Crime & Safety

'Housewives' Ridgewood Court Hearing Postponed

Three cast members facing charges of assault stemming from Ridgewood brawl earlier this year.

A previously scheduled court appearance by “Real Housewives of New Jersey” cast members over an alleged brawl at a Ridgewood boutique earlier this year has been postponed until later this month.


Jacqueline Laurita, her husband Chris, and Joe Gorga were due in Ridgewood Municipal Court Thursday on charges that they assaulted and made terroristic threats against Paramus resident Johnny Karagiorgis at the grand opening of a downtown boutique in March.

Karagiorgis alleges that he suffered a broken nose after being punched repeatedly by the two men and clubbed in the head with the heel of a stiletto wielded by Jacqueline Laurita.

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The trio filed counter-complaints stating that Karagiorgis threatened to kill them and that he made the first move in the scuffle. The fight was reportedly set off when Karagiorgis ridiculed the Lauritas’ autistic son.

In a previous court appearance in Ridgewood, Laurita testified that Karagiorgis “lunged at” her and yelled “I’ll [expletive] kill you.”

Find out what's happening in Ridgewood-Glen Rockwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

Karagiorgis has also claimed he was set up by the “Housewives” producers, who were on hand with cameras rolling for the Bravo show’s fifth season.

The three cast members aren’t the only ones facing legal troubles. Joe and Teresa, with whom the Lauritas have feuded during the show’s previous seasons, were indicted on a slew of federal fraud charges in July.

The three cast members are due back in Ridgewood for a court appearance Sept. 26.


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