Judge Rules Teresa Giudice’s Malpractice Lawsuit Against Former Attorney Can Move Forward #RHONJ
A Morris County Superior Judge has ruled that Real Housewives of New Jersey personality, Teresa Giudice, may proceed with a lawsuit against the attorney she blames for her year long federal prison stint.
Teresa and her husband Joe, pled guilty to bankruptcy fraud and conspiracy to commit wire and mail fraud, in 2014. Federal prosecutors nailed the couple for hiding assets and income in their 2009 bankruptcy filing, as well as for falsifying documents and mortgage applications. Joe Giudice is now serving a 41-month sentence at the Federal Correctional Institute at Fort Dix.
In Giudice’s case against her bankruptcy attorney, James Kridel, Giudice claims that “rudimentary information” about her financial standing was left out of the initial bankruptcy filing, due to Kridel’s negligence. The reality diva alleges that while Kridel covered his mistakes, she signed papers that “exposed her to criminal liability.” According to NJ.com.
Giudice’s lawyer, Carlos Cuevas alleges that one of Kridel’s major mistakes was not alerting the Giudices to the feds’ investigation, in March of 2011. Cuevas believes that Kridel should have advised the couple to immediately retain a criminal attorney, upon learning of the investigation. Cuevas claims that Giudice lacked criminal intent in the bankruptcy fraud case, and that Kridel’s “very basic errors” landed Teresa in legal hot water. Giudice’s attorneys also assert that prosecutors note relevant differences between mortgage fraud and bankruptcy fraud.
“We’re contesting that she even would have been indicted if it were solely for alleged mortgage fraud,” Cuevas states.
Kridel states in court papers, that mortgage conspiracy predated the bankruptcy filing. He also states that he depended on the couple to provide accurate information—and also notes that when Teresa agreed to the plea deal, she took responsibility for her actions.
The case will now enter the discovery phase—with a trial probably 18 months into the future. The lawsuit does not specify damages.
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Becca is a Senior Editor for All About The Tea. She’s a coastal girl who loves the outdoors, and writing about the sneaky and silly side of reality TV. Her bio is short, but her snark is endless. She loves writing for the sharpest posters in the world.