Andy Cohen and the production team of Real Housewives of New York want the courts to pat the puss pause on Leah McSweeney’s lawsuit. Before Leah came on to film for RHONY Season 12, she let the producers know about her battles with alcohol. She was sober and intended to stay that way. According to Leah, however, the producers intentionally fueled her with liquor, all for the sake of ratings.
Leah then sued Andy, Bravo, and Shed Media, the production company behind RHONY. Her suit claims that she faced disability discrimination, sex discrimination, and a hostile work environment. Leah also accused Andy of using cocaine with other Bravolebrities, so the emotions behind her lawsuit are getting messy. After calling her claims false, the defendants filed for a dismissal, and until the judge can rule on their filings to flee, they want Leah’s entire case against them paused.
Pause that petitioner, says Andy Cohen
Leah is suing Andy and the production companies for unspecified damages. But the defendants in her case want everything dropped. In their opinion, the accusations against them are all bogus. Therefore, they want this case tossed out.
In legal documents snatched up by In Touch, their defense lawyer has now asked to pause the discovery phase. They want to give the judge time to rule on their motion to dismiss before they respond to Leah’s demands.
Andy Cohen and Real Housewives of New York producers are demanding Leah McSweeney’s bombshell lawsuit be put on pause, In Touch can exclusively report. https://t.co/B0mOPY9qoc
— In Touch Weekly (@intouchweekly) August 7, 2024
“[Leah’s] disability-related claims are based on the (false) allegations that Defendants discriminated against [Leah] by encouraging her to relapse on alcohol during filming of The Shows, directing cast members to say offensive comments to her on-camera, and declining to cast her on future seasons of RHONY because Defendants purportedly prefer to depict cast members who drink alcohol, all in service of ratings. Defendants dispute these allegations,” their attorney penned.
This lawyer also argued that a pause saves everyone time, including Leah. “[Leah] only seeks money damages, and therefore would not be prejudiced by a stay. By contrast, absent a stay, the parties—and non-parties—would be required to devote substantial time and resources to discovery, despite the likelihood that Plaintiff’s claims would be dismissed,” they added.
Leah can now respond to this request should she have a strong take on this new filing. Either way, the defense still asks that zero documents or depositions take place until the judge has time to rule on their motion to dismiss.
The Real Housewives of New York is streaming on Peacock.