A look at Ariana Madix’s potential defense in Raquel Leviss’ lawsuit
After being sued by Rachel ‘Raquel’ Leviss, Ariana Madix‘s potential defense could involve questioning damages in the lawsuit.
During an exclusive interview with We weeklylawyer Neama Rahmaniwho is not involved in the case, argued that Leviss’ claims of intentional infliction of emotional distress could be challenged in court.
“There is no doubt that Rachel has suffered emotional distress. She had to report to a drug rehabilitation center. But I think the lawyers will argue that this was all Rachel’s own fault because of this affair or previous substance abuse issues,” Rahmani speculated. “And the damage she suffered wasn’t because of what Tom or Ariana did. It was Rachel’s own doing. So I see that the case is being defended on that basis.”
According to Rahmani, Leviss’s affair is with Tom Sandoval could be brought against her.
“It’s the question of causation. So there is no doubt that Rachel suffered because of this. It’s just a question of what caused her suffering,” he continued. “Were they her own actions or were they the actions of Tom, Ariana or Bravo? Who is responsible?”
In March 2023, news broke that Sandoval, 41, and Madix, 38, ended their nearly decade-long relationship due to his infidelity. In the aftermath, Leviss, 29, checked herself into a mental health facility and has since left Vanderpump Rules. Nearly a day into the year that Scandoval made headlines, Leviss sued Madix and Sandoval on Thursday, February 29 for unspecified damages.
In documents obtained by UsLeviss accused Madix and Sandoval of revenge porn, wiretapping, invasion of privacy and intentional infliction of emotional distress. Leviss claimed that Sandoval filmed a private video conversation between them without her consent, which Madix then acquired and sent to other people.
Leviss did not include Bravo in the lawsuit, but the paperwork did claim that production prevented her from speaking out.
Tom Sandoval
Amanda Edwards/Getty Images“As a result, she suffered in silence as Bravo and Evolution saw their viewership explode, and the rest of the cast enjoyed an unprecedented level of public recognition and professional opportunity,” the documents say. “Meanwhile, Leviss, humiliated and abused for public consumption, remains a shell of her former self, with her career prospects stunted and her reputation in tatters.”
Since finishing her 90-day treatment, Leviss has been using her podcast “Rachel Goes Rogue” to share her side of the story. However, Rahmani pointed out that Leviss’ new professional venture could be mentioned in court.
Tom Sandoval and Rachel ‘Raquel’ Leviss’ cheating scandal brought an unexpected paycheck for several Vanderpump Rules stars. When the Bravo series kicked off season 10 in February 2023, the topic on everyone’s mind was Tom Schwartz’s relationship with Leviss during his divorce from Katie Maloney. A month later, Us Weekly confirmed that Sandoval and […]
‘You could say that the damage Rachel suffered is over. And in fact, she benefited from it all. So that can also be a defense [in] Saying this increased your prestige,” he told us. “I don’t know what Rachel’s plans are after Vanderpump Rules, but that certainly makes her very famous. So you could say that you are not damaged at all, and that in fact you have been ahead of the curve.”
Rahmani continued: “I think that will be difficult as she had to check into an institution and was treated for a while. But I think that would be a different defense in the event that the initial harm you suffered had nothing to do with us. Second is the fact that you suffered no harm at all.”
With reporting by Christina Garibaldi