"Basketball Wives" producers are taking their feud with cast member Jennifer Williams to the next level ... the show's big-wigs are currently in talks to file a lawsuit against  the "BB Wife" for publicly trashing the show.

If you recall ... producers of VH1's hit series were PISSED after Williams filed a lawsuit against fellow cast member Nia Crooks after she slapped Williams in the face while taping an episode.

Now sources tell TMZ  -- producers are ready to take their own legal action after Williams went on a media rampage and blasted "BB Wives" alleging the show portrays African-American women negatively.

According to our sources, producers feel Williams' show-bashing is in violation of her contract -- which forbids cast members from doing any media appearances or press without approval, or speaking negatively about the show. We're told they feel she is "ruining the brand" they worked so hard to build.
 
Let the mudslinging begin.

Jennifer Williams' "face-slap" lawsuit is the giant shovel digging her reality TV grave ... TMZ has learned ... 'cause we're told "Basketball Wives" producers are PISSED!

Sources close to production tell TMZ ... Williams was already on thin ice with the show -- even before her slaptastic showdown with Nia Crooks -- but now that she has filed a lawsuit ... that ice is breaking FAST.

We're told producers think the suit is BS ... claiming Jennifer never had a problem with fighting before and insist this is a desperate publicity stunt to keep her storyline interesting -- securing her a place in season 5.

But a source tells us the stunt is not working, adding, "Filing broad lawsuits when you are as much to blame for the drama, is not the way to get your contract extended."

Ouch ... now that's gotta sting.

"Basketball Wives" star Nia Crooks has been charged with misdemeanor battery for pimp slappin' the taste out of Jennifer Williams' mouth back in January ... TMZ has learned.

A rep for the Broward County State's Attorney's Office tells us ... officials decided to file the charge on April 10 ... after Williams filed a criminal complaint.

If convicted, Nia faces up to a year in the slammer.

During the incident, which aired on last week's episode of "Basketball Wives" -- Nia can be heard threatening to slap Jennifer ... to which Jennifer replied, "I wish you would." Her wish was granted.



4:39 PM PST -- Nia's lawyer Marc David Seitles tells TMZ ...  "We will vigorously defend Nia against these charges. The women on the show executed contracts expressly accepting the risk that a physical altercation could occur."

The lawyer adds, "Given that Jennifer herself has previously instigated fights on the show, to cry foul now is absurd and a desperate attempt for publicity and money. We will fight until Nia is vindicated."

 

"Basketball Wives" star Jennifer Williams is finally fighting back after being slapped in the face by her reality show nemesis Nia Crooks ... with a big, fat, stinging lawsuit.

TMZ broke the story ... Williams filed a police report after the January 21 incident, in which she claims Crooks delivered an "open hand" slap to the left side of her face during a group outing to a race track in Florida.

The incident was caught on tape by the "Basketball Wives" crew and aired last week. During the melee, Crooks threatened Williams right before the attack ... saying, "Do I need to slap you in the face to wake you up?"

Williams replied, "I wish you would." She got her wish.

Williams has now followed up with a civil suit in NY ... going after Nia's ass for assault and battery. In the docs, obtained by TMZ, Jennifer claims she suffered serious injuries in the attack ... as well as "mental shock, mental anguish and psychological trauma”

Williams is demanding Nia fork over a massive check for all of her medical expenses and other damages.

Calls to Crooks have not been returned.

"Basketball Wives" star Jennifer Williams' feud with Evelyn Lozada's assistant ain't over -- TMZ has learned, the assistant is now taking their beef to the police ... accusing Jennifer of stealing her house keys.

The assistant -- Nia Crooks (right) -- filed a theft report against Jennifer Monday with the Hallandale Police Department, claiming JW is refusing to return the house keys Nia loaned her two months ago ... back when they were still friends.

TMZ broke the story -- Jennifer filed a battery report against Nia last month, claiming the assistant got violent with her at a "Basketball Wives" shoot at some Florida racetrack ... and we're told, tensions have been running high ever since.

According to sources, Jennifer has been making thinly-veiled threats to Nia since the racetrack scuffle -- things like "watch your back" -- and Nia doesn't feel comfortable with Jennifer having a key to her house.

We're told Nia has repeatedly asked Jennifer to return the keys to no avail -- so she's turning to law enforcement for help, completely baffled by Jennifer's behavior.

Calls to Jennifer have not been returned.

A peaceful day of filming "Basketball Wives" at a racetrack in Florida ended up in a fight between Jennifer Williams and an assistant for Evelyn Lozada ... and it's all detailed in a police report obtained by TMZ.

Sources close to the show tell TMZ ... the girls were all in a VIP suite at the Gulf Stream Race Track in Hallandale, FL last Saturday. We're told Nia Crooks -- who is Evelyn's assistant and to be friends with Jennifer as well -- called out Jennifer ... who the other girls feel has become "too big for britches."

According to our sources, the two got face-to-face and Nia pushed Williams in the face to get her away. In the police report, Williams described it as being "intentional struck by Crooks with an open hand to the left side of her face."

Williams told police security from the production company then stepped in to intervene. Our sources say that's true ... but that security also grabbed Lozada to keep her from jumping in after Williams.

In the report, the officer states he saw no injuries on Williams and told her she could file a misdemeanor complaint with the state attorney’s office if she wanted to pursue the matter further.

The police report also states Williams believes the entire incident was captured on video.

Calls to VH1 were not returned.

The tumultuous relationship between Eric and Jennifer Williams -- nonstop fodder for years on VH1's "Basketball Wives" -- is coming to an end ... because Jennifer just filed for divorce.


Williams finally pulled the trigger Friday, filing papers in Hudson County Superior Court in New Jersey. Williams, who tied the knot with Eric in the Bahamas back in 2007, cites irreconcilable differences.

Williams wants alimony, plus an "equitable" distribution of the couple's assets. 

They have no kids.