HGTV's "Kitchen Cousins" hosts John Colaneri and Anthony Carrino filed separate bankruptcies last year after the arbitration ruling against them requiring them to pay $860,000 to a Tenafly couple.
Robert and Peng Avery sued Colaneri and Carrino in 2013 for allegedly messing up the renovation of their home. The claims include fraudulent acts, breach of contract and negligence. Following the release of the ruling wherein they have to pay the Averys a total of $857,894, the "Kitchen Cousins" co-hosts on Aug. 4 filed for bankruptcies.
Colaneri and Carrino's bankruptcy filings have delayed the awarding of the arbitration. And as their bankruptcy cases continue, the Averys want to ensure that the arbitration ruling stands. According to NorthJersey.com, the couple has been allowed to return to the court with the permission from Federal Bankruptcy Court Judge Vincent F. Papalia in Newark. The couple are back in Bergen County state court to have the arbitration judgment against Colaneri and Carrino confirmed.
NorthJersey.com also reported that the Robert and Peng Avery have filed adversary lawsuits in Bankruptcy Court against the hosts of "Kitchen Cousins." They are asking Judge Papalia to declare that the $860,000 they are owed came from fraud, an allegation that both Colaneri and Carrino have reportedly denied.
Colaneri also reportedly sold a Rutherford investment property for $410,000. He owned half of the building. In addition, Based on Colaneri's bankruptcy filing, he owed $3 million of loans from ConnectOne Bank.
The Averys bought Yankee's Don Mattingly's former property for $1.3 million back in 2012. In the lawsuit, they said that the home renovation duo performed a shoddy work in their home. They also lied about their home passing a building inspection and after getting paid for $211,000, they abandoned their work, NJ.com said.
HGTV and "Kitchen Cousins" are not parties in the lawsuit.