Tom Sandoval recently demanded that a new judge be assigned to oversee the lawsuit filed against him (and others) in March by his former mistress (and Vanderpump Rules co-star) Rachel Leviss. 

According to Radar Online, Sandoval’s attorney, Matthew J. Geragos–- not to be confused with Rachel’s attorney, Mark Geragos-– filed a “Peremptory Challenge” April 9, demanding that the judge presiding over the lawsuit–- Judge Anne Richardson–- be replaced due to potential prejudice. 

The filing went on to allege that the judicial officer “is prejudiced against the party (or his or her attorney) or the interest of the party (or his or her attorney),” thus preventing Sandoval’s attorney from having “a fair and impartial trial or hearing before the judicial officer.” 

According to the outlet, Judge Richardson went on to remove herself from the case at a recent hearing and appoint Judge Crowley as her replacement. 

As The Ashley previously told you, Rachel filed a lawsuit in March against Sandoval and her former co-star/friend Ariana Madix (along with a bevy of John and Jane Does) over claims of Revenge P0rn, Invasion of Privacy, Eavesdropping and more. 

In the lawsuit, Rachel is seeking unspecified damages over alleged NSFW FaceTime videos involving her and Sandoval. (As ‘Vanderpump Rules’ fans may remember, these videos were reportedly discovered on Sandoval’s phone by his then-girlfriend Ariana in March 2023, ultimately exposing Sandoval and Rachel’s months-long affair.) 

Sandoval is named in the suit for claims of Eavesdropping; Ariana is named for claims of Revenge P0rn; and both exes are named for claims of Invasion of Privacy and Intentional Infliction of Emotional Distress. 

“This lawsuit is squarely about illegal behavior and those who traffic in it and enable it,” Rachel’s attorney Mark Geragos said earlier this year when the lawsuit was filed. “Rachel has apologized for her part in an affair. That’s not a crime. Tom and Ariana are alleged here to have engaged in criminal acts. They then doubled down and used those actions to shame, bully, belittle, and intentionally try to destroy Rachel’s mental health.

“The law makes it clear that recording someone without their consent and distributing that illegal recording is punishable by law; however, doing so while knowingly enticing them to engage in sexual acts deserves the harshest of penalties allowable under the law,” he added.

Rachel has maintained since 2023 that the explicit videos were recorded by Sandoval without her knowledge or consent. Her initial claims resulted in multiple individuals–- including current ‘Vanderpump Rules’ cast members–- receiving cease-and-desist letters from Rachel’s lawyers last spring, citing California’s law regarding “nonconsensual p0rnography.” (It also resulted in sparking Lala Kent‘s “Send it to Darrell” merch line.) 

Rachel’s lawsuit alleges that while there may be additional videos/photos that were obtained by Sandoval without her knowledge, she believes Ariana obtained at least two of the videos and “distributed them and/or showed them to others” without her consent. 

Rachel is also claiming that Ariana knew about her and Sandoval’s affair “as early as the fall of 2022” and at one point, told the two of them to “save the story for Season 11” of ‘Vanderpump Rules.’ 

As fans of the Bravo series know, Rachel ultimately did not return to ‘Vanderpump Rules’ for Season 11. 

RELATED STORY: Rachel Leviss Awkwardly Apologizes to Katie Maloney & Dayna Kathan For Posting Shady IG Story Following Awards Show

(Photos: Instagram; Bravo)