Girardi's firm was legally due some of his clients' settlement money. Does it matter?

Closing arguments are to begin this morning in the disbarred lawyer's federal fraud trial in Los Angeles. The jury could reach a verdict as soon as this afternoon.

Tom Girardi leaves the new Los Angeles federal courthouse on with Natalie Degrati, an investigator with the Federal Public Defender’s Office for the Central District of California. (Photo by Meghann M. Cuniff)

Along with his mental state, Tom Girardi’s defense involves timing.

The disgraced ex-lawyer’s agreements with his clients guaranteed his law firm a…