Lion Air Lawyer Slams RHOBH’s Diana Jenkins; Calls Her $100k Donation a PR Move

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Not everyone is rallying behind Diana Jenkins following her $100k donation to the victims of the 2018 Lion Air plane crash.

The lawyer suing Tom Girardi and Erika Jayne, on behalf of the families who lost loved ones in the 2018 Lion Air 610 plane crash, thinks Diana’s recent press release about her donation was completely inappropriate.

Jay Edelson tells Page Six that while the donation was “well-intended,” the Real Housewives of Beverly Hills newbie should have done the research before announcing the donation and soliciting further donations from Bravo fans via a press release.

“While Ms. Jenkins may be well-intentioned, we do not believe that issuing a press release and soliciting donations from the public without having done the necessary legwork is an appropriate way to proceed,” Edelson explains. “That being said, we hope that this is not a publicity stunt and will reserve judgment until we hear directly from her.”

Back in August, Edelson’s law firm delivered $2 million to give families that were allegedly scammed out of settlement money by Tom and his Girardi & Keese law firm.

“As we previously announced, we have compensated the victims and are involved in ongoing litigation with those we believe were involved in the Girardi Ponzi scheme to both recoup our money and hopefully get additional damages for the Lion Air clients,” Edelson notes. “To the extent there are legitimate efforts made to provide donations [by Jenkins], 100% percent will go directly to the victims.”

Edelson adds that Diana has not reached out to his Chicago-based law firm for help in locating any of the Lion Air plane crash victims. The class action lawyer represented five families that were victims of Tom’s alleged crimes, but there were 184 total victims in the Lion Air plane crash.

“Ms. Jenkins never reached out to our firm and, other than what we have seen in the press, we know nothing about her claimed plans to donate money to the victims of this horrible tragedy,” Edelson said.

A rep for the Bravo star tells Page Six that Diana made her donation because she “feels badly for the families of all 189 people who lost their lives and is taking action to provide support to them.”

“This has nothing to do with any past or ongoing litigation. It is simply a way for Ms. Jenkins, Sunela Foundation, and its nonprofit partner GVNG to support the victims’ families,” the rep continues, noting that Diana is simply raising funds out of “genuine compassion for the victims.”

As for Diana contacting Edelson to locate victims of the Lion Air plane crash, her rep says no decision has been made to date. Instead, they are working with the established digital nonprofit GVNG.

“All funds raised for the victims of Flight 610 will be collected, safeguarded, and dispersed by GVNG to immediate family members of the 189 people who lost their lives,” the rep adds. “Details about how family members can apply for this support from GVNG will be released in the coming months.”

The Sunela Foundation has raised a total of $100,153.87 as of Wednesday.

The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills airs on Wednesdays at 8 pm on Bravo.