ENCORE: The Pop Star and the Power Broker: Part 1 | 171

Summary

Scamfluencers Podcast Episode Summary

Episode: ENCORE: The Pop Star and the Power Broker: Part 1 | 171
Release Date: August 11, 2025
Hosts: Scaachi Koul and Sarah Haggie
Produced by: Wondery

---

Introduction

In this gripping episode of Scamfluencers, co-hosts Scaachi Koul and Sarah Haggie delve into the tangled lives of Tom Girardi, a once-respected lawyer, and his wife, Erika Jayne, a glamorous pop star. Titled "The Pop Star and the Power Broker: Part 1," this installment lays the foundation for a two-part series exploring the rise and fall of this high-profile couple, unraveling the web of influence, deceit, and scandal that ultimately leads to their downfall.

---

Tom Girardi: From Heroic Lawyer to Scandalous Figure

Tom Girardi began his career as a champion for the underdog, gaining fame for taking on powerful corporations and securing substantial settlements for his clients. His reputation soared when he represented over 600 Lockheed employees exposed to toxic chemicals, securing a monumental $380 million verdict in the early 1990s.

Tom Girardi: "I watched that show [Perry Mason] for two decades. I thought, man, to ever be like Perry would really be great."
[09:03]

Despite his professional success, allegations began to surface accusing Tom of embezzling millions from his clients, tarnishing his once-sterling reputation. These accusations led to the collapse of his legal empire, culminating in a guilty verdict for embezzlement and a diagnosis of Alzheimer's disease.

---

Erika Jayne: The Glamorous Pop Star and Housewife

Erika Jayne, formerly Erica Choi, transformed from a cocktail waitress aspiring to act into a platinum-haired pop sensation. Her marriage to Tom Girardi in January 2000 marked the union of power and glamour, with Tom financing her burgeoning music career. Erika's ascent in the music industry was meteoric, boasting multiple number-one singles on Billboard's Dance Club Charts.

Erika Jayne: "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."
[29:55]

Her alter ego, Erika Jayne, became a symbol of opulence and excess, frequently showcased on reality TV, particularly The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills. Erika's lavish lifestyle, funded by Tom's legal earnings, became a focal point of both admiration and scrutiny.

---

The Dark Underbelly: Legal Manipulations and Scandal

Despite the public façade, Tom Girardi's legal practices were marred by unethical behavior. Investigative reporter Kathleen Sharp uncovered that Tom had manipulated the legal system by steering cases into private arbitration, bypassing public trials and enabling secretive settlements that often favored himself and his firm over his clients.

Kathleen Sharp: "Tom's personal ties to some of the private judges involved...represents a significant conflict of interest."
[21:15]

One particularly harrowing case involved Joseph Rugomez, a burn victim whose home was destroyed in a massive gas line explosion. After settling his case for $11 million through private arbitration, Tom Girardi proposed an investment plan that promised high returns but ultimately left Joseph struggling to access his funds, highlighting the deceptive practices that would soon come under intense scrutiny.

Joseph Rugomez: "Tom would try to get on his good side...sometimes he gets payments as promised, and other times, nothing."
[42:02]

Tom's extensive network of influential friends, including high-ranking officials like the Chief Justice of the California Supreme Court, further insulated him from repercussions. Reports suggest that Tom engaged in lavish entertainment for these officials, effectively buying his way out of investigations.

---

Erika Jayne's Rise and the Couple’s Public Persona

Erika Jayne's burgeoning music career was a testament to Tom's influence and financial backing. Her performances, characterized by extravagant costumes and high-budget productions, were regularly featured on The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills, amplifying her fame and, by extension, Tom's public image.

Erika Jayne: "It's expensive to be made... sometimes you can't take it."
[45:40]

However, behind the scenes, Erika grappled with her identity, torn between her role as the image-conscious housewife and her true passion for performing. Her memoir, Pretty Mess, reveals a woman striving to break free from the constraints of her marriage and Tom's controlling influence.

