Girardi’s Mental Decline Was Exaggerated to Dodge Fraud Trials

Disgraced plaintiffs’ attorney Thomas Girardi exaggerated his mental decline, a federal judge said in her ruling, unsealed on Friday, that found he is mentally competent to stand trial in his fraud case.

Though he likely has mild to moderate cognitive impairment, US District Judge Josephine L. Staton said she was convinced by the US government’s arguments that he’s exaggerating his condition.

Stanton rejected federal public defender arguments that Girardi’s judgment and ability for rational decision making is severely impaired, writing that Girardi had good reason to fake his decline and no one spoke up before his conservatorship action was filed ...