David Lira’s plea deal averts trial: wire fraud charges dropped in Boeing case

David Lira, former high-ranking attorney and son-in-law of disgraced lawyer Tom Girardi, has entered a plea deal admitting to one count of contempt of court.

This plea results in prosecutors dropping eight wire fraud counts and two false statement charges, effectively averting a trial scheduled for this summer.

The case centers on Lira's defiance of a Chicago judge's order regarding the distribution of settlement funds to clients whose relatives died in a 2018 Indonesian plane crash involving Boeing 737-MAX jets.

Lira and Girardi had negotiated $7.5 million in payouts in 2020, but the Indonesian clients did not receive their full settlements, prompting federal charges.

"Under the plea deal, prosecutors will drop other charges against Lira, including eight counts of wire fraud as well as two false statement charges, at his sentencing, and the trial scheduled for this summer will be averted."

"David Lira admitted Thursday to one count of contempt of court for defying a Chicago judge’s order concerning the distribution of settlement funds to clients whose relatives had perished in a 2018 Indonesian plane crash."

This development follows the sentencing of Tom Girardi to seven years in prison for stealing from clients, highlighting ongoing legal fallout from the now-defunct law firm.

The broader litigation aims to hold Boeing accountable for defects in its 737-MAX jets, which were implicated in fatal crashes, including the 2018 incident in Indonesia.

Lira’s plea deal marks a significant step in resolving the complex legal issues surrounding the distribution of settlement funds and accountability in the Boeing case.

David Lira pleaded guilty to contempt of court, leading to dropped wire fraud and false statement charges in a Boeing-related case. The plea deal averts a summer trial and stems from disputes over settlement funds for victims of a 2018 Indonesian plane crash involving Boeing 737-MAX jets.