Raquel Leviss, Tom Sandoval, and Ariana Madix.
Getty Images (3)Tom Sandoval prosecute Ariana Madix to access explicit videos from Rachel “Raquel” Leviss on cell phones without “authorization”.
According to special court documents taken by Us Weekly on Tuesday, July 16, Sandoval, 40, claimed that Madix, 39, “gained access” to Sandoval’s phone on March 1, 2023, and reviewed videos of Sandoval and Leviss, 29, without “authorization or permission.”
The video drama played in the season 9 finale of Bravo Vanderpump Rules last year, when the camera lifted back up to be taken after Madix, who has been dating Sandoval for nearly a decade, found a length of Leviss on the phone of his then-girlfriend. (Madix and Sandoval later called him out on their relationship, and Sandoval briefly dated Leviss until they split in May 2023.)
Sandoval’s filing alleges that Madix “made copies” of the video and distributed it to “Leviss and third parties” against their authorization.
The Vanderpump Rules cast is no stranger to controversy. West Hollywood SUR restaurant staffer Lisa Vanderpump made her Bravo debut in 2013 as part of the Real Housewives of Beverly Hills spin-off. Season 1 cast includes Vanderpump, Stassi Schroeder, Jax Taylor, Katie Maloney, Tom Sandoval, Kristen Doute and Scheana Shay. (…)
Madix Attorney, Jordan Susmanresponding to Sandoval’s claims in a statement to us on Tuesday.
“It’s disgusting that Tom Sandoval continues to abuse Ms. Madix. From having an illicit relationship that destroyed her home and stability, to months of emotional warfare and now trying to ignore personal responsibility for the effects it has on her and her emotional well-being. Tom Sandoval knows what a privilege she shares with Ms. Madix regarding her personal communication device.
The statement continued: “If he or his lover had his way, it would be illegal for anyone to find a partner or other person who is having an affair. For Mr. Sandoval to go from apologizing to Ms. Madix to blaming her for the mistake of talking to himself. Even a month after New York Times branded Mr. Sandoval “the most hated man in America”, has clearly learned something and believes that it is necessary to continue to torture Ms. Madix to rehabilitate his image dismissing frivolous claims.
Attorney Sandoval, Matthew Geragosbrother of lawyer Leviss, Mark Geragosgive a statement to us on Wednesday 17 July.
“While Tom Sandoval accepts responsibility for his affairs, he strongly denies the allegations in the lawsuit filed by Rachel Leviss against him and Ms. Madix,” the statement said. “To ensure a fair and just determination of liability among all parties involved, we are filing a cross-complaint on Mr. Sandoval’s behalf. This customary law action is essential to ensure that liability, if any, is fairly distributed based on the degree of involvement and fault of each We aim to resolve this legal dispute respectfully to all parties involved.
Sandoval’s lawsuit against Madix comes after Leviss filed a lawsuit against her ex on February 29, accusing her of wiretapping, revenge porn and invasion of privacy. Sandoval later rebutted Leviss in April, claiming that her filing was a “thinly veiled attempt to inflate (Leviss’) fame and cast herself as a victim.”
Several Vanderpump Rules stars have dropped out of the Bravo series over the years. Cameras began following the staff at Lisa Vanderpump’s West Hollywood SUR restaurant in 2012 after she rose to fame on The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills. Season 1 of Pump Rules, which premiered in January 2013, starred Lisa, Stassi Schroeder, Jax (…)
Later that month, Sandoval asked that Leviss’ lawsuit against him and Madix be dismissed or modified, according to court documents obtained by us in time.
Madix, meanwhile, filed his own countersuit against Leviss days later, claiming that Leviss sought to “punish” and “blame Ms. Madix for the negative reactions (she) received as a result of her affair.”
Madix’s lawyer insisted that he knew about the relationship between Sandoval and Leviss “in the worst possible way” when he found the video “making a phone call”. Madix was “devastated” and “directly confronted” Sandoval about the issue and told his colleagues about the “betrayal,” according to the document. However, Madix claims he never shared the “found video footage” with anyone but Leviss.
Sandoval and Madix’s legal drama extends beyond their shared home they are currently fighting over. last month, us reported that the couple must resolve the situation through private mediation or face trial starting February 17, 2026.
With reporting by Brody Brown and Sarah Jones
