“Real Housewives of New Jersey“ star Danielle Staub has taken the first step to block the release of a sex tape her sleazy ex-boyfriend is trying to sell. Staub’s lawyer, Darren Del Sardo, filed a complaint yesterday in Passaic County Superior Court alleging Stephen Zalewski, who was featured as her boyfriend on the reality show, invaded her privacy, defamed her, and inflicted emotional distress. Staub is seeking punitive damages as well an injunction. Zalewski, who is 20 years younger than Staub, dated during season 1 of the hit Bravo series and was dumped by her on the show.

Zalewski told Star magazine last week that he has the tapes and may sell them because Staub “cost me so much money, why shouldn’t I make a few dollars?” Del Sardo says through a spokesman that the complaint is based on Zalewski’s statements to Star, and cannot confirm that the tapes do exist. “It never ceases to amaze me the lengths that some people will go to capitalize on someone else’s fame or notoriety,” Del Sardo says in a statement. “Zalewski wants to get his 15 minutes of fame and a few dollars by pandering to the most base, prurient tastes of a small segment of our society at the expense of my client.”

On Danielle’s Facebook page she had this to say about her ex: “Mr Steve has been served this morning I am indeed taking him to court and putting restraints in him. Press release was put out by my Attorney last night.”