the Italian American Lawyers association, he makes the entire group watch Erica's latest music video, One Hot Pleasure. One Hot Pleasure.
- [28:57]
C
I love that this video is both so weird and so Vaseline covered, but also that Tom is making a bunch of lawyers watch it.
- [29:09]
B
Yeah, it's like, he doesn't have to do that. He really is like, hey, guys. All right. Time to watch the video of my wife doing this. What, are you showing a vacation slideshow when you put this on for people?
- [29:23]
C
No, it's worse. It's like coming to work and being like, look at the card my kid made.
- [29:29]
B
Rumors are starting to swirl about where Tom's getting the cash for this lavish lifestyle and his wife's pop music career. But Tom's host with the most Persona has earned him powerful friends and allies, the kind of people who can quiet rumors and cut off any potential investigations. It's September 2010, and Tom's throwing a big bash at the State Bar of California's annual convention in Monterey. Tonight's guest of honor. Honor. Is Ron George, who's retiring after serving 15 years as the Chief justice of the California State Supreme Court. He's the same guy who spearheaded the study into private arbitration after Tom invited all those judges on a cruise. But it seems like there's no love lost between him and Tom. Tom loves throwing extravagant parties with celebrity performers like LeAnn Rimes, Penn and Teller, and Jennifer Jay Leno. Tonight, he's hired Paul Anka to play under a white tent on the hotel grounds. His firm is footing the bill, but there's a problem. Tom's currently under investigation by the California State Bar for deceptive behavior in a case against Dole, the food company. So stick with me here. Ron, the guest of honor, is technically the boss of the California State Bar, which means he's the head of the organization that's currently investigating Tom. So Tom singing along while Paul Anka serenades Ron with put your head on my shoulder has ethical implications.
- [31:10]
C
Yeah, I feel ethically compromised just listening to this.
- [31:14]
B
And sure, Justice George is retiring, but for many of the people invited, this is too much. Some of them decline their invitation or leave early. Ultimately, the private lawyer hired to investigate Tom in the Dole case decides to not pursue charges. And while we do, while we don't know if the party had a direct effect on the outcome of this particular case, Tom's coziness with California State Bar staffers raises suspicions. By this point, he's been reported to the bar many, many times. He's alleged to have stolen money from clients trust accounts, which is a disarrable offense. But Tom manages to keep his record squeaky clean thanks to his personal connections. One of those connections is a bar investigator named Tom Leight. Leighton's job is to be a legal watchdog for the public, but oh boy, does Tom Girardi ever spoil this man. According to an LA Times investigation, Tom routinely treats Leighton to pricey meals at high end restaurants and trips on private jets. And when Leighton and his wife are sued by their contractor, Girardi Kees allegedly pours resources into the case free of charge. And according to an independent state bar investigation, Tom allegedly gives Leighton and his family cash gifts and experiences worth over a million dollars. There are car payments, Vegas vacations, and allegedly Leighton even has a Gerardi Keith American Express card. Leighton has insisted under oath that he never worked on an investigation involving Gerardi Keith. But a later California State Bar report suggests that Leighton intimidated people from filing complaints against Tom in the first place. We reached out to Leighton for comment, by the way, and didn't hear back. What is very clear is that the bar fails to take complaints against Tom seriously because of his connections and influence. But all these transactional relationships that are helping Tom avoid big trouble are adding up up. And the clients he's allegedly ripping off won't stand to be shoved around forever. Around the same time as the State Bar conference, Joseph RZ is at home in San Bruno in the Bay Area. He's sitting down on the couch with his girlfriend, Jessica Morales to watch the first game of the NFL season. They're both in their early 20s. Joseph has long brown hair that sits around his shoulders. His deep brown eyes seem to sparkle. Then the ground starts shaking. Joseph and Jessica hear a roar like a jet engine fire sweeps through the house. Joseph described the scene in an ABC News special years later.
- [34:10]
F
I was surrounded by flame, managed to find the door to my backyard. And I remember as I was opening up that door for a split second, I just remember having my light flash in front of me and just thinking like, all right, this is it.
