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."
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