---

Investigations and the Crumbling Facade

As multiple victims began to voice their grievances against Tom Girardi, the legal and ethical foundations of his empire started to crumble. Former clients, like Carol Smith, questioned the distribution of settlement funds and the exorbitant fees deducted by Tom's firm. These revelations triggered further investigations into the firm's financial practices and Tom's manipulation of the legal system.

Despite mounting evidence, Tom's deep-seated connections within the legal and political spheres allowed him to evade accountability, leading to widespread speculation about the true extent of his misconduct.

---

Conclusion and Teaser for Part 2

The Pop Star and the Power Broker: Part 1 sets the stage for an in-depth exploration of how Tom Girardi's legal prowess and Erika Jayne's star power masked a network of deceit and exploitation. The episode concludes with the promise of unraveling the full scale of their scandal in the upcoming second part, where Tom's empire faces its ultimate reckoning.

Erika Jayne: "He's a vixen, powerful and unapologetic... the pop star lifestyle he's been bankrolling."
[47:07]

---

Sources and Acknowledgments

This episode draws on a variety of sources, including ABC News Originals, CNBC's American Greed, Salon by Kathleen Sharp, Law 360, and investigative reports from the Los Angeles Times by reporters Harriet Ryan and Matt Hamilton. The extensive research provides a comprehensive look into the lives and actions of Tom Girardi and Erika Jayne, offering listeners a nuanced understanding of their fall from grace.

---

Stay Tuned:
Don't miss the second part of this series, where the unraveling of Tom Girardi's legal empire and Erika Jayne's pop star facade reaches its dramatic conclusion.

---

About Scamfluencers:
Scamfluencers by Wondery unpacks the stories of the world’s most insidious scam influencers across various industries. Hosted by Scaachi Koul and Sarah Haggie, each episode delves into the deception and impact on victims, revealing what lies beneath the glamorous facades.

For exclusive content and early access, subscribe to Wondery+ on the Wondery App, Apple Podcasts, or Spotify.

Transcript

[Sarah Haggie]

Hey, Scamflancers listeners, if you're as hooked on these jaw dropping schemes as we are, you'll love Wondry. Think of it as your all access Past the world of scams, ad free episodes, early access, and exclusive deep dives that uncover even more shocking details. Don't just listen, immerse yourself in the chaos with Wondry.

[Sachi Cole]

We'll be back very soon with brand new episodes of Scamfluencers. But today we're revisiting one of the.

[Erika Jayne]

Stories closest to our hearts. The story of Real Housewives of Beverly Hills.

[Sachi Cole]

Power couple Erika Jayne and Tom Girardi. Tom was a high powered lawyer in la. He built a reputation as someone willing to take on megacorporations on behalf of his clients, winning them millions. He used his personal fortune to launch Erika Jayne's singing career and they both flaunted their fabulous lifestyle on Bravo for the world to see. And let's face it, Erika Jayne was.

[Erika Jayne]

And is a star.

[Sarah Haggie]

Instant classic housewife. It is so unfortunate what happened to her.

[Erika Jayne]

Oh, it is very unfortunate.

[Sachi Cole]

And after decades as one of California's most respected and feared lawyers, some of.

[Erika Jayne]

Tom's clients made explosive claims that he.

[Sachi Cole]

Was stealing their settlement money. As more and more clients spoke out.

[Erika Jayne]

Tom's legal empire collapsed and his decades.

[Sachi Cole]

Long grift was exposed. Tom's firm went under, Erika Jayne left him, and he was found guilty of embezzling millions. Tom was diagnosed with Alzheimer's and his.

[Erika Jayne]

Lawyers asked that he be allowed to serve his sentence in a memory care nursing home. But there was a lot of speculation.

[Sachi Cole]

About his mental state and whether he was using his diagnosis to avoid consequences.

