Nicolas Cage's ex Christina Fulton sues Erika Jayne for $700K over alleged stolen funds and fraud

Nicolas Cage’s ex Christina Fulton is suing Erika Jayne and two lawyers that worked at the defunct law firm of disgraced attorney Tom Girardi for allegedly committing fraud and theft.

In new legal documents, obtained by Page Six, the actress, 55, filed a $700,000-plus lawsuit against the 51-year-old Real Housewives of Beverly Hills star, who filed for divorce from Girardi, 83, in 2020 after over two decades of marriage, on Friday.

Girardi’s former colleagues Samantha Gold and John Kelley Courtney were also accused of misappropriating Fulton’s settlement funds from a 2016 car accident, in which the mother-of-one sustained ‘severe injuries as a result.’

New accusations: Erika Jayne (pictured in 2022) has maintained she had no involvement in estranged husband Tom Girardi's alleged misdeeds

Disturbing allegations: In new legal documents, obtained by Page Six , the actress (seen in 2015), 55, filed a $700,000-plus lawsuit against the 51-year-old Real Housewives of Beverly Hills star on Friday

Legal woes continue: Nicolas Cage’s ex Christina Fulton is suing Erika Jayne and two lawyers that worked at the defunct law firm of disgraced attorney Tom Girardi for allegedly committing fraud and theft

Following the accident, Fulton received legal representation from Girardi & Keese, who secured her a confidential settlement of $924,300. 

According to the outlet, ‘Gold was Fulton’s primary counsel, and Courtney was a senior attorney on the case.’

Still, Girardi, who was diagnosed with dementia and late-onset Alzheimer’s disease in March 2021 amid his legal woes, ‘was the owner and controlling member of their firm at the time.’

Famous ex: Fulton shares her 31-year-old son named Weston Coppola with Nicolas Cage, who she datef for three years beginning in 1988 (pictured in 1988)

Famous ex: Fulton shares her 31-year-old son named Weston Coppola with Nicolas Cage, who she datef for three years beginning in 1988 (pictured in 1988)

Last month, according to Fulton’s lawsuit, she learned through ‘newly discovered financial documents’ that her ‘settlement check had’ allegedly ‘been deposited into a Girardi & Keese bank account without her consent,’ according to Page Six.

‘This was a complete outright forgery as [Fulton] never endorsed this check and certainly never agreed to have it deposited,’ the suit states. 

The lawsuit also claims: ‘This negotiated check was in fact a forgery and a lie. The check was never held in trust but spent. It is beyond shocking and the pale that the firm would conceal the arrival of the check and not obtain Ms. Fulton’s endorsement as required by law.’ 

At this time, the actress has only received a total of $190,000 of her settlement as well as a $5,000 advance. 

She is seeking the rest of her $744,300 balance. 

Misled: Following the accident, Fulton contacted Girardi & Keese law firm for legal representation and ultimately agreed to a confidential settlement of $924,300; Girardi seen in 2018

Misled: Following the accident, Fulton contacted Girardi & Keese law firm for legal representation and ultimately agreed to a confidential settlement of $924,300; Girardi seen in 2018

Jayne is named in the lawsuit because Fulton allegedly learned her funds were ‘diverted’ to the singer via her company, EJ Global, then transferred to Pretty Mess Inc. 

In the lawsuit, Fulton speculates that her funds were used to pay for Jayne and her estranged husband’s ‘lavish lifestyle.’ 

‘The funds were treated as community property,’ the lawsuit claims, before pointing out the $25 million deposited into EJ Global — which remains remains suspended by the State of California. 

Other documents added that ‘Erika used the money to pay off her expenses,’ and that ‘for at least 12 years, all of her expenses were paid by Girardi Keese as she was generating them. No one withdrew money from the firm other than Erika Girardi.’ 

Jayne is named in the lawsuit because Fulton allegedly learned her funds were 'diverted' to the singer via her company, EJ Global, then transferred to Pretty Mess Inc

Jayne is named in the lawsuit because Fulton allegedly learned her funds were ‘diverted’ to the singer via her company, EJ Global, then transferred to Pretty Mess Inc

One of Fulton’s lawyers, Ronald Richards, told Page Six that like ‘many people in Hollywood’ his client ‘trusted Tom and Erika.’

He explained the exes were seen as a ‘public couple who preached wealth and success.’ 

Richards, who put in a low-ball offer to purchase Girardis’ former Pasadena estate, went on to say: ‘Erika profited off of these funds, which [were] used to provide content for the Housewives show to which she was paid for.’

‘She directly received vendor payments from these funds and personally benefited from the misappropriation of our client’s settlement,’ he accused. 

Meanwhile, Jayne’s attorney, points out she is not a lawyer and had ‘no role’ in her ex’s clients or company’s finances. 

On the defense: Meanwhile, Jayne's attorney, points out she is not a lawyer and had 'no role' in her ex's clients or company's finances; seen in 2021

On the defense: Meanwhile, Jayne’s attorney, points out she is not a lawyer and had ‘no role’ in her ex’s clients or company’s finances; seen in 2021

‘The focus should be on Tom Girardi and, where supported by evidence, the lawyers, accountants, and financiers who enabled his misconduct and wrongdoing,’ he insisted.

In addition to this lawsuit, Jayne has been named in a $50 million racketeering lawsuit and a $5 million fraud lawsuit. 

Jayne was originally named with her estranged spouse in the December 2020 class action lawsuit filed by Edelson PC, accusing them of fraud and embezzlement in connection with $2 million in settlement funds earmarked for victims of the 2018 Lion Air Flight 610 crash, in which all 189 people onboard died. In January, she was dismissed from the ongoing lawsuit filed against against Girardi in Illinois.

Jayne has always maintained her innocence and has spoken publicly about being ‘dragged through the mud’ on her reality show on Bravo. 

Girardi has been living in a nursing home after he was diagnosed with dementia and Alzheimer’s disease, and in July of 2021 was placed into a conservatorship by his brother Robert.

Not well: Girardi has been living in a nursing home after he was diagnosed with dementia and Alzheimer's disease, and in July of 2021 was placed into a conservatorship by his brother Robert (pictured in 2017)

Not well: Girardi has been living in a nursing home after he was diagnosed with dementia and Alzheimer’s disease, and in July of 2021 was placed into a conservatorship by his brother Robert (pictured in 2017)

source: dailymail.co.uk