A lawsuit filed by former _The Real Housewives of New York City_ star Leah McSweeney against Bravo, Andy Cohen, and others has been settled out of court, according to a recent report.

Leah, 44, initially claimed that the network and its executives preyed on her struggles with alcoholism during her time on the show. In her filing, she alleged that producers made light of her drinking issues, despite her requests for them to stop, and even directed other cast members to bring up her mental health and substance abuse problems. She further claimed that they coached fellow cast members to disparage her.

The lawsuit, which entered a courtroom in November 2024, focused on Bravo's alleged exploitation of Leah's addiction for ratings purposes. Judge Lewis Liman ruled in favor of the network, stating that it had a First Amendment right to require its talent to drink excessively, but added that they should be held accountable for how they encouraged Leah to continue drinking.

In addition to her claims about Bravo's treatment of her addiction, Leah also accused Andy Cohen, the network's executive vice president and chief content officer, of engaging in cocaine use with _Housewives_ stars and giving those involved more favorable treatment and editing. These allegations were part of a larger pattern of behavior that Leah claimed had caused her significant emotional distress.

After months of back-and-forth between lawyers and judges, Leah decided to withdraw her lawsuit, citing the settlement as the reason. PEOPLE magazine reports that she withdrew the lawsuit with prejudice, meaning she cannot refile it in the future.

This development comes after Andy Cohen filed a motion to have the lawsuit dismissed in April. A month earlier, Judge Liman ordered that the case be heard in a public courtroom due to concerns that both parties had waited too long to request arbitration.

Gary Adelman, Leah's lawyer, released a statement following the settlement, saying: "We are extremely satisfied with the outcome [and] we are proud of Leah and her perseverance."

Neither Leah, Andy, nor Bravo has commented publicly on the matter.

Frequently Asked Questions

### What was the central claim of Leah McSweeney's lawsuit? Leah claimed that Bravo and Andy Cohen exploited her struggles with alcoholism for ratings purposes, making light of her drinking issues and directing other cast members to bring up her mental health and substance abuse problems.

### How did Judge Lewis Liman rule in the case? Judge Liman ruled in favor of Bravo, stating that it had a First Amendment right to require its talent to drink excessively, but added that they should be held accountable for how they encouraged Leah to continue drinking.

### What is the status of the lawsuit now? The lawsuit has been withdrawn by Leah McSweeney, citing a settlement reached with Bravo.

### Will Leah be able to refile her lawsuit in the future? No, according to PEOPLE magazine, Leah withdrew the lawsuit with prejudice, meaning she cannot refile it in the future.