[Erika Jayne]

Well, in June 2025, a federal judge ruled that Tom will serve his sentence behind bars. And recently on the Diamonds in the Rough podcast, Erika Jayne said she heard about Tom's sentencing 10 minutes before performing a show in London. Can you read what she said about her reaction, Zaji?

[Sarah Haggie]

She said, it is something that I had a sold out show in a theater just for me and I was so grateful. My happiest place in the whole world to be is on stage. So while I was happy, there's a little piece of me that was like, ugh. Yeah, I mean, that is some real cognitive dissonance there.

[Erika Jayne]

Yeah.

[Sachi Cole]

I mean, she was married to him for so long.

[Tom Girardi]

Yeah.

[Erika Jayne]

Well, at least she's been able to.

[Sachi Cole]

Find comfort in a former army special operations sergeant major known as the Sheriff of Baghdad.

[Erika Jayne]

Stay tuned for all the madness of this disgraced power couple. And we'll be back very soon. With even more twisted scam stories.

[Lisa Vanderpump]

Wondering.

[Erika Jayne]

Sachi, what would you name your pop star alter ego? Mmm.

[Sarah Haggie]

Pig bitch.

[Erika Jayne]

Honestly, I knew it was gonna be something gross. I was expecting like butt lover. I don't know.

[Sarah Haggie]

Yeah. I don't know why you asked me.

[Erika Jayne]

It's because in the story I'm about to tell you, a housewife transforms into a pop star named Erika, Jan and Sachi. I know you might think you know this story, but she is really just the smallest piece of it. 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, 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?

[Lisa Vanderpump]

Because, you know, I'm a spiritual person and I wanted to.

[Erika Jayne]

Did you put this in? Yes, I did.

[Sarah Haggie]

God, the dumb shit rich people buy with their riches.

[Erika Jayne]

I know. And I also know you do remember this. And it was crazy to witness on.

[Sarah Haggie]

TV imprinted in the underside of my eyelids.

[Erika Jayne]

Well, Erica has had several number one singles on Billboard's dance club chart. But she didn't pay for this mansion. Her husband Tom did. He's a legendary Los Angeles attorney known for defending the little guy against Bill big corporations. His claim to fame is that he helped Erin 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 seems to be about helping himself. For years, he's been accused of stealing from his clients and 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.

[Kathleen Sharp]

If you're shopping while working, eating, or even listening to this podcast, then you know and love the thrill of a deal. But are you getting the deal and cash back? Rakuten shoppers do they get the brands they love? Savings and cash back and you can get it too. Start getting cash back at your favorite stores like Target, Sephora, and even Expedia. Stack sales on top of cash back and feel what it's like to know you're maximizing the savings. It's easy to use and you get your cash back sent to you through PayPal or check. The idea is simple. Stores pay Rakuten for sending them shoppers, and Rakuten shares the money with you as cash back. Download the free Rakuten app or go to rakuten.com to start saving today. It's the most rewarding way to shop. That's R A K U t e n rakuten.com why choose a Sleep Number.

[Sarah Haggie]

Smart Bed Can I make my site softer?

[Ron George]

Can I make my site firmer? Can we sleep cooler? Sleep Number does that cools up to eight times faster and lets you choose your ideal comfort on either side. Your Sleep Number setting Get early Access to sleep number's biggest sale of the year. 25% off the i8 bed, our most popular plus free home delivery limited time All Sleep Number Smart beds offer temperature solutions for your best sleep. Check it out at a Sleep number store or sleepnumber.com today.

[Erika Jayne]

From Wondery I'm Sarah Haggie.

[Sarah Haggie]

And I'm Slachi Cole.

[Erika Jayne]

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 the globe trotting 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. 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.

[Ron George]

I watched that show for two decades. I thought, man, to ever be like Perry would really be great.

