Overview

• On August 7, a New Jersey state court judge rejected Luis Ruelas’s motion to disqualify Vanessa Reiser’s lawyer, Douglas Anton.
• Ruelas had argued that Anton’s previous representation of former Real Housewives of New Jersey star Kim DePaola created an ethical conflict in the ongoing dispute.
• Anton maintained that his past work for DePaola bears no impact on his defense of Reiser and submitted a sworn declaration from DePaola affirming the absence of any confidential information at issue.
• The ruling leaves in place the broader multi-year litigation over the $135,000 engagement ring, alleged violations of the July 2020 consent order and other property and financial claims.
• Separate reporting from March 2025 highlighted significant tax liens against Ruelas and his wife, Teresa Giudice, which continue to amplify the case’s reputational stakes.