'Real Housewives' Represented by Fraudulent Attorney, Police Say

The man who has been representing three “Real Housewives of New Jersey” cast members on assault charges is not a Real Lawyer of New Jersey, according to village police.

Mark J. McGuire, 53, of Franklin Lakes, was arrested Sept. 5 by the Ridgewood Police Department after an investigation by Detective Peter Youngberg revealed that he was not authorized to practice law, police said.

Jacqueline and Chris Laurita as well as Giuseppe “Joe” Gorga had been scheduled to appear in Ridgewood Municipal Court the day of McGuire's arrest, on charges they assaulted Paramus resident Johnny Karagiorgis during the March opening of a Ridgewood boutique. The hearing was rescheduled to Sept. 26.

Karagiorgis claims that Jacqueline Laurita clubbed him with the heel of a stiletto and that the two men threw punches during a bloody brawl captured by Bravo cameras. In previous statements to the press he has accused producers of the reality show of staging the drama.

In a prior Ridgewood court appearance, the Lauritas countered that Karagiorgis threatened them and provoked the brawl, which allegedly began after Karagiorgis made insulting comments about the couple’s autistic son.

No court date has been set for McGuire, who was arrested and issued a summons at police headquarters and released on his own recognizance, police said.