Reality TV Star Lawyer Stole Millions from His Clients: Now What?
When big-name lawyer and reality TV star Tom Girardi was convicted of stealing millions from his own clients — including children and plane crash victims — it shook the legal world.
Girardi was recently sentenced to 11 years in federal prison, with an order to reimburse millions to his clients. But the damage he did went beyond just money. It damaged trust.
This made a lot of people wonder: How do I know I can trust my lawyer with my settlement funds?
The State Bar: Cracking Down on Lawyer Trust
The truth is: Girardi was a fraud. Most lawyers are not. But the untrustworthy ones like Girardi got away with their fraud because there wasn’t enough oversight from the State Bar of California. But that’s now changed.
The State Bar is cracking down, and lawyers now must follow stricter rules about how they manage client trust accounts. Surprise audits and mandatory training are now the new normal.
Knowledgeable Lawyers With Honest Standards
At Eugene Bruno & Associates, we didn’t wait for the crackdown to start doing the right thing — we’ve been ahead of the curve from day one.
Our attorneys treat every client’s settlement funds like what they are: off limits. In fact, we use separate trust accounts for every case, with detailed records and checks in place to make sure no dollar of client money ever goes missing.
Our trust accounting team balances these accounts every month, and there are multiple checks and balances in place before any money is moved.
We’re also 100% transparent with clients about the money we’re holding for them. This means if you’re getting a settlement, we’ll walk you through exactly how every penny of your settlement is handled — from what gets paid toward your medical bills to what’s owed in fees and what comes straight to you. No surprises. Everything is laid out in plain English.
In Conclusion: Establishing Good Lawyer-Client Relationships
For sure, the Girardi case was a wake-up call for the legal world, but at Bruno & Associates, we’ve always known. Our clients’ trust means everything to us, and we work every day to earn it.
With 85+ years of combined experience and a 99.7% success rate, our experienced San Diego personal injury lawyers have the knowledge, skills, and interest in making sure your trust accounts are managed appropriately. Reach out to our law firm at 1-888-BRUNO-88 (1-888-278-6688) for a free initial consultation.
“I would highly recommend Eugene Bruno & Associates! They helped me out with a case of mine and everything worked out perfectly. I worked with Amir, one of the lawyers and he was amazing. Definitely would work with him again. Thank you!”
- Mona Hakim, Google Review- “This people deserve more than 5 stars. I would highly recommend them to anyone.”
- Faisal A., Google Review - “You will not be disappointed hiring these guys. Eugene Bruno & Associates are the best car accident lawyers in San Diego and I recommend them 100%!!”
- Adam C., Google Review - “Take the time to speak with Mr. Bruno, he will definitely help you and guide you and make you feel like family! Best decision I have made, I went with the best. Thank you! Thank you! Thank you!!!!!”
- Lakeisha E., Google Review
“I would highly recommend Eugene Bruno & Associates! They helped me out with a case of mine and everything worked out perfectly. I worked with Amir, one of the lawyers and he was amazing. Definitely would work with him again. Thank you!”