RHONJ stars Chris and Jacqueline Laurita 'owe $290k in unpaid legal fees in bankruptcy case'

By Ross Mcdonagh For Dailymail.com

Published: 18:47 EST, 24 January 2017 | Updated: 19:38 EST, 24 January 2017

Jacqueline Laurita and her husband Chris owe $290,000 in unpaid legal fees.

That's according to a Tuesday report from NJ.com.

The Real Housewives Of New Jersey stars are currently embroiled in a complex bankruptcy case over Chris's former clothing company Signature Apparel.

Debt: RHONJ stars Chris and Jacqueline Laurita 'owe $290k in unpaid legal fees in bankruptcy case', according to reports

In 2010, a year after they filed for bankruptcy, the couple were sued by Anthony Labrosciano - the person in charge of dealing with their creditors - who accused them of siphoned off millions of funds from the company.

He alleged the duo had misused around $8 million from their firm in order to support their opulent way of life, despite already knowing it was failing.

As evidence, Labrosciano's lawyers cite 'publicly available information, including in social media posts in which the Lauritas boast about remodeling their home and undergoing plastic surgery, and in television programs in which the Lauritas claim to be operating a profitable business'.

Trouble: The Real Housewives Of New Jersey stars are currently embroiled in a complex bankruptcy case over Jacqueline's husband's former clothing company Signature Apparel

The lawsuit - which was also names Laurita's brother Joseph, who co-founded the company, his wife Adeline, and another brother Anthony among the defendants - claims the money was used 'to support their families’ increasingly opulent lifestyle of private jets, limousines, extravagant parties, premium automobiles, designer clothing, ostentatious home furnishings, and lavish vacations'.

According to the lawsuit, questionable payments from Signature Apparel include $331,637 in lease agreements for 11 cars - including a Bentley and a Maserati -and $145,894 in private airplane rentals. 

Now the law firm who have been representing the couple since 2014 - Seidman & Pincus - have asked the judge to remove them from proceedings.

Meow: In the most recent Reunion, former friend Teresa Giudice accused her of ratting her out to the IRS

According to the site, it said it has been 'completely unsuccessful' in its collection efforts, and that it cannot afford to continue representing them for free. 

Jacqueline was dropped to the dreaded 'Friend' status for season six of RHONJ by Bravo after five seasons in the main cast.

But it did not take long for her to make her return in season seven after viewership dropped dramatically since she left the show.

In the most recent Reunion, former friend Teresa Giudice accused her of ratting her out to the IRS.

Teresa was sentenced to 15 months imprisonment for fraud, while her husband is currently serving a 41-month sentence.  

Drama: Jacqueline was dropped to the dreaded 'Friend' status for season six of RHONJ by Bravo after five seasons in the main cast... but was immediately brought back for season seven amid dropped ratings

Comments (43)

Share what you think

 View all

The comments below have not been moderated.

 View all

The views expressed in the contents above are those of our users and do not necessarily reflect the views of MailOnline.

Add your comment

By posting your comment you agree to our house rules.

Who is this week's top commenter? Find out now