You probably remember the movie. Julia Roberts in that floral vest, stomping through the California desert, fighting for the little guy. It’s the ultimate David vs. Goliath story. But if you look at the headlines today, that triumphant Hollywood ending has curdled into something much darker.
People often link Tom Girardi and Erin Brockovich as the twin engines behind the Hinkley "toxic tort" victory. While they were definitely on the same side of that $333 million settlement against PG&E, their paths since then couldn't be more different. One became a global symbol of consumer advocacy. The other? Well, he just started his 87-month sentence in federal prison.
Honestly, it’s a bit of a gut punch.
The Hinkley Connection: Where it All Began
Back in the early 90s, Erin Brockovich was a legal clerk at the firm Masry & Vititoe. She was the one who found the medical records tucked away in a pro bono real estate file. She’s the one who drove out to Hinkley and realized the water was literally killing people.
But Ed Masry’s firm was small. They didn’t have the "war chest" needed to take on a giant like Pacific Gas & Electric. That’s where Tom Girardi came in.
Girardi was already a titan in Los Angeles. His firm, Girardi Keese, provided the heavy-duty legal muscle and the cash to fund the years of litigation. In the movie, his character is sort of merged and smoothed over, but in real life, he was the guy who knew how to work the system. He was the one who could stand in front of a judge and demand hundreds of millions.
The 1996 settlement was a record-breaker. It made Erin a household name. It also gave Tom Girardi the "god-like" status in the legal community that he would eventually use to mask a massive fraud.
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The Fraud Nobody Saw Coming (Or Did They?)
For decades, Tom Girardi was the king of the "Erin Brockovich" lawyers. He had the private jets. He had the $16 million mansion. He had a pop-star wife, Erika Jayne, who spent $40,000 a month on her "glam squad" on The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills.
But in 2020, the mask didn't just slip—it fell off.
It turns out, while he was playing the hero on TV, he was running what prosecutors called a "textbook Ponzi scheme." Basically, he was stealing settlement money from his own clients. We’re talking about orphans of plane crash victims and people who suffered horrific burns. He’d get the check from the defendant, put it in his own account, and then give the clients excuses for why they couldn't have their money yet.
"Bad accounting," he called it in court.
The judge didn't buy it. In June 2025, at the age of 86, Tom Girardi was sentenced to over seven years in prison. He was found guilty of wire fraud for stealing at least $15 million, though the total amount missing from his firm’s accounts is rumored to be much higher—some estimates hit $100 million over the years.
Where was Erin in all this?
Naturally, everyone started asking: Did she know?
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Erin Brockovich has been pretty clear about her distance from Girardi’s internal operations. She worked for Ed Masry, not Girardi Keese. In interviews and social media posts, she has expressed "sickened" disbelief at the allegations. She’s pointed out that she was a clerk, not a lawyer, and certainly not an accountant with access to the books.
It’s a weird spot to be in. Your biggest professional triumph is forever linked to a man who ended up being one of the most prolific legal fraudsters in history.
The "Erin Brockovich" Case: Not So Perfect?
If you dig into the archives, the Hinkley settlement wasn't actually the clean victory the movie suggests. Even back in 2000, some of the 650 plaintiffs were complaining.
They weren't happy with how the $333 million was split up. Some families received huge payouts; others, with similar illnesses, got a fraction. There was a lack of transparency that, in hindsight, looks like a huge red flag. Girardi and the other firms took a massive 40% cut—about $133 million—plus "expenses."
Some residents claimed they were never given an itemized list of where that expense money went. It’s a bit chilling to think about now, knowing what we know about how Girardi handled client trust accounts later in his career.
Why This Matters in 2026
The fallout from Tom Girardi and Erin Brockovich's shared history has actually changed the law.
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Because Girardi was able to hide his crimes for so long—reportedly by wining and dining officials at the State Bar of California—there have been massive reforms. California now has stricter reporting requirements for lawyers who see their colleagues acting shady. It’s called the "snitch rule," and it was basically written because of Tom.
Also, the State Bar got a massive overhaul. An internal investigation found "shocking" evidence that Girardi had basically bought off the people meant to regulate him with gifts, travel, and meals.
What You Should Do If You're Part of a Class Action
If you ever find yourself in a mass tort or class action case—the kind that made these two famous—you've got to be your own advocate.
- Demand an Accounting: You have a legal right to see exactly where every penny of a settlement goes. Don't accept a lump sum without a breakdown of attorney fees and "costs."
- Check the State Bar: Use the online search tools to see if your lawyer has a history of disciplinary actions. Tom's record was "pristine" because of corruption, but that's much harder to pull off today.
- Communication is Key: If your lawyer stops taking your calls or gives you vague excuses about why "the court is holding the money," it's time to get a second opinion.
The story of Tom Girardi and Erin Brockovich is a reminder that even the most inspiring legends have a messy, human side. One remains a tireless advocate for clean water. The other is Register Number 43156-510.
Always look past the Hollywood shine. The truth is usually found in the ledger.
Next Steps for Consumer Protection:
If you suspect legal malpractice or the mishandling of settlement funds, contact your local State Bar Association immediately to file a formal complaint. For those following the ongoing Girardi Keese bankruptcy, the court-appointed trustee periodically releases updates on asset recovery for victims through the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Central District of California.