Keith Griffin, a former attorney at the law firm Girardi Keese, has recently defended his role concerning the litigation related to the Lion Air disaster in spring 2020. Speaking through his counsel at the California State Bar Court, Griffin clarified that he was not part of the decision at the time to misrepresent facts to the firm’s clients. His claims showcase the ongoing complexities in the case of disbarred attorney Tom Girardi, indicating that the lawyer’s choices continue to have far-reaching implications for those involved in the Lion Air litigation.
In the midst of the proceedings, Griffin’s counsel remarked that he was aware of a letter written by Girardi, in which he blamed “tax issues” as the reason for not disseminating the Lion Air litigation settlement funds. Despite this knowledge, Griffin’s legal team states that his involvement was far from aiding in the alleged deception. “All I could do was ask Girardi to pay” were Griffin’s reported words, painting a portrait of an attorney caught in turbulent professional circumstances.
In line with Griffin’s disclosure, the California State Bar’s Office of Trial Counsel had made an announcement in June outlining its decision to potentially disbar both Griffin and David Lira, another former attorney at Girardi Keese. These proposed disbarments relate to accusations that Griffin and Lira played significant roles in misappropriating millions of dollars in client settlement funds, dating back to 2018.
While this situation continues to unfold, what remains clear is that the consequences of Girardi’s actions still linger, ensnaring both lawyers and clients in a web of professional and legal dilemmas. Full details of the case and Griffin’s defense continue to surface as legal proceedings progress.