Roots in a Deadly Aviation Disaster (Image Credits: Sbsun.com)
Los Angeles – A former lawyer from the defunct Girardi | Keese firm entered a guilty plea to criminal contempt after withholding settlement money owed to families of victims from the 2018 Lion Air plane crash.[1][2]
Roots in a Deadly Aviation Disaster
The case traces back to October 29, 2018, when Lion Air Flight 610, a Boeing 737 Max 8, plunged into the Java Sea shortly after takeoff from Jakarta, killing all 189 people aboard.[1] Indonesian relatives hired Girardi | Keese, a prominent personal injury firm led by Tom Girardi, to pursue claims against Boeing in federal court in Chicago.
The lawsuits settled in 2020 for $7.5 million, with funds wired directly to the firm’s client trust account in March of that year. U.S. District Judge Thomas M. Durkin directed immediate distribution to the clients, many of whom were widows and orphans left grieving.[1] Yet the money sat untouched for eight months amid repeated demands from the families.
Griffin’s Admissions and Firm Turmoil
Keith Griffin, 54, from Temple City, served as one of the final attorneys at Girardi | Keese as it unraveled in 2020. He admitted knowing the funds remained undistributed despite the court mandate.[1][2] Griffin confronted Girardi several times about releasing the payments and withheld key details from a Chicago lawyer assisting on the matter.
On March 5, 2026, Griffin appeared before U.S. District Judge LaShonda A. Hunt in Chicago’s Northern District of Illinois and pleaded guilty to one count of criminal contempt as part of a plea deal. Sentencing is scheduled for August 6.[1] The Indonesian families ultimately received their shares through an insurer for another law firm.
Broader Collapse of Girardi’s Legal Empire
Tom Girardi, once a powerhouse in California litigation known for high-profile wins and a flashy lifestyle, faced disbarment in 2022 after revelations of widespread client fund theft. A 2024 federal jury in Los Angeles convicted him of embezzling millions, including references to the Lion Air case, leading to a seven-year prison term at a Minnesota medical facility due to his dementia.[1]
Several associates shared in the legal consequences:
- David Lira, Girardi’s 65-year-old son-in-law from Pasadena, pleaded guilty to contempt in 2025 and received four months in prison, four months home confinement, and 200 hours of community service.[1]
- Christopher Kamon, 51, the firm’s ex-CFO from Palos Verdes Estates, admitted to wire fraud and serves over five years concurrently with a 10-year Los Angeles sentence.[2]
These convictions highlight systemic failures at the firm, where client trusts funded personal extravagances instead of rightful payouts.
Lessons from a Scandal’s Long Shadow
The Griffin plea underscores ongoing accountability efforts years after Girardi | Keese dissolved. Federal prosecutors in Illinois pursued the contempt charge to enforce judicial orders protecting vulnerable clients.[3]
Key Takeaways:
- $7.5 million settlement delayed eight months despite explicit court directive.
- Griffin knew of non-payment but failed to act fully.
- Multiple Girardi insiders now convicted, signaling end to the fraud network.
Families shattered by the Java Sea tragedy waited too long for justice, but recent pleas ensure some measure of reckoning. As sentencing looms for Griffin, the case reminds legal professionals of the weight of fiduciary duties. What steps should bars take to prevent such betrayals? Share your thoughts in the comments.
