The name Karen Weitzul may not be instantly recognizable, but it has become a topic of intense public curiosity. This is because she is the first wife of Thomas Girardi, a once-celebrated attorney whose spectacular fall from grace has captivated the nation. While Girardi’s later life with reality TV star Erika Jayne played out in the public eye, Karen Weitzul represents a different chapter—one that is now being examined as part of the legal scandal surrounding her ex-husband .
The recent surge in interest in Karen Weitzul is directly tied to Girardi’s bankruptcy and the unraveling of his multi-million dollar empire. As his assets were liquidated to pay off his victims, court documents revealed that Karen Weitzul was a creditor, seeking hundreds of thousands of dollars in unpaid spousal support . This connection to one of the biggest legal scandals in recent history has finally brought her story into the spotlight.
Quick Facts About Karen Weitzul
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Full Name | Karen Weitzul |
| Known For | First wife of disgraced attorney Tom Girardi |
| Marriage to Girardi | August 1964 – 1983 (divorce filed in October 1983) |
| Alimony Agreement | $10,000 per month following divorce |
| Notable Claim | Was owed $245,000 in back spousal support |
| Settlement | Received a $200,000 payout from the sale of Girardi’s Pasadena mansion |
| Early Life Note | Was a finalist for Loyola Homecoming Queen in 1959 |
A Life Before the Headlines: Early Years and Meeting Tom Girardi
The story of her begins long before the legal scandals and headlines. While specific details of her early life remain private, we know she attended Loyola Marymount University. In 1959, she was one of ten finalists for the university’s Homecoming Queen, indicating she was an active and well-regarded member of the campus community .
It was at Loyola, or within that social circle, that Karen Weitzul likely met Tom Girardi. Girardi graduated from Loyola High School in 1957, received his bachelor’s from Loyola Marymount University in 1961, and earned his law degree from Loyola Law School in 1964 . They were on parallel paths, and their connection culminated in marriage in August 1964 . Their union would last nearly two decades.
Marriage to a Rising Attorney
Karen Weitzul was Tom Girardi’s first wife . They married in August 1964, at the very beginning of his legal career. While Girardi would go on to become a powerful and feared attorney, winning billion-dollar verdicts against corporate giants like Pacific Gas and Electric Company, their marriage existed during the formative years of his professional life.
The couple did not have any publicly documented children. Their marriage lasted until Karen Weitzul filed for divorce in October 1983 . The divorce was finalized in 1988 . It was a relatively quiet end to a relationship that began at a prestigious university, setting the stage for a long and contentious financial battle years later.
The Fight for Spousal Support
The most revealing chapter in the life of Karen Weitzul began after her divorce. As part of the settlement, Girardi was ordered to pay her $10,000 per month in spousal support . This arrangement continued for decades until it reportedly stopped, sparking a legal battle that would later become public.
The $245,000 Debt
In February 2020, she claimed that Girardi informed her he was “tired of paying” and requested to reduce the amount to $5,000 per month . Her attorney demanded payment, and Girardi reportedly paid $40,000 to cover February and March of that year. However, the issue did not end there.
By October 2020, she claimed that Girardi had stopped paying her entirely and owed her $45,000 in back support . She filed court documents against him in August 2020, accusing him of contempt for failing to honor their divorce agreement . This legal claim was put on hold as Girardi’s world began to crumble. By June 2022, the amount she was owed had grown to $245,000 .
The $200,000 Settlement
As Tom Girardi was pushed into involuntary Chapter 7 bankruptcy, his assets, including the lavish Pasadena mansion he shared with his second wife, Erika Jayne, were liquidated to pay creditors . Karen Weitzul placed a lien on this property to secure her claim . When the mansion sold, the trustee overseeing the bankruptcy approved a $200,000 settlement for her.
In exchange for this payout, Karen Weitzul agreed to waive any future claims for spousal support from her ex-husband . This settlement brought a definitive end to her nearly forty-year financial connection to Tom Girardi. She is believed to currently reside in Pasadena, California .
Conclusion: The Woman Behind the Scandal
The story of Karen Weitzul is a fascinating, albeit brief, glimpse into a life that has been largely lived away from the public eye. She was a young woman with her own story who married a man on the cusp of a meteoric career. For decades, she was a footnote in Tom Girardi’s biography, simply listed as his first wife.
However, the collapse of Girardi’s empire has brought her story to the forefront. Karen Weitzul emerges not as a villain or a victim in the central scandal, but as a determined individual who stood up for her legal rights. Her fight to secure what she was owed, even as her ex-husband’s world fell apart, is a compelling coda to her connection with a man who was once one of the most powerful lawyers in America. While many mysteries remain about her private life, Karen Weitzul’s story serves as a reminder that even the most private individuals can become intertwined with the biggest headlines, and that sometimes, the most untold stories are the ones that start to appear on the public record.
Frequently Asked Questions About Karen Weitzul
Who is Karen Weitzul?
Karen Weitzul is the first wife of disgraced attorney Tom Girardi . She married him in August 1964 and filed for divorce in 1983. She has recently gained public attention due to a legal fight over unpaid spousal support during Girardi’s bankruptcy proceedings.
How much was Karen Weitzul owed in spousal support?
Karen Weitzul claimed she was owed $245,000 in back alimony from Tom Girardi . She was ultimately awarded a $200,000 settlement from the sale of his Pasadena mansion .
Why is Karen Weitzul in the news?
Karen Weitzul is in the news because she is a creditor in Tom Girardi’s bankruptcy case . The details of her fight for unpaid spousal support emerged as the disgraced lawyer’s assets were sold off to pay his victims.
Did Karen Weitzul and Tom Girardi have children together?
Based on publicly available information, Karen Weitzul and Tom Girardi did not have any children together during their marriage.
Where does Karen Weitzul live?
Court and news reports from 2022 indicate that Karen Weitzul currently resides in Pasadena, California .
What was Karen Weitzul’s life like before Tom Girardi?
Before her marriage, Karen Weitzul was a student at Loyola Marymount University. She gained some local recognition in 1959 when she was a finalist for the university’s Homecoming Queen .
