Andy Cohen Asks Judge to Temporarily Pause Leah McSweeney's Lawsuit amid His Motion to Dismiss

Mar. 15, 2025

Andy Cohen (left) and Leah McSweeney.Photo:Charles Sykes/Bravo via Getty (2)

Charles Sykes/Bravo via Getty (2)

Andy Cohenhas asked a judge to press pause on hisongoing lawsuitwithLeah McSweeney.

Citing howThe Real Housewives of New York Cityalum’s first amended complaint (FAC) is “exceedingly lengthy, complex and far-reaching” with eight defendants and over 34 witnesses, Cohen argued in the letter that “any discovery sought will be broad and require extensive responses” and therefore should be paused until consensus is reached on the dismissal.

After noting how a temporary pause would “further the interests of efficiency and conservation of judicial resources,” Cohen argued that his motion to dismiss has taken into consideration McSweeney’s “own allegations” and documents.

“Notably, [McSweeney] already had the opportunity to supplement her pleadings following the filing of Defendants’ motion to dismiss the original Complaint, but she failed to correct any of the deficiencies,” the letter stated.

PEOPLE has reached out to McSweeney’s attorney for comment.

Leah McSweeney and Andy Cohen.Charles Sykes/Bravo/NBCU Photo Bank via Getty

Charles Sykes/Bravo/NBCU Photo Bank via Getty

In May, Cohen asked a judge to dismiss McSweeney’s previous claims that she had faced sex/gender, religious and disability discrimination in a “hostile work environment” during her time on theReal Housewivesfranchise.

The motion came about three months afterMcSweeney sued Cohen, Bravo, Shed Media and other subsidiaries in February for allegedly establishing a “rotted” workplace culture where cast members were pressured to consume alcohol and other drugs.

The former reality star also claimed that the defendants failed to maintain a safe working environment and accommodate her disabilities, including “alcohol use disorder” and “mental health disorders” in order to “create morbidly salacious reality television.”

From left: Andy Cohen, Dolores Catania and Leah McSweeney.Charles Sykes/Bravo/NBCU Photo Bank via Getty

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Stating that McSweeney’s allegations are “threadbare” and should be “dismissed as a matter of law,” Cohen’s file to dismiss stated that the reality star’s discrimination claims “impermissibly seek to abridge Defendants’ First Amendment rights to tailor and adjust the messages they wish to convey in their creative works, including through cast selection and other creative decisions.”

While they claimed that they’ve never intended to use theReal Housewivesfranchise to “feature inebriated cast members,” to do so would be within their First Amendment rights regarding decisions within casting and directing.

source: people.com