Jacqueline and Husband Chris Laurita's Trial in Bankruptcy Case Delayed

NJ.com:

Erstwhile "Real Housewives of New Jersey" stars Chris and Jacqueline Laurita's trial on claims they looted Chris Laurita's now-bankrupt clothing company of nearly $8 million to finance a lavish lifestyle has been put off, with no new date set, according to the U.S. Bankruptcy Court in New York. The two-day trial was set to start Tuesday. 

Laurita's company Signature Apparel filed for bankruptcy in September 2009. A year later, Anthony Labrosciano, who was put in charge of dealing with the company's creditors, filed a claim against the couple, as well as Laurita's brother Joseph, who co-founded the company, Joseph's wife Adeline, and another brother Anthony, claiming they drained Signature Apparel of its funds and assets "to support their families’ increasingly opulent lifestyle of private jets, limousines, extravagant parties, premium automobiles, designer clothing, ostentatious home furnishings, and lavish vacations," as well as to feed other Laurita businesses. 

Among the questionable payments from Signature Apparel, according to the lawsuit: $331,637 in lease agreements for 11 cars, including a Bentley and a Maserati; $145,894 in private airplane rentals; and $25,000 to Studio Dante, the off-Broadway theater group run by Michael Imperioli of "The Sopranos" to help make the film "The Hungry Ghosts." 

Despite mediation, no settlement has been approved, although there have been reports that the Lauritas have offered $1 million to end the case. Lawyers for the parties did not respond to requests for comment, but a motion filed earlier this week indicates that Labrosciano wants more time to determine how to distribute any money he might win through his claims. "These lawsuits have been and continue to be extraordinarily contentious and complex," according to the motion from Labrosciano's lawyers, and an extension to Jan. 30 is "appropriate."

Jacqueline, who lives in Franklin Lakes, was an original cast member of the Garden State "Real Housewives" franchise, but she was not offered a full-time role in the sixth season, which is just wrapping up now. She did appear in some of the later episodes, in which she and Chris talked about putting their large Franklin Lakes home on the market ("I don't want to focus on material things anymore," Laurita tells his wife), and seems to be positioning herself for a return to full-time status in the seventh season.

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