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Leah McSweeney’s case against Andy Cohen, Bravo and other defendants remains a legal dispute, not a finding that her allegations are true. On March 9, 2026, a federal judge denied the defendants’ request to move the case to arbitration, ruling that they had waived that right through their litigation conduct. That decision addressed where the dispute will proceed—not who is liable.
What McSweeney alleges
McSweeney filed her federal complaint in the Southern District of New York on February 27, 2024. It names Cohen, producers Lisa Shannon, John Paparazzo and Darren Ward, Warner Bros. Discovery, Shed Media US, NBCUniversal and Bravo Media.
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In connection with her participation in The Real Housewives of New York City (RHONY) and The Real Housewives Ultimate Girls Trip (RHUGT), McSweeney alleges disability discrimination, sex and gender discrimination, a hostile work environment and retaliation. Her complaint also alleges that she was pressured to consume alcohol and that the defendants failed to accommodate disabilities she says she has. These are claims in her pleading, not established facts or findings by the court.
What the court has decided
The two major rulings addressed different questions. The March 2025 order concerned whether claims in McSweeney’s first amended complaint could proceed past a motion to dismiss. The March 2026 order concerned whether the case should be moved to arbitration. Neither ruling was a trial verdict on liability.
#1 Best Overall
| Date and court document | Motion addressed | Ruling | What it decided |
|---|---|---|---|
| March 31, 2025, Opinion and Order, Document 93 | Defendants’ motion to dismiss McSweeney’s first amended complaint | Granted in part and denied in part | The court ruled on the pleading-stage motion. It was not a final judgment after trial. |
| March 9, 2026, Memorandum and Order, Document 128 | Defendants’ motion to compel arbitration and stay the court case | Denied | The court found that the defendants had waived their right to seek arbitration. The ruling addressed the forum, not the truth of the allegations or liability. |
Why the judge denied arbitration
Judge Lewis J. Liman’s March 9, 2026 order states: “The motion is denied because Defendants have waived their right to seek arbitration.” The decision turned on waiver based on the defendants’ litigation conduct. It did not resolve whether McSweeney’s discrimination, hostile-work-environment or retaliation claims are true.
Is the case over, or did it go to arbitration?
The March 2026 ruling denied the defendants’ request to compel arbitration and stay the court proceedings; it did not end the lawsuit or send it to private arbitration. The March 2025 partial ruling likewise was not a final trial judgment.
Rank #2
A June 21, 2026 LegalClarity report described further pleading and dismissal-motion activity involving a second amended complaint. That report does not establish the precise docket status after its publication, and the available information here does not establish the case’s exact status as of October 8, 2026. It would therefore be inaccurate to say that the case has reached trial, that a final judgment has been entered, or that any particular claim has been finally resolved.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.What happens next?
Because the arbitration motion was denied, the case was not moved into arbitration by that order. The next developments depend on later court proceedings, including any rulings on the second amended complaint and related motions. The exact later docket status is not established by the available dated reporting, so no further outcome should be assumed.
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