- [34:21]
B
A gas line ruptured and the escaping gas erupted into a massive fireball. Joseph's home is at the epicenter of the explosion. Neighbors help firefighters drag hoses thousands of feet to connect to hydrants while people are rushed to the hospital for more than an hour. The gas leak sent flames billowing up up 60ft in the air. Jessica is one of eight people killed in the fire. Joseph survives, but he's left with burns on over 80% of his body. Once he's stable and recovering in the hospital, his mother, Kathy, starts asking around for our good lawyer. She's a brunette and has the same bright brown eyes as her son. Kathy and her family are going to need money for Joseph's lifelong medical care. They decide to sue PG&E, the same company that Erin Brockovich sued. Luckily, Kathy's best friend is a legal consultant who previously worked with Erin Brockovich's firm, and they connect her with Tom Girardi. According to Kathy, she and her friend go to meet Tom in a big high rise office in downtown San Francisco. Tom reassures them that he's going to land them a big win. They hire him and feel so relieved. Five months later, when Joseph's finally let out of the hospital, he meets with Tom and they hit it off. It seems like a legal power player is taking a personal interest in him, the best case scenario to come from a horrible situation. But Tom isn't the friend and ally they think he is. Joseph is about to become become the latest victim caught up in Tom's scam.
- [36:08]
E
Summer entertaining becomes effortless with Boar's Head. Their premium meats, cheeses and tips elevate any gathering, from casual poolside hangouts to elegant picnics. The new basil pesto and sweet BBQ hummus flavors add a fresh twist to the lineup, while their expanded charcuterie selection, now featuring olives, brings a touch of sophistication to any spread. Whether it's a fantastic Fourth of July celebration or relaxed Labor Day get together, Boar's Head products transform ordinary occasions into memorable experiences. For your next summer event, visit your local deli counter and explore the difference that true craftsmanship makes Boar's Head committed to craft since 1905.
- [36:45]
F
Why are there ridges on Reese's peanut butter cups? Probably so they never slip from her hands. Could you imagine? I'd lose it. Luckily, Reese has thought about that. Wonder what else they think about? Probably chalk, chocolate and peanut butter.
- [37:09]
B
Two years after the explosion, state and federal agencies conclude that PGE's negligence led to the pipes failure. Joseph's case seems to be heading to trial. But in January 2013, Joseph and his family get word that Tom has settled their case without giving them very many details. Turns out he took the case into private arbitration, like he did with the Erin Brockovich case. And behind closed doors, Tom negotiated a settlement for $11 million. Joseph's pretty happy with the amount. It should cover the medical treatment he'll need for the rest of his life. With money to spare, Tom says it'll take about three months to get his money. But soon, Tom has a different proposal for Joseph and the Rugomez family. He suggests that they let him invest their millions. He says he can guarantee 6% interest. And almost immediately, things start to feel fishy. Tom becomes hard to get a hold of, and Joseph has to pester him constantly to get any money. Later, in an ABC News special, Joseph talks about how Tom would try to get on his good side.
- [38:24]
F
He would butter me up. You know what, Joe? You're a bitching guy. That's something he would say a lot. You're a bitching guy, baby.
- [38:31]
B
Sometimes he gets payments as promised, and other times, nothing. Joseph needs the money for his medical procedures, and yet Tom delays and delays. This goes on for years. But while Joseph of struggles to put his life back together and pay for medical expenses, Tom is cementing his influence in the halls of government. In 2015, Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti appears on Tom's weekly AM radio show. It's called Champions of Justice, and it's syndicated on stations throughout California, plus one in D.C. this is Champions of Justice with Tom Girardi. Tom regularly books people in the legal field and politicians for casual interviews like this one with Eric.
- [39:23]
F
Mr. Mayor, for you to find a little bit of time to share with us is really nice, and I deeply mean that.
- [39:30]
B
Well, thank you, Tom. It's easy when you call.
- [39:33]
F
You truly are a champion of justice.
- [39:36]
B
Tom is a huge donor to Democratic politicians. In exchange, he expects them to be on call for things like radio appearances or to hear about who Tom wants appointed to the bench. And when there was a Superior Court seat up for grabs more than a decade earlier, Tom reportedly recommended someone to Senator Dianne Feinstein. It's not uncommon for lawyers to recommend judges, but as is Tom's way, he is always the most extra. The LA Times got a hold of his unpublished memoir where Tom brags about his political influence. Sachi, can you read this excerpt from Tom's memoir?
- [40:15]
C
It says, I make no bones about influencing judicial appointments.
- [40:19]
B
Awful.
- [40:20]
C
You say unethical well, who better to recommend a man to the bench than someone who works with him every day? Well, you know, the important thing is he asked the rhetorical question to himself and then did not answer it.
- [40:33]
B
It's kind of like you guys don't really understand this. I'm the best person to recommend these people. Who do you want someone else doing it?
- [40:39]
C
He just is smarter than us.
