Here's the Tea on Vineyard Vines' Lawsuit Against a 'Real Housewives' Star

May 2024 · 3 minute read

Why did Vineyard Vines file a lawsuit against 'Real Housewives of New Jersey' star Margaret Josephs? It's a wild tale.

Allison Cacich - Author

The model fashion designer, who owns a way of life brand referred to as Macbeth Collection, defined that she’s pinched for cash after a lengthy criminal fight with the East Coast-based corporate, and should sell off an empty lot subsequent to her house.

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"I had dreams of being a land baroness, throwing lavish garden parties," she told the digital camera earlier than admitting that she "really can’t hold out much longer." Here’s a fast assessment of Margaret’s messy courtroom case. 

Vineyard Vines filed a $12 million lawsuit against the Real Housewives star.

The famously "preppy" brand first sued the 52-year-old for trademark infringement in 2014, claiming she used their signature whale design on a collection of Macbeth products. "They’re my competition, and they accused me of stealing their logo, which I did not do," Margaret previously mentioned on RHONJ.

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According to legal documents, the TV personality used to be ordered to pay $300,000 in 2015 to Vineyard Vines, but most effective controlled to cough up $190,000. In December 2018, a Connecticut district court demanded that Margaret pay the final $110,000 she owed, as well as an additional $500,000 for violating the initial settlement agreement.

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"I’m coming off a rough couple of years," the mother of one confessed. "The truth is every month that goes by, I’ve been, you know, getting more in a hole." 

Margaret added that the complete ordeal left her tired. "It’s been going on for so long. It’s very hard for a smaller, woman-owned company to defend itself against a much larger company," she stated. "Even then they’re in the right."

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Margaret Josephs claims she settled the lawsuit as a result of she couldn’t have enough money to go to trial.

Despite now not wanting to sell the land that sits adjoining to her dream home, the entrepreneur used to be pressured to place the 1.7-acre lot on the market (the assets is currently listed for $1.398 million on Realtor.com).

"I filed bankruptcy on my business. They put a lien on my property. I’m up to my eyeballs in legal bills," she stated of her financial state of affairs.

While taking her real estate agent on a excursion of the lot, which incorporates a run-down swimming pool, Margaret admitted, "It’s so sad ‘cause I love it so f--king much… [but] all my money’s going elsewhere."

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Margaret were given slapped with any other lawsuit in February.

The businesswoman can’t appear to catch a smash. At the starting of this 12 months, family buddies of the Bravo star reportedly sued her and her husband, Joseph Benigno, for failing to pay back a mortgage.

According to Radar Online, Lori Ann and John Wayne Sigley declare that in September 2016, they gave the couple $200,000 in cash below the stipulation that it would be paid back inside a 12 months. Sixteen months after the deadline, the annoyed duo finally decided to take legal motion. 

It has additionally been reported that Joseph these days owes the IRS $200,000 in back taxes, so this twosome may just truly use all the reality TV cash they can get. 

New episodes of The Real Housewives of New Jersey air Wednesdays at Eight p.m. ET on Bravo.

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