Melissa's Hell! Gorga's Ex-Business Partner Files Appeal In $30 Million Lawsuit
Jan. 4 2019, Updated 10:16 a.m. ET
Jackie Beard Robinson's $30 million defamation lawsuit against ex-business partner Melissa Gorga and Bravo producer Andy Cohen was dismissed in April – but she isn't giving up! RadarOnline.com can exclusively reveal The Real Housewives of New Jersey star has filed an appeal.
After the defamation and infliction of emotional distress case was dismissed on April 23, 2018, Robinson filed a motion for reconsideration days later. The motion was denied on April 27 and the judge allowed the case to go into arbitration.
But in court papers obtained from United States Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit, Robinson appealed the case on May 18, 2018.
The issues to be raised would include, "The District Court erred by granting Defendants-Appellees' Motion to Compel Arbitration, the District Court erred by granting Defendants-Appellees' Motion to Dismiss, The District Court erred by denying Plaintiff-Appellees' Motion for Reconsideration."
Robinson sued the Bravo reality star, exec and NBC Universal Cable in December 2017 for "defamation and intentional infliction of emotional distress," after she claimed they accused her of stealing from the clothing boutique Envy.
Gorga opened the store Envy By Melissa Gorga in 2015 with Robinson as the manager. They separated as business partners on January 1, 2017.
Her attorney claimed she was "maliciously defamed" when Gorga and Cohen discussed the alleged incident on Watch What Happens Live on October 4, 2017.
"Defendant Gorga, acting in concert with the other Defendants, jointly and severally, falsely, recklessly, grossly negligently, and/or negligently stated that Plaintiff 'snuck in in the middle of the night and took all the clothes,'" the complaint claimed. "During the airing of Watch What Happens Live with Andy Cohen, Defendant Cohen, acting in concert with the other Defendants, jointly and severally, falsely, recklessly, grossly negligently, and/or negligently stated, 'wow, so, that lady wound up kinda ripping you off?'"
Gorga responded "yes" and then "furthered the falsehood that Plaintiff snuck into Envy in the middle of the night and stole clothing."
Robinson said of Gorga in the lawsuit, "On the morning of January 1, 2017, during daylight hours, Plaintiff Robinson went to Envy and gathered all of her belongings after she discovered that Defendant Gorga misappropriated over $37,000 from Envy without authorization, among other things. The merchandise belonged to – and was owned by – Plaintiff."
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Robinson asked for $30,000,000.
She exclusively told RadarOnline.com in 2017 of their comments, "It ruins my reputation. It wasn't necessary."
Stay with RadarOnline.com for more on the case.
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