Monique Samuels Files Counter Assault Charges Against Candiace Dillard Bassett

Candiace Dillard Bassett has been charged with second-degree assault from the District Court of Montgomery County in Maryland, according to a summons obtained by PEOPLE.

Monique Samuels filed a complaint directly with the court's commissioner on Thursday, November 14, court records show. The commissioner found probable cause in Monique's complaint and issued a summons for Candiace to appear in court on February 6, 2020.

The news comes after Monique was charged with second-degree assault from Maryland's District Court of Montgomery County after Candiace had filed a complaint directly with the court's commission on November 7. The commissioner found probable cause in Candiace's complaint and issued a summons for Monique to appear in court on December 23.

Both charges stem from an alleged incident between Monique and Candiace on October 16.

Monique's attorney, A. Scott Bolden, said in a statement to PEOPLE: “At this point in our investigation, we had no choice but to file this criminal summons case after several attempts to mediate this situation with Ms. Bassett were rejected by herself and her team. My client was assaulted by someone known for her aggressive, threatening and belligerent conduct. On this regard, Mrs. Samuels had no choice but to fully defend herself and she did. Nevertheless, my client wants nothing more than to find peace with this situation but unfortunately the ability to do so through mediation has been denied. Therefore this summons is the proper next step for Mrs. Samuels and her right to self-defense.”

Candiace's personal attorney, James L. Walker Jr., told PEOPLE in a statement: “I did not know innocent people filed counterclaims as a strategic move after we all know they have been charged and caught on video threatening and attacking our client! We gladly welcome seeing Mrs. Samuels in court! We pray she is presently getting some type of treatment for anger management!"

Candiace's attorney previously told PEOPLE in a statement after filing her complaint, “At this time, we do not want to say too much and just allow the criminal process to play out. We only ask everyone to pray for our client Candiace and her family. The physical assault, humiliation and emotional distress have all been very painful and difficult for Candiace, as it would be for anyone attacked so viciously."

Walker continued, "We also pray that Monique will get some help. The summons to court charge of Second Degree Assault is just one step below first-degree assault and must be taken very seriously. This behavior has no place in our society.”

Walker concluded his statement by asking that “everyone respect the privacy of the parties and allow the Montgomery County District Court to exercise its duty here to protect victims like Candiace.”

Monique's attorney told PEOPLE after Candiace filed the complaint that her claims are “completely one-sided, inaccurate and unwarranted,” adding, “Ms. Dillard has a public reputation for aggressive, belligerent and threatening behavior that has played out repeatedly on the Housewives of Potomac for millions of viewers to see for themselves.”

Bolden continued, “To be sure, my client did nothing but defend herself in the face of more very aggressive behavior by Ms. Dillard. If this event occurred during taping of the show, I am confident that the video will bear all of this out. My client has every right to file for a counter criminal summons, as well, and will consider doing so, while fully defending herself in this action that has been filed with the Court. Either way, I am confident that she will prevail on this matter. Going forward, we hope that Ms. Dillard seeks the help she needs to avoid creating these kinds of unsafe and unfortunate circumstances in and outside of the workplace.”