Tom Sandoval slams Rachel Leviss' lawsuit as 'thinly veiled attempt to extend her fame' as he responds to legal filing
Tom Sandoval has slammed Rachel Leviss' lawsuit against him and Ariana Madix as he responded to the filing in his own legal documents.
The reality star, 40, branded it a 'thinly veiled attempt to extend her fame and to rebrand herself as the victim instead of the other woman' as he responded to the suit.
Sandoval, who cried on camera after Leviss claimed she never loved him during their seven month affair, took issue with the suit labeling him as 'predatory'.
He also said it denigrated his ex-partner Ariana Madix, 38, as a 'scorned woman,' according to legal documents obtained by People and Page Six.
In her filing, Leviss, 29, accused Sandoval of violating California's Revenge Porn law by recording a sexually charged sex videos without her permission and keeping them on his phone.
One was a FaceTime video Madix reportedly saw when she was looking through Sandoval's phone the night she discovered the Tom Tom co-owner had been cheating on her.
Tom Sandoval, 40 has responded to Rachel Leviss' lawsuit against him, calling it a 'thinly veiled attempt to extend her fame and to rebrand herself as the victim instead of the other woman' (Pictured in Los Angeles in September 2023)
Leviss is also suing for eavesdropping, invasion of privacy and intentional infliction of emotional distress.
Leviss claimed in her suit that it was her former lover who recorded the explicit FaceTime call.
However, in his counter-claim, the cover singer alleged 'These videos were created by Leviss and published by Leviss to Sandoval via a consensual exchange on FaceTime… Based on Leviss’ own allegations, Sandoval merely saved private copies of the videos that Leviss filmed and shared with him.'
He has asked for the case to be dismissed or that Leviss' lawsuit be amended.
In response to those assertions, Leviss' attorneys countered with 'Sandoval’s response in the face of irrefutable evidence that will be presented in court is disturbing,' in a statement to People.
'Leveraging such claims for media attention and perpetuating victim-blaming is not just deplorable but actionable.'
Although she has not named Bravo or production company Evolution Media in her lawsuit, Leviss asserts that they, along with other members of the Vanderpump Rules cast subjected her to 'public skewering' making her 'without exaggeration, one of the most hated women in America.'
She also claimed she was lead to believe she was 'contractually barred from speaking out about her mistreatment,' while the rest of the cast benefitted from a huge ratings boost and 'unseen levels of public recognition and professional opportunity,' while Leviss 'suffered in silence.'
Leviss, 29, has sued Sandoval and former girlfriend Ariana Madix, 38 for eavesdropping, revenge porn, invasion of privacy and intentional infliction of emotional distress. Madix has not responded to the lawsuit (Pictured in Los Angeles in July 2021)
Leviss has admitted her fault in the seven month affair with Sandoval and apologized for her behavior
The former pageant queen alleged she was 'a victim of the predatory and dishonest behavior of an older man, who recorded sexually explicit videos of her without her knowledge or consent'
Leviss claimed she was lead to believe she was 'contractually barred from speaking out about her mistreatment,' while the rest of the cast benefitted from a huge ratings boost and 'unseen levels of public recognition and professional opportunity'
Leviss admitted her moral failure and apologized for her part in the affair, but alleged she was 'a victim of the predatory and dishonest behavior of an older man, who recorded sexually explicit videos of her without her knowledge or consent.'
She claimed the videos 'were then distributed, disseminated, and discussed publicly by a scorned woman seeking vengeance, catalyzing the scandal,' forcing the former pageant queen to seek treatment at a mental health facility where she stayed for three months.
Leviss is seeking compensatory, special, general and consequential damages.
She wants Sandoval and Madix to cease distribution and destroy all copies of the alleged explicit video.
She’s also asking to have her attorney fees compensated and that the court grant any other relief it sees as proper.
Leviss asserts the public skewering she received after news of the Scandoval was revealed made her, 'without exaggeration, one of the most hated women in America' (Pictured in Los Angeles April 1)
In the March 5 episode of Vanderpump Rules cast member LaLa Kent accused Sandoval of being a predator. You isolate. You groom. You lie,' Kent said
Madix has not yet responded to the lawsuit.
Leviss is not the only VPR cast member who has accused Sandoval of bad behavior.
In the March 5 episode of the reality show, which was shot several months in advance of the airdate, LaLa Kent said, 'You know what triggered me was when [Leviss] said [during the final part of the season 10 reunion], "If I don’t fall in line with Sandoval then I have nobody." You isolate. You groom. You lie,' Kent said.
'I do not want to know you. You are scary.'
