AmEx Targeted by Girardi Keese Trustee as Stolen Money Conduit

American Express is defending against novel claims the credit card company enabled the defunct Girardi Keese law firm to siphon $50.25 million in fraudulent transfers as part of the insolvent firm’s scheme to cheat creditors.

Trustee Elissa Miller contends American Express cards were a favored means for the firm to make fraudulent and preferential transfers that allowed the alleged fraud and conspiracy of disgraced principal Thomas Girardi and the firm “to operate and flourish.”

Miller maintains the estate is entitled to recover the funds, with interest, from payments made to American Express that she contends “were made by Girardi Keese ...