[Erika Jayne]

After undergrad, Tom graduates from law school and starts out as a trial lawyer. Thomas think slip and falls, car accidents and medical malpractice. Then in 1965, he starts a firm with an attorney named Robert Keyes. They call it Girardian Keys. About five years later, Tom wins a $1.4 million verdict, the biggest malpractice decision 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 appoint. 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.

[Sarah Haggie]

You know, I thought I knew a lot about Tom Girardi, but I didn't know how much political capital he used to have.

[Erika Jayne]

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.

[Ron George]

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.

[Erika Jayne]

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 exposed to toxic chemicals while building stealth bombers. In one of the jury cases representing 38 of the workers, Tom wins a $380 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 Village, 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?

[Sarah Haggie]

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.

[Erika Jayne]

I have her phone number. You want her number, too? I'll tell you everything.

[Sarah Haggie]

I love her.

[Erika Jayne]

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 PGE case, he joins the 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&E settlement. Erica 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 Erica'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, Erica 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. Gotta give it to her. Yeah. This is one of the most iconic things a housewife has ever done, a person has ever done, being the first corpse. Yeah. 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 upset, 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.

[Lisa Vanderpump]

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.

[Erika Jayne]

Well, Erica says she makes the first move. She slips Tom her number. Things progress quickly in just a weeks. Few. 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 dumps 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 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.

[Lisa Vanderpump]

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?

[Erika Jayne]

Woof.

[Sarah Haggie]

When you think about, like, the financial burdens that people put themselves through in order to get married, it is crazy.

[Erika Jayne]

That we do it.

[Sarah Haggie]

You're like, hey, I like you so much. I want to carry all your debt forever.

[Erika Jayne]

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.

[Sarah Haggie]

I don't know, Sarah. I think she's getting really bad legal advice from her husband, who would be pretty conflicted.

[Erika Jayne]

Well, regardless, Tom is 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. As a matter of fact, in my.

[Lisa Vanderpump]

Cell phone, it comes up the boss. The boss is calling.

[Erika Jayne]

Surrounded by powerful friends in exclusive places, he must feel like he's untouchable. It helps to have judges 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 light. 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 PGE 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.

[Sarah Haggie]

This sounds gross. I love to hear how the legal system can be perverted at every turn.

[Erika Jayne]

Yeah. And there's also a major lack of transparency in private arbitration. The findings aren't made public, so PGE'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 Tom, who represents victims who often don't understand how the legal system works.

[Sarah Haggie]

I feel safe. I feel super, super safe.

[Erika Jayne]

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.

[Ron George]

There would be butlered waiters with silver.

[Erika Jayne]

Trays full of champagne or bikini clad.

[Ron George]

Ladies frolicking on the sun drenched decks.

[Erika Jayne]

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 Gerardi keys 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.

[Sarah Haggie]

Ever notice how fees are just everywhere these days? From those sneaky convenience charges on concert tickets to those surprise cleaning fees on vacation rentals, it seems like everyone's got their hand out for a little extra.

[Sachi Cole]

And when it comes to banking, those fees can really kick you when you're down that monthly maintenance fee when your balance dips too low, or that overdraft charge that turns a $4 coffee into a $39 headache.

[Sarah Haggie]

But that's why people are switching to Chime. They believe banking shouldn't cost you money. It should help you keep more of it. No monthly fees to drain your account, no overdraft fees to worry about, and no minimum balance requirements watching over your shoulder.

[Sachi Cole]

Which is a game changer because when you're trying to get ahead financially, the last thing you need is your bank pulling you backwards with fees.

[Sarah Haggie]

So check out Chime. Open your account in 2 minutes at Chime.com Scampod that's Chime.com Scampod Chime feels like progress.

[Erika Jayne]

Chime is a financial technology company, not a bank. Banking services and debit card provided by the Bancor Bankna or Stride Bank NA Members FDIC Spot me Eligibility requirements and overdraft limits apply. Timing depends on submission of payment file fees. Apply it out of network ATMs, bank ranking and number of ATMs, according to U.S. news and World Report 2023 Chime checking account required.

