REAL Housewives of New Jersey star Teresa Giudice’s fiance, Luis Ruelas, was sued for “refusing to pay over $44,000” to a vendor for his produce company amid his nasty $113,000 lawsuit. 

Luis, 47, proposed to Teresa, 49, in October after a year of dating and has appeared on The Real Housewives of New Jersey.

The Sun previously reported he was sued by a vendor of his produce company for failing to pay $113,404.40. 

Now, The Sun can exclusively reveal he was sued by a separate vendor for $44,490 on February 3, 2021. 

Northeast Banana Corp sued the company Produce Depot, Luis and a business partner. 

The lawsuit read: “Between on or about November 30, 2020 and December 14, 2020, NBC sold and delivered to Produce Depot in interstate commerce wholesale quantities of produce, including bananas, plantains and pineapples, in the aggregate principal amount of at least $44,490.”

The business partner listed in the lawsuit made “repeated promises” that Produce Depot would “make certain post-default payments for amounts due,” but Northeast Banana Company “has not received” the payments. 

The lawsuit read: “To date, Produce Depot has failed and refused to make payment to NBC for the produce within the payment terms agreed between the parties.”

As for Luis, he allegedly “failed to direct Produce Depot to fulfill its statutory duties” and “knew or should have known that at all relevant times Produce Depot was in breach.”

Luis was described as a “controlling officer, director, member and/or shareholder of Produce Depot, an insider with actual or constructive knowledge of PACA and the trust provisions thereof, and responsible for daily management and control of Produce Depot, including its finances, accounts receivable, accounts payable and company affairs.”

The lawsuit continued: “Produce Depot has benefited and been enriched by NBC’s deliveries of the Produce. Produce Depot’s benefit and enrichment was at NBC’s expense. 

“It would be unjust for Produce Depot under the circumstances described herein to retain the benefit of and enrichment from the Produce without paying NBC for the Produce.”

The Plaintiff is asking for $44,490.

The company, Luis and his business partner did not respond to the lawsuit. 

On April 8, 2021, both parties chose to voluntarily dismiss the lawsuit. 

ANOTHER LAWSUIT

The lawsuit came months before the Produce Depot, Luis and his business partner were sued by a separate vendor. 

In court papers obtained by The Sun, C.H. Robinson Worldwide, Inc sued Produce Depot, Luis and a business partner on September 23, 2021. 

The court papers claim the business sold “fresh fruit and vegetables” to Luis’ company on October 20, 2020 and November 13, 2020 in the amount of “$113,404.40.”

The court papers read: “Produce Depot has failed and refused to pay for the commodities it ordered, received, and accepted from Plaintiff, despite due demand.”

The Plaintiff is also asking the Defendants to pay for all attorney fees and interest. 

The lawsuit alleges that Luis and his business partner “are or were owners, officers, directors, members and/or at least 10 percent shareholders of Produce Depot during the relevant time period, making them ‘responsibly connected.’”

The Plaintiff claimed the two men were “responsible for the day-to-day operations” and “had full decision-making authority over the assets of Produce Depot.”

LUIS FIGHTS BACK
Luis and the other Defendants responded to the lawsuit in December 2021. 

Luis and the business partner claimed they were “not individuals which are or were in custody, control or management” of the produce business. 

They requested the judge dismiss the lawsuit. 

BANKRUPTCY
The company Luis was involved in then filed paperwork that the business filed for bankruptcy on March 2, 2022, and asked the judge to temporarily postpone the lawsuit proceedings. 

While the judge approved the postponement for Produce Depot and the business partner, the lawsuit will remain ongoing for Luis and another defendant who was added later on. 

The Sun can confirm the business filed for $1,660,488.10 in bankruptcy. 

Luis is listed in the bankruptcy regarding the ongoing case. 

SHOW BACKLASH
While Teresa has praised her boyfriend for his over-the-top romantic gestures on the show, her RHONJ co-stars have been suspicious of his past. 

The season opened with her co-stars discussing a video featuring Luis that resurfaced.

In the clip, the businessman can be seen bare-chested surrounded by fellow shirtless men – whom he calls his “brothers.”

He is standing on the beach and appears to be addressing one of his exes.

In the video he says: “I’m coming home to see you, get engaged and bring our family together and finally get married and have a life together. I’ve been here for a week.”

He continued: “I love our children and I hope you receive this message well. Thank you, I love you. Thank you for your time. I hope that this hits your heart… And I hope to come home to have the opportunity to talk to you, and share with you my experience with my life.”

Cast member Traci Johnson called the video “bizarre” and a “red flag,” while Jackie Goldschneider found it “weird.”

Teresa’s sister-in-law Melissa Gorga said it was “crazy,” as Jennifer Aydin called it “weirdo s**t.”

Teresa even refused to film at one point because of the gossip about Luis. 

Luis addressed the video later on in the season after Margaret Josephs asked him about it. 

He said on the episode: “I grew up with a lot of trauma in my life. A friend of mine went out and started this thing called Warrior out in California and a lot of men go revisit their pain, to see their pain, get clarity.

“And I was in a relationship with a woman so I had to learn in that moment how to be vulnerable to that woman and tell her, I’m sorry… because I didn’t want to commit to a marriage, I didn’t want to commit to a bad woman. 

“So I went to apologize to a woman for not being honest and saying it’s over.”

But Margaret didn’t buy it, as she said: “The video we all saw, he was proposing and now he’s saying it was a breakup video?”

ABUSE CLAIMS
On last week’s episode, Traci’s husband and former NFL player Tiki Barber asked Luis about allegations that he was abusive towards an ex.

Luis denied the claims on the show. 

In a mid-season teaser, Teresa said of Margaret: “She’s been dragging my boyfriend through the mud.”

The two even appear to get physical over the feud. 

The Sun broke Luis was accused of “controlling and abusive” behavior by an ex from when he proposed in February 2019 to October 2019.

On May 20, the woman dismissed the lawsuit.

A rep for Luis did not respond to The Sun’s request for comment at the time.

Teresa and Luis got serious quickly, as they bought a $3,350,000 mansion in Montville Township, New Jersey after just months of dating.