Legal Expert Analyzes Raquel Leviss' Lawsuit Against Tom Sandoval Compared to Ariana Madix
Get exclusive insights from legal expert Neama Rahmani on why Raquel Leviss' case against Tom Sandoval may not be as strong as Ariana Madix's in the recent revenge porn lawsuit
Rachel Leviss, also known as Raquel, filed a lawsuit against Tom Sandoval and Ariana Madix for revenge porn. Surprisingly, some Vanderpump Rules fans might be interested to know that she could have a stronger case against Madix than Sandoval. According to attorney Neama Rahmani, who is not involved in the case, the case against Tom is actually weaker compared to the case against Ariana. In California's revenge porn statute, there is a requirement that the porn be distributed. While Tom was allegedly involved in a FaceTime incident and may have recorded it, it is uncertain whether he sent it to anyone.
The legal expert explained that the allegations involve Ariana accessing Tom's phone and sending a video to herself and Rachel. It is unclear who else may have received the video, creating uncertainty about the extent of distribution.
On Thursday, it was reported that Leviss, 29, filed a lawsuit against Sandoval, 41, and Madix, 38, citing revenge porn, eavesdropping, invasion of privacy, and intentional infliction of emotional distress. The lawsuit claims Sandoval recorded a private video call without consent, and Madix allegedly obtained the explicit footage and may have shared it with others.
Leviss was unknowingly recorded in sexually explicit videos by an older man, leading to their public distribution and discussion by a woman seeking revenge. This caused a scandal that ultimately led Leviss to seek treatment at a mental health facility for three months, while Bravo, Evolution, and the cast capitalized on the public interest in her ordeal.
Raquel Leviss' Case Against Tom Sandoval Is 'Weaker' Than Ariana Madix, Lawyer Says
In March 2023, it was revealed that Tom Sandoval and Ariana Madix decided to end their relationship that had lasted almost a decade. The reason behind their breakup was Sandoval's involvement in an affair with Raquel Leviss. Later on, Madix and other members of the Vanderpump Rules cast talked about the FaceTime call recording between Sandoval and Leviss on different podcasts.
Leviss' legal team claimed in her lawsuit that the aftermath had a negative impact on her mental health. They also alleged that Bravo and production company Evolution misled Leviss into believing she couldn't speak out about the situation.
According to the legal documents, Leviss suffered silently while Bravo and Evolution benefited from increased viewership and the rest of the cast gained more public recognition and professional opportunities. Meanwhile, Leviss was left feeling humiliated and vilified by the public, leading to a decline in her career prospects and a damaged reputation.
Rahmani explained that the focus of the case will be on determining how many people have viewed the explicit video. He emphasized the significance of the number of viewers, stating that widespread dissemination of the video to many individuals would pose a major issue. Once a video is circulated on the internet, it is challenging to undo the damage or prevent further distribution. However, if the video was only shared with a few specific individuals, such as Ariana, Tom, and Rachel, the strength of the case would be considerably weaker.
The attorney discussed possible defense strategies for Madix. He mentioned that the lawyers representing Ariana would likely focus on challenging the extent of the damages. While acknowledging Rachel's emotional distress and rehab stay, the defense may argue that these were primarily due to her own actions, such as the affair or past substance abuse issues. The lawyers could assert that any harm Rachel experienced was not a result of Tom or Ariana's actions, but rather stemmed from her own choices. This defense could be a key aspect of the case.
Reported by Christina Garibaldi