[Sarah Haggie]

You know what I love about transitioning into fall? It's the perfect excuse to refresh my wardrobe with some new staples. But finding quality pieces that don't break the bank can be such a challenge. And that's why I've been loving Quince lately. They have these amazing cashmere and cotton sweaters starting at just 40 bucks, plus gorgeous washable silk tops and classic denim pieces you'll wear again and again. And they work directly with top artisans and cut out all the middlemen. So you're getting the same premium quality as luxury brands, but at literally half the cost. And I love that they're committed to ethical manufacturing. All their factories use safe, responsible practices and premium materials. You know that a bunch of my wardrobe is comprised of Quinn stuff, but it's actually all stuff that I bought a couple of years ago, and it still really holds up.

[Sachi Cole]

I still look very cute, which, as.

[Sarah Haggie]

You know, is top priority. Elevate your fall wardrobe essentials with quince Go to quince.comscampod for free shipping on your order and 365 day returns. That's Q U I N C E.comscampod to get free shipping and 365 day returns. Quince.comscampod.

[Erika Jayne]

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. And like never before, the movie is based on the huge case. Tom helped the real life Aaron win against PG&E. 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.

[Sarah Haggie]

What a lame brag. I like Julia Roberts, too, but you're not gonna catch me out here saying things like that.

[Erika Jayne]

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?

[Sarah Haggie]

You're right. I'm on board now. I'm on Tom Joharty's side.

[Erika Jayne]

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 PGE case. Her article runs on Slate.com with the headline Erin Brockovich 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 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. Gerardi Keys 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 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 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 most definitely nymph, 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.

[Lisa Vanderpump]

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.

[Erika Jayne]

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?

[Sarah Haggie]

Yeah. 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.

[Erika Jayne]

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 fighting 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.

[Sarah Haggie]

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.

[Erika Jayne]

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?

[Sarah Haggie]

No, it's worse. It's like coming to work and being like, look at the card my kid made.

[Erika Jayne]

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 is Aron 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 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.

[Sarah Haggie]

Yeah, I feel ethically compromised just listening to this.

[Erika Jayne]

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 don't. 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 disparable 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 Lay. 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 Keiths American Express card. Leighton has insisted under oath that he never worked on an investigation involving Girardi 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. 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 Rugomez 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.

[Ron George]

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.

[Erika Jayne]

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 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 little bit, 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 the latest victim caught up in Tom's scam.

[Sachi Cole]

If you're craving restaurant quality meals but tired of takeout prices and prep time, I know I am. Then get ready to transform your meal time with CookUnity. They've brought together over 160 all star chefs, including Food Network stars and James Beard Award winners to craft incredible small batch meals just for you. Get ready to eat meals delivered directly to your door. Always fresh and never frozen and ready to heat in just 5 minutes, CookUnity has over 300 weekly options that you can customize to your tastes and dietary needs. Look, I get it. When you hear ready to eat meals, you probably think of those sad frozen dinners with tiny portions. But cookunity is seriously nothing like that. These meals are actually restaurant quality. It's the kind of food you take a picture of before eating. Plus, they're really, really good about packaging everything separately. All the sauces and veggies are in their own containers, so nothing gets soggy. Get what you're craving. Try the freshest, best tasting meal delivery made by your favorite celebrity chefs. Go to cookunity.com scamfluencers or enter code SCAMFLUENCERS before checkout for free Premium Meals for Life. That's free Premium Meals for Life. By using code SCAMFLUENCERS or going to cookunity.com scamfluencers terms and conditions apply. Go to cookunity.com for details.

[Tom Girardi]

The town of Agda in France is famous for sun, sand, sea and sex. But lately, life on the coast has taken a strange turn. The town's mayor, a respected pillar of the community, has been arrested for corruption. His wife claims he's been bewitched by a beautiful clairvoyant. Then there's a mysterious phone call that local people have been getting.

