"real housewives of beverly hills" star erika jayne and her husband, tom girardi, the lawyer made famousuring the erin brockovich case are now accused of faking their divorce. a newly filed lawsuit claiming the high-profile couple is trying to hide millions of dollars in settlement money meant for the families of victims killed in the 2018 lion air plane crash. >> the law firm in chicago is saying thomas girardi is trying to hide, he's trying to tuck away this money in this divorce. he's got to presumably give it all to his wife and somehow have the money assigned to her and that way he won't have to pay it back to these plaintiffs or to this law firm. >> reporter: on the show the couple would flaunt their extravagant lifestyle. >> i think it costs $40,000 a month to do erika jayne so that's hair, makeup, costumes, wardrobe and the whole production. >> reporter: but the suit claims they're in debt and used some of the misappropriated money to pay it off and project a public image of obscene wealth at all times. and at whatever the cost. the attorney who filed the lawsuit, jay edleson, wo

"real housewives of beverly hills" star erika girardi known as erika jayne and her husband tom accusedsucks, and being rich is a lot better. >> reporter: the federal suit alleging the couple is faking their divorce so they can keep settlement money meant for the victims of the 2018 lion air plane crash represented by tom girardi's firm. the lawsuit suing them claiming, while erika publicly filed for divorce, that divorce is a sham attempt to fraudulently protect their money from those that seek to collect debts owed by tom and his law firm. >> the law firm in chicago is saying tuck away this money in this divorce. he's got to presumably give it all to his wife or, you know, somehow have the money assigned to her, and that way he won't have to pay it back to these plaintiffs or to this law firm. >> reporter: the suit also claiming the couple's lavish lifestyle is fabricated, alleging tom and his firm girardi keese are on the verge of financial collapse and locked in a downward spiral of mounting debts and dwindling funds while choosing to project a public image of obscene wealth at all