- [40:42]
B
Well, Tom has a real and making sure he sees a friendly face looking back at him from the judge's bench. When he goes into court with friends like these, who's going to hold him accountable for his bad behavior? He's built a shield of invincibility around him and it's so strong that he isn't afraid to enter the primetime TV spotlight. When a huge opportunity comes for Erica, he's about to be known in a whole new way. It's been three years since Tom settled with PGE on behalf of burn victim Joseph Rugomez. Erica is on set shooting a music video. She's wearing a baby blue lingerie set. Her hair is big, curly and platinum. She's transformed herself into her alter ego, Erika Jayne. And she's filming a sexy pillow fight with two of her dancers while her newest song plays on a loop. Sachi, you know this song as well as I do. It's called Expensive. That's spelled with two X's and a dollar sign. It's the follow up single to her song how many about how many fucks she gives spoiler? None. Here's a little taste. It's expensive to be made.
- [42:02]
C
One of the worst songs ever made and I love it. Anytime you buy, like an iced coffee, anytime something costs more than $18, this song plays in my head.
- [42:13]
B
Yeah, and you know what? She isn't lying. She says she spends upwards of $40,000 a month just on her hair, makeup and clothes. Erica and the dancers play on a bed littered with paper bills that fly up and around them as they laugh behind the camera, her creative director shouts encouragement. Having so much fun. We're so rich, we just can't take it. Yeah. Sachi, doesn't it sound just like being in a scamfluencer's recording session?
- [42:46]
C
Yeah, that's always the stuff we cut out. People don't get to hear it anyway.
- [42:50]
B
We know this is what it's like on set because it's all being captured. For the seventh season of Bravo's the Real Housewives of Beverly Hills, Erika said she planned to retire her Erika Jayne alter ego before she was cast on the show, it had been costing her and Tom too much money. But being on the Real Housewives has given her a new platform and a new source of income for her music career.
- [43:15]
C
You know, a lot of the women of the Housewives have like, interesting fake jobs, but I think Fake Pop Star is my favorite one and it is a classic. But I think Erica was the one spending the most amount money on it for sure.
- [43:29]
B
Oh, my God, totally. Even some of the Housewives, who are rich themselves are astounded by her lifestyle. In one of her first appearances on the show, Erica talks about how they have two planes, one for local jaunts and another for international travel. Bravo. Viewers like us eat it up. But some of Tom's legal colleagues see it as poor taste for him to be this flashy with his money.
- [43:51]
C
It's really bonkers that these two would go on reality TV when they were living in a house of cards. But I guess it speaks to how much arrogance Tom had. Like, he really thought he was untouchable.
- [44:03]
B
Yeah. It's very clear that Tom never thought he would face any consequences even when he was flaunting all of his wealth on tv. He has a lot of influential friends, but he also has a powerful adversary. And in the next episode of this two part series, he's going to come for tomorrow, toppling the empire he's built and the pop star lifestyle he's been bankrolling. This is the Power Broker and the Pop Star, Part one. I'm Sarah Hagie.
- [44:40]
C
And I'm Sachi Kol. We use many sources in our research.
- [44:44]
B
A few that were Particularly helpful were.
- [44:46]
C
Eight ABC News originals, Housewife and the Hustler. CNBC's American breed, Erin the Real Story and Salon by Kathleen Sharpe. Girardi gained their trust but left them with regret by Brandon Lowery and Ryan Boysen for Law360 and the investigative work of the Los Angeles Times reporters Harriet Ryan and Matt Hamilton.
- [45:06]
B
Jessica Ford wrote this episode. Additional writing by us, Sachi Cole and Sarah Haggie. Our senior producer is Jen Swan. Our producer is John Reed. Our associate producers are Charlotte Miller and Lexi Pirie. Our story editor and producer is Sarah Eney. Eric Thurm is our story editor. Sound design is by Sam Ada. Fact checking by Will Tablin. Additional audio assistance provided by Adrian Tapia. Our music supervisor is Scott Velasquez for Freeson Sync. Our coordinating producer is Desi Blaylock. Our managing producer is Matt Gant. And our senior managing producer is Ryan Lohr. Kate Young and Olivia Richard are our series producers. Our Senior Story Editor is Rachel B. Doyle. Our Senior Producer is Jenny Blume. Our Executive producers are Jeanine Cornello, Stephanie Jens, Jenny Lauer Beckman, and Marshall Louie. For Wondery.
- [46:14]
A
With Wondry plus, you can listen to new episodes of Scamfluences early and ad free. Click the link in the episode description to start your free trial today. Unlock premium listening with early access, exclusive content, and more. All ad free with Wondry Plus. Follow Flesh and Code on the Wondry app or wherever you get your podcasts. You can binge all episodes of Flesh and Code early and ad free by joining Wondry plus in the Wondry App, Apple Podcasts, or Spotify. And before you go, be sure to tell us about yourself by completing a short survey@wondery.com survey and if you have a tip about a story you think we should investigate, please write to us@wondery.com tips.