[Erika Jayne]

I am the Archangel Michael.

[Tom Girardi]

The whole town has been thrown into.

[Erika Jayne]

Chaos as the mayor is unable to carry out his duties. I would like to address you. All legal proceedings have been initiated.

[Tom Girardi]

Join me, Anna Richardson and journalist Leo Chic for the mystic and the Mayor as we investigate a story of power corruption and magic. Bingo. Lecture episodes of the mystic and the Mayor exclusively and ad free right now on Wonder Plus. Start your free trial in Apple podcasts, Spotify or the Wondery app.

[Erika Jayne]

I feel like two years after the explosion, state and federal agencies conclude that PG&E's negligence led to the pipe's 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.

[Ron George]

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.

[Erika Jayne]

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 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 justice, and it's syndicated on stations throughout California, plus.

[Ron George]

One in D.C. this is Champions of Justice with Tom Girardi.

[Erika Jayne]

Tom regularly books people in the legal field and politicians for casual interviews like this one with Eric.

[Ron George]

Mr. Mayor, for you to find a little bit of time to share with us is really nice, and I deeply mean that. Well, thank you, Tom. It's. It's easy when you call. You truly are a champion of justice.

[Erika Jayne]

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?

[Sarah Haggie]

It says, I make no bones about influencing judicial appointments.

[Erika Jayne]

Awful.

[Sarah Haggie]

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.

[Erika Jayne]

It's kind of like you guys don't really this. I'm the best person to recommend these people. Who do you want someone else doing it?

[Sarah Haggie]

He just is smarter than us.

[Erika Jayne]

Well, Tom has a real hand in 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 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? None. Here's a little taste. It's expensive to be made.

[Sarah Haggie]

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.

[Erika Jayne]

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?

[Sarah Haggie]

Yeah, that's always the stuff we cut out. People don't get to hear it anyway.

[Erika Jayne]

We know this is what it's like on set because it's all being captured for the same seventh season of Bravo's the Real Housewives of Beverly Hills. Erika said she planned to retire her Erika Jane 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.

[Sarah Haggie]

You know, a lot of the. 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 one spending the most amount of money on it for sure.

[Erika Jayne]

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. It.

[Sarah Haggie]

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.

[Erika Jayne]

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 gonna come for Tom toppling the empire he's built and the pop star lifestyle he's been bankrolling.

[Sarah Haggie]

Loving scamflancers get exclusive episodes and early access to new ones. All ad free on Wondry Plus. Join now in the Wondry app, Apple Podcasts or Spotify. Before you go, help us out by taking a quick [e-mail] survey.

[Erika Jayne]

This is the Power Broker and the Pop Star Part one I'm Sarah Haggie.

[Sarah Haggie]

And I'm Sachi Cole. We use many sources in our research.

[Erika Jayne]

A few that were particularly helpful were.

[Sarah Haggie]

ABC News originals Housewife and the hustler, CNBC's American breed, Erin Brockovich, the Real Story and Salon by Kathleen Sharp. Girardi gained their trust but left them with regret by Brandon Lowry and Ryan Boyson for Law 360 and the investigative work of the Los Angeles Times reporters Harriet Ryan and Matt Hamilton.

[Erika Jayne]

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 is editor and producer is Sarah Enni. 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 and Lore. Kate Young and Olivia Richard are our series producers. Our senior story editor is Rachel B. Doyle. Our senior producer is Jenny Bloom. Our executive producers are Janine Cornello, Stephanie Jens, Jenny Lauer, Beckman and Marshall Louie. For Wondery.

[Ron George]

Olivia loves a challenge. It's why she lifts heavy weights and likes complicated recipes. But for booking her trip to Paris, Olivia chose the easy way. With Expedia, she bundled her flight with a hotel to save more. Of course, she still climbed all 674 steps to the top of the Eiffel Tower. You you were made to take the easy route. We were made to easily package your trip. Expedia made to travel.