Girardi Bankruptcies Lay Bare Life of Excess at Others’ Expense

Thomas V. Girardi helped win jury awards for people whose lives and bodies were ravaged by plane crashes, explosions, chemicals, and prescription drugs.

But while presenting himself as a premier plaintiffs’ lawyer, the man who helped make Erin Brockovich famous was said to be helping himself to some of the millions of dollars he’d won for others to support a lavish lifestyle including an opulent estate filled with antiques, art and finery.

Girardi regularly used client trust funds “as his personal piggy bank,” said one of two bankruptcy trustees sorting through the more than $700 million in claims filed against ...