The mistress of underwear heiress Candice Lalicata’s husband broke into sobs on Tuesday as she described how news of a $10 million lawsuit against her left her suicidal.
Candice Lalicata, 41, is suing estranged hubby Steven Lalicata, his then-girlfriend Diana Fernandez and two others for their roles in allegedly looting $744,000 from her trust fund and blowing it on designer clothes and trips.
But the tables have turned, and now Candice is in court facing stalking and harassment charges for repeatedly calling, texting and leaving voicemails for Fernandez, 33, a legal assistant at Bank of America.
“That made me feel very upset,” Fernandez said of news coverage of her affair. “[They] misrepresented me, and that wasn’t enough for her [Candice], she had to keep sending me text messages on the day that I was suicidal,” the pretty brunette said, her lower lip trembling and tears streaming down her face.
Fernandez, wearing a short black dress and tan stilettos, insisted that she thought Steven and his wife were separated and living apart at the time.
But Candice, daughter of retired garment-industry executive Herbert Feinberg, said after court, “Everything she said in there is a lie. She knew we were together.”
Candice is on trial in Manhattan Criminal Court before Justice Laurie Peterson for a barrage of unwanted communication directed at Fernandez between November of 2013 and February of 2014
The offending texts included the statement “I can smell you from here” and a bikini shot of the ‘other woman’ lifted from Instagram with the word “sexy” under it.
Prosecutors also played voicemails that Candice allegedly left on Fernandez’s work phone in early January of 2014.
She tells Fernandez she’s disgusted that her mother, who is from the Dominican Republic, doesn’t speak English and mockingly offers to pay for English lessons.
In another voicemail, Candice states in a chirpy tone: “I hope you have a really good week. Work hard sweety because I really need my money back.”
Prosecutors argued that Candice is “obsessed” with her husband’s mistress.
“This is a case about obsession, this defendant’s obsession with a woman named Diana Fernandez,” said ADA Kristian Krober. “And how this defendant would stop at nothing until she mentally and professionally destroyed her.”
But defense lawyer Adam Perlmutter argued that Fernandez is unreliable and has every reason to be untruthful.
“The evidence is going to establish that Diana Fernandez has a motive to lie about this case,” the attorney said. “Why? Diana Fernandez is a defendant in a civil case where she is accused of reaping the benefits of fraud.”
Perlmutter argued that Fernandez has repeatedly lied in the civil proceedings and described a $3,000 shopping spree for luxury footwear.
In the suit, Candice argues that her deadbeat hubby convinced her to withdraw $744,000 from her trust fund to pay off his supposed gambling debts to mobsters who were threatening to whack him.
But Candice hired a private investigator who uncovered the affair – and that Steven was using the money for sprees at Louis Vuitton, Cartier and Bloomingdales as well as jaunts to Vegas and the Dominican Republic, court papers allege.
The bench trial continues Tuesday.