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Leah McSweeney, known for her time on The Real Housewives of New York City, achieved a significant legal triumph in her legal battle against Andy Cohen and Bravo.
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Bravo’s attempt to shift her lawsuit into private arbitration was rejected by a judge.
Initially, portions of McSweeney’s case were examined in federal district court by Andy and Bravo. However, after some preliminary decisions, they sought to transition the proceedings to private arbitration.
As per documents reviewed by TMZ, the judge dismissed this request, citing its untimeliness and stating that the defendants had forfeited the right to this option. The judge remarked that the defendants could not “have their cake and eat it too.”
According to documents obtained by TMZ, the judge denied the request, saying it was too late and that the defendants had waived the right to ask. The judge also noted that the defendants cannot “have their cake and eat it too.”
Due to this decision, Leah’s lawsuit will continue to move forward in the public court system.
Leah spoke out about her win in an Instagram Story, noting she doesn’t talk much about the ongoing case as it’s “emotionally and mentally draining.”
“But we just had a ruling and I want to acknowledge it,” she said. “When I first filed this lawsuit a lot of people – including the fandom – said my claims would never hold up in court. For more than two years the defendants have tried to have the case dismissed and later tried to force it into private arbitration.”
She then acknowledged the judge had “denied that motion” yesterday.
“In his ruling he wrote that arbitration is not a fallback and that a party cannot ‘have its cake and eat it too,’” Leah continued. “Which means the case stays public and in federal court.”
Leah concluded by emphasizing that reality television “might look like entertainment,” but “behind the drama there can be harmful misconduct that should never be normalized.”
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The lawsuit has been ongoing since Leah filed it in February 2024. In the initial complaint, she alleged the following: a toxic work environment that discriminated against her, she was exploited for her alcohol addiction, and her disabilities were not accommodated. She also alleged producers forced her to drink, fostered a place of work that aided in a relapse, and retaliated against her for her sobriety.
Leah further accused Andy of having a “proclivity for cocaine usage with his employees” and providing “more favorable treatment and edits” to the Housewives with whom he uses the drug.
A representative for Andy denied the allegations in February 2024, calling them “completely false.” His lawyers also demanded a retraction of the allegations, describing the claims as “defamatory” and “categorically false,” and warned of further legal action if they were not rescinded.
In May 2025, Page Six examined court papers alleging Andy abused his power to “direct or induce” many Bravo stars to “claim that” Leah “is a liar” in the press. The documents specifically alleged Andy “either directly requested or induced current and former Real Housewives cast members” to “publicly disparage McSweeney’s character, and propensity for truthfulness, to curry favor with Cohen in the hopes that such favor would propel their entertainment careers.”
The papers also stated each Bravolebrity who spoke out against Leah “would not have made [the] statement but for Cohen’s direction and/or inducement.”
Some of Leah’s claims have been dismissed. The ones still being litigated are related to discrimination for her disability, a hostile work environment, and failure to give her reasonable accommodations.