Assault Complaints Against Real Housewives Stars Move Forward

A Ridgewood judge ruled Thursday night that there is enough probable cause to have complaints of assault and terroristic threats issued against three cast members of The Real Housewives of New Jersey following a bloody brawl on Saturday.

Ridgewood Municipal Court Judge David Pfund reviewed complaints filed by Johnny Karagiorgis, 38, of Paramus, alleging that cast members Joe Gorga, Chris Laurita and Jacqueline Laurita assaulted him at the grand opening of Posche 2 clothing boutique.

By the time the brawl was broken up by security, clothes were trampled, sinks were destroyed and blood stained the walls of 74 East Ridgewood Avenue. During the brief-but-intense scuffle, Karagiorgis said Jacqueline Laurita struck him with the point of her stiletto heel.

Karagiorgis filed the complaint Saturday night. He claims his nose was broken.

The trio have a first court appearance scheduled on April 18 in Ridgewood Municipal Court.

Because some of the claims are indictable offenses, it's likely the matter will be referred to the Bergen County Prosecutor's Office, Ridgewood Municipal Court Administrator Maria Doerr told Patch.

The three cast members filed counterclaims against Karagiorgis on Thursday, alleging he made terroristic threats and committed assault.

A probable cause review of the counterclaims has not yet been conducted, Doerr said.

The events that led to the fight – which was captured by the cameras of Bravo, the cable channel that airs the show – remain unclear.

Multiple sources told Patch Karagiorgis allegedly made offensive comments about the Lauritas' autistic three-year-old son, which may have sparked the brawl.

The same sources said Gorga confronted Karagiorgis over public comments Karagiorgis and an ex-boyfriend of his wife Melissa made in recent months.

Karagiorgis denies he made any comments regarding Lauritas' son and claims he was “set up” by producers of Bravo.

“This is the type of notoriety I don’t want,” Karagiorgis told NorthJersey.com.

Will Love, a friend of Karagiorgis, said the Paramus resident would not make negative comments about an autistic child.

"His wife Penny was a long-time special education teacher in Maywood (where I live) and the family has supported my cousin's local organization (Tyler's Gift Foundation) to raise funds and awareness for autistic children," he told Patch.