Bethenny Frankel: 'I'm Not Going to Be Bullied'

By Alla Byrne

05/12/2011 at 05:10 PM EDT

Bethenny Frankel may have been looking forward to laying low after an emotional, intense season on Bethenny Ever After, but the drama continues.

After reportedly selling her Skinnygirl cocktail brand for $120 million, the reality star was sued this week by her ex-mangers for a share of the deal, plus $100 million in punitive damages, according to The Hollywood Reporter.

"Life is good for me with all the things that are most important, namely family," Frankel told PEOPLE Thursday. "But let's be clear, I am a strong woman, and I am not afraid and won't back down when I'm bullied by something with zero merit. Success is earned by hard work, not taking advantage of others."

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In another statement released Thursday, Frankel said, "Unfortunately, one of the signs of success is being the subject of frivolous lawsuits, like this one."

According to the complaint filed Wednesday in Los Angeles Superior Court, Raw Talent's co-president Doug Wald alleges he signed Frankel as a client in 2008, introduced her to the liquor industry exec who helped her sell her brand, and was fired days before she signed her deal to sell Skinnygirl.

"This is simply someone with his hand out, who did nothing to earn it, and I am not going to be bullied," Frankel added in her statement. "We are exploring all of our options, including filing counterclaims against these people."

• With reporting by LIZ MCNEIL