BY: Walker
Published 1 year ago
Erika-Jayne looks to be moving on from disgraced estranged husband Tom Girardi.
via: Page Six
Erika Jayne was spotted on what appeared to be a date with recently arrested lawyer Jim Wilkes II amid her divorce from disgraced former attorney Tom Girardi.
Jayne, 51, and Wilkes, 72, strolled through Caesars Palace in Las Vegas in a photo obtained by “Blonde Hair Black Heart” podcaster Blake Adam Sunday.
The “Real Housewives of Beverly Hills” star — who is in Sin City to prepare for her upcoming residency at the House of Blues in the Mandalay Bay Resort & Casino — was dressed in skintight red leather leggings and matching pumps paired with a graphic long-sleeve tee.
Meanwhile, Wilkes appeared more casual in dark blue jeans and a leather jacket.
The pair both wore sunglasses.
Jayne did not immediately respond to Page Six’s request for comment.
The legal eagle, who was a longtime associate of Jayne’s estranged husband, reportedly has been helping the Bravolebrity with her financial woes amid her divorce, with the US Sun reporting that he allegedly sent her just under $500,000.
“Erika filed a summary judgment motion to get herself out of the case, and in response, the law firm noted that Erika was receiving hundreds of thousands of dollars for her legal fees from an attorney named James Lewis Wilkes, II, via Wilkes’ law firm,” read court documents previously obtained by the outlet.
Jayne follows Wilkes on Instagram, where he describes himself in his bio as a “US Army ‘69-72 Vietnam Vet songwriter, music publisher, lawyer, elder advocate, world champion boxing manager, political consultant [and] humanitarian.”
While Wilkes filed for divorce from his wife, Jessica Collins, in March 2021, he posted a photo on Tuesday with the caption, “My wife and me. Having a nice moment,” signaling that he is still married despite his outing with Jayne.
And like Girardi, Wilkes has a rap sheet. The lawyer, who is best known for suing nursing homes on behalf of abused residents, is facing criminal charges after firing two shots inside his home during a domestic dispute with an unknown woman last month.
Wilkes claimed the woman had hit him in the head and that he grabbed a handgun since he was afraid she would take it, the Tampa Bay Times reported in April.
He told cops he fired a round to scare the woman but that he did not aim the gun at her. However, she alleged that he fired two rounds and then held the gun to her head and torso and threatened to kill her.
Wilkes was arrested for felony aggravated assault with a deadly weapon and misdemeanor battery, and authorities say the woman also might be prosecuted.
“He was attacked, and he was defending himself. That’s the extent of it,” his attorney, Ronald Kurpiers II, told the outlet.
Jayne has a history of linking herself to embattled lawyers. She filed for divorce from Girardi, 83, in 2020 after 21 years of marriage amid a string of legal issues.
Girardi lost his license to practice law in 2021 after being accused of embezzling $15 million from his law firm clients to pay for Jayne’s lavish lifestyle.
He was also sued by his former firm partner, Robert Kees, who alleged that Girardi did not pay the estimated $315,000 they earned from their partnership and instead pocketed the money for himself.
Amid his legal battles, Girardi faced health setbacks and was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease and dementia in 2021.
The disbarred attorney — who resides at a senior living facility in Orange County, Calif. — was ordered to undergo a mental competency evaluation in February after being indicted on five counts of wire fraud charges.
While Jayne declined to comment on the indictment at the time, she teased that fans would “hear from [her] soon.”
