RHONJ: Teresa Giudice invites friends to hear lawyer James Leonard (2024)

Teresa Giudice hosted a meeting so her lawyer James Leonard could discuss the court case involving her husband Luis 'Louie' Ruelas with her friends on Sunday's episode of The Real Housewives Of New Jersey.

The 52-year-old reality star invited her closest friends to the meeting after they became worried over the anxiety she was feeling due to the court case.

Teresa before the meeting told Louie's father Luis Sr about her plan and claimed that she was not trying to 'bash' Margaret Josephs, 57.

'Dad, I'm laying out facts that I have,' Teresa told her father-in-law.

Teresa in a confessional provided more background on the case that involved an attempt by Louie's ex to obtain a restraining order against him.

'I'm so relieved that the court case is finally over, because now I can let everybody know what I've been stressing over for the past six months, really the past three years. Thankfully, the court ruled in Louie's favor,' Teresa said.

Teresa told Luis Sr that they 'unfortunately' gained a lot of information.

'This woman I thought was my friend, Dad, she's been hurting us for the past three years,' Teresa said.

She added in a confessional: 'I just want everyone to hear that Margaret came up in the court case. I can't wait to give away her secret. They need to know who they're associating with

Luis Sr shared some wisdom with Teresa, saying, 'There's an old saying that the dirt always rises to the top.'

'I hope so,' Teresa said.

Teresa invited Jennifer Fessler, Jennifer Aydin, Dolores Catania, Danielle Cabral and Jackie Goldschneider over to listen to her lawyer.

Fessler, 53, before the lawyer meeting met up with Margaret at a diner and told her about Teresa's plan.

Margaret was outraged that Teresa was throwing an event to talk about her with an attorney and said it was 'disgusting' that anyone would go there to listen to her attorney bash her.

Fessler told Margaret that she agreed with her, apologized for not immediately declining the invitation and sent Teresa a text that read, 'I'm sorry, but I'm not going to make it on Thursday. I don't feel like it's right. And I can't do that to Margaret. I hope you understand.'

Teresa went ahead with the meeting and James introduced himself to her friends.

'So, first of all, I have been involved with Teresa and her family for nine years. I was involved with her in the weeks and months before she went to prison. And I can say that walking her into prison at 3:00 in the morning, she was less stressed than she has been for the last several months,' James said.

James continued that there is 'someone in Louie's past that makes problems in Louie's existing life' and Aydin, 47, asked if that person as his ex.

'We're going to not really talk about her because of legal problems, but that person is real, and that situation exists and existed before Teresa and Louie ever met one another,' James said.

Jackie told the camera that it was a complicated matter.

'The situation is so confusing. I think there are gag orders. I know that he's not even supposed to be saying her name. They were going back and forth. She would sue him. He would sue her. So I think that Jim Leonard is just trying to protect Louie and not bring up certain things that could get Louie in trouble,' Jackie said in a confessional.

James continued that in 2021 they got information that Louie's ex was talking to Margaret.

'In November of 2021, the lawyer that's representing Louie subpoenas Margaret to come to court to answer questions as to whether or not Margaret is in communication with this person. Margaret responds that she got the subpoena and that she wasn't going to come to court. And I'm going to just get to the pertinent part. The individual that Louie is involved in the litigation with had been speaking with Margaret Josephs, and Josephs told this person she was planning to expose Louie Ruelas and Teresa Giudice based on the information that this person had provided,' James said.

'So now, guys I just want to tell you, this will make your f***ing head spin,' Teresa interjected.

Teresa added: 'Louie is not allowed to speak about her. She's not allowed to speak about him. So she gets out her information through Margaret.'

'And Margaret is getting information about Teresa and Louie and is trying to hurt them with it,' James said.

Dolores, 53, looked on unfazed by their findings.

'This is not a jaw-dropping revelation. Teresa has been questioning this for years,' Dolores said in a confessional.

In a confessional, Teresa reminded viewers about videos of Louie and his ex that surfaced on Instagram and blamed Margaret for their circulation.

Teresa asked Jackie who used to be close to Margaret if she knew about any of it.

'No, Margaret never told me anything about talking to the ex,' Jackie said.

Aydin pointed out that Margaret didn't like it when she talked to her former best friend Laura to dig up dirt and called her a hypocrite.

Danielle in a confessional wondered how what Margaret allegedly did was any different than Teresa and Aydin talking to her former friend Laura.

The doorbell rang and Teresa went to door where a man delivered flowers that looked like they were for a funeral.

Teresa was surprised by the flowers and then became angry after seeing a card that read, 'Dear Teresa and James, Sorry for the loss of your dignity. Love, love, love, Marge'.

'No, no, I don't want it. Refuse it. Tell her to stick it up her a**,' Teresa said. 'Take it off my property.'

Teresa came back and told the women about what Margaret sent over.

'This is the most gangster move I've ever seen in my whole existence of life! But keep your s*** together, Danielle. F***ing brilliant,' Danielle said in a confessional.

Teresa told her friends that Margaret got caught and doesn't know what to do.

'She's f***ing spinning right now,' Teresa said.

James left and Danielle wondered aloud how they all were going on a trip together that Dolores was organizing to repair friendships.

'Well, we're not,' Dolores said.

Dolores then explained that the house they were going to use 'burned to the ground.'

'That is f***ing divine intervention,' Aydin said.

'Oh, my God, that's an om. That's a f***ing om,' Teresa said.

'Omen,' Danielle corrected her.

'Omen. Oh, omen. Omen. Sorry,' Teresa said.

Dolores said she was going to plan a dinner instead so everyone could sit in a calm environment and say what they have to say peacefully.

The episode also featured competing guys nights with Joe Gorga and Louie hosting separate events.

Joe's gathering with John Fuda, Frank Catania, Joe Benigno and Jeffrey Fessler was fun with the guys enjoying steaks and bone marrow shots.

John, however, suffered a severe allergic reaction and paramedics treated him despite his initial resistance.

Louie had a big surprise for his guests as he made them take turns filming devotionals to their wives in his man cave.

The Real Housewives Of New Jersey will return next week on Bravo with the season 14 finale in the US.

Episodes of The Real Housewives of New Jersey are available to stream on Hayu in the UK