Ex-'Real Housewives' stars pulled off flight sue Virgin America

By Jonathan Stempel

Oct (HKSE: 3366-OL.HK - news) 25 (Reuters) - Former "Real Housewives of New Jersey" stars Jim and Amber Marchese on Tuesday filed a defamation lawsuit against Virgin America Inc (Frankfurt: 2VA1.F - news) , after police pulled the couple off an April 20 flight and arrested Jim, who according to a flight attendant had attacked his wife.

The Marcheses said they had been engaging in "flirtatious" conduct in their first class seats while returning home on a red-eye flight from Los Angeles International Airport, after having spent three weeks in California filming another reality TV show, "Marriage Boot Camp: Reality Stars."

But according to the complaint filed in federal court in Newark, New Jersey, flight attendant Moriah Rosser, who had recognized the Marcheses and "commented that she did not like" Jim, told airport police he had choked and threatened his wife.

The complaint said this statement was "entirely false," and that Rosser knew it was false or acted with reckless disregard for its truth.

No charges were filed, but photographers and paparazzi covered Jim's release from jail, the complaint said.

Virgin America did not immediately respond to requests for comment on behalf of the airline and Rosser. It was unclear whether Rosser had her own lawyer.

Jim, 47, and Amber, 39, live in Colts Neck, New Jersey, and have four children. Their lawsuit seeks unspecified damages for alleged defamation, false imprisonment, malicious prosecution and negligent infliction of emotional distress.

"They hope to vindicate their age-old right to be left alone," the Marcheses' lawyer Joshua Bauchner said in a telephone interview.

"When a married couple is on a plane returning to see their children, false accusations shouldn't be levied against them by a flight attendant seeking her 15 minutes of fame," he added.

The Marcheses, who appeared on the sixth season of "Real Housewives," in May threatened to sue Virgin America for $100 million. Bauchner said damages would accrue until the matter is resolved.

The case is Marchese et al v. Virgin America Inc et al, U.S. District Court, District of New Jersey, No. 16-07792. (Reporting by Jonathan Stempel in New York; Editing by Richard Chang)