"Real Housewives" stars Teresa and Joe Giudice indicted on fraud charges

"Real Housewives of New Jersey' star Teresa Giudice and her husband Joe leave the federal courthouse in Newark after being charged with conspiracy to commit mail and wire fraud, bank fraud, making false statements on loan applications and bankruptcy fraud in 2013.

(John Munson | Star-Ledger photo)

Just when she thought she was out, they pull her back in.

"Real Housewives of New Jersey" star Teresa Giudice agreed last month to split a potential legal windfall with her creditors, but now the bankruptcy attorney whom she is suing is opposing the proposed settlement.

Strap yourselves in, because this gets complicated.

Giudice filed suit against her former bankruptcy attorney James Kridel last year for legal malpractice, claiming the Clifton lawyer's bad advice and mistakes led to her conviction for bankruptcy fraud. Giudice, who lives in Montville Township, served nearly a year in prison after taking a plea deal for bankruptcy fraud and conspiracy to commit wire and mail fraud, the latter pertaining to a mortgage scheme that predated the bankruptcy. Her husband Joe is currently serving a 41-month sentence.

After she filed suit, however, John Sywilok, the trustee who represented her creditors in the bankruptcy case, successfully reopened the bankruptcy, after claiming any money the couple won in the Kridel case should go to their creditors.

After a contentious mediation, Giudice's lawyers Anthony Rainone and Carlos Cuevas eventually settled with the trustee John Sywilok, agreeing that her creditors will get 45 percent of any winnings, and that Sywilock will join Giudice's malpractice case as a plaintiff.

The settlement, which goes before U.S. Bankruptcy Court Judge Stacey Meisel in December for approval, would end Giudice's bankruptcy saga.

Which brings us to the latest turn in the saga.

On Tuesday, Kridel's lawyer Carl Perri filed a motion in federal bankruptcy court objecting to the settlement on the grounds that Rainone and Cuevas have a conflict of interest with Sywilok and his attorney.

Cuevas and Rainone, the motion says, "have occupied and advocated, and continue to occupy and advocate, interests adverse to the debtor's estate. Indeed, the entire Settlement arises from that adversity." Perri did not return a call for comment.

Kridel also continues to deny any wrongdoing, with his lawyer calling Giudice's allegations against him "utter absurdity" in Tuesday's motion.

Rainone rejected Perri's argument, telling NJ.com that the motion is "another attempt by Mr. Kridel to avoid going to trial."

If Meisel rules against Kridel and approves the settlement, Rainone and Cuevas will restart the legal malpractice case against Kridel, which had been halted due to the bankruptcy court issue.

The case goes back before Meisel on Dec. 6, and she may rule on it that day.

Vicki Hyman may be reached at vhyman@njadvancemedia.com. Follow her on Twitter @vickihy or like her on Facebook. Find NJ.com/Entertainment on Facebook, and check out Remote Possibilities, the TV podcast from Vicki Hyman and co-host Erin Medley on iTunes, Stitcher or Spreaker, or listen below or here.