Raquel Leviss’ decision to have Andy Cohen ‘serve’ costar Scheana Shay during the Vanderpump Rules is being called out as a highly orchestrated public relations stunt.
Following the explosive taping on Thursday, Shay’s attorney, Neama Rahmani, told DailyMail.com in a statement that the papers the Bravo host, 54, handed her client have ‘no legal meaning’ whatsoever.
‘It was a request to dismiss a complaint or a civil lawsuit, but Rachel had requested a permanent restraining order, which is something completely different,’ the Los Angeles-based lawyer explained.
Rahmani also pointed out that ‘there is no way for Rachel to drop the temporary restraining order before next week’s hearing.’
‘This is California law and even on the court’s website,’ he stated. ‘Even if Rachel had the correct document, which she didn’t, it wasn’t filed with the court.’
Bringing the drama: Raquel Leviss’ decision to have Andy Cohen ‘serve’ costar Scheana Shay during the Vanderpump Rules is being called out as a highly orchestrated public relations stunt; Leviss seen on Thursday ahead of the reunion
Frivolous: Following the explosive taping on Thursday, Shay’s attorney, Neama Rahmani, told DailyMail.com in a statement that the papers the Bravo host, 54, handed her client have ‘no legal meaning’ whatsoever
The president of West Coast Trial Lawyers continued: ‘There is no file stamp in the top right corner. This was just another public relations stunt by Rachel and her team.’
He then advised if Leviss wanted to ‘make this go away’ then the reality star ‘would come out and publicly say the punch never happened and she is sorry for all the harm she caused Scheana, Ariana, and her other friends.’
At the reunion, Shay had to remain 100 yards away from Leviss in order to comply with the terms of a restraining order filed by her former friend.
In an earlier statement released by her attorney, her lawyer revealed Shay’s intention to adhere to the requirements of a temporary restraining order Raquel filed against her after an alleged punching.
‘Scheana will be present at today’s filming in person. Scheana intends to follow the law, but she wants to be part of the reunion,’ Rahmani said.
‘If Rachel attends, Scheana and Vanderpump Rules will make sure that Scheana remains 100 yards away to comply with the restraining order,’ the lawyer added of Raquel, whose real name is Rachel.
Stay away: At the reunion, Shay had to remain 100 yards away from Leviss in order to comply with the terms of a restraining order filed by her former friend; seen last month
‘There is no real way for the temporary restraining order to be dropped, so it will remain in effect until the permanent hearing on March 29 and then it will just lapse if Rachel doesn’t pursue it.’
The attorney continued: ‘And if Rachel does pursue it, Scheana intends to call witnesses and present evidence to disprove her false accusations.’
TMZ also reports the feuding pair will be periodically sequestered in hair and make-up trailers while the other films, watching a live feed of the show recording.
Raquel, who has been embroiled in controversy after it emerged she had engaged in an affair with Tom Sandoval despite him being in a long-term relationship with Ariana Madix, announced her plans to attend the reunion in person on Wednesday.
‘Yes, I will be attending the reunion tomorrow in person,’ Raquel posted to her Instagram Stories.
Telling her side: In an earlier statement released by her attorney, her lawyer revealed Shay’s intention to adhere to the requirements of a temporary restraining order Raquel filed against her after an alleged punching (pictured in February)
Raquel had gotten the TRO after alleging that Shay had punched her after news of the infidelity had broke out earlier this month.
However, sources previously told TMZ that the Bravo network is ‘willing’ to take the steps to make sure the order is not violated if Leviss does take part in the filming.
According to Page Six, Leviss’ restraining order, which lasts until the end of March when the court hearing is set to begin, has put the season 10 reunion ‘in jeopardy.’
Scheana’s lawyer opened up to the publication and accused Raquel of ‘sabotaging’ the hit show.
‘It just can’t happen in any meaningful way while this order is in place,’ Rahmani added to the publication.
Controversy: Leviss claimed Shay punched her after the affair came to light; pictured July 2022
‘The temporary restraining order, as it stands now, currently prohibits Scheana from being within 100 yards of Rachel, so they can’t both be physically present at the reunion,’ the lawyer explained.
He further expressed that, ‘there really is no mechanism to modify this type of temporary civil restraining order before the [March 29 court] hearing, so the reunion, at least having them all together in person, is certainly in jeopardy.’
The attorney concluded that with the restraining order in place at the time of the reunion, ‘Scheana still can’t communicate with Rachel either directly or through an intermediary.’
Raquel claimed that Scheana had punched her in the face, resulting in a black eye, as well as pushing her into a wall, which she alleged had caused injury to her head.
However, Rahmani came to the defense of Shay, and told TMZ, ‘This case is a fabrication by a known liar and a cheat who has betrayed everyone close to her. Scheana never punched Rachel (Raquel), period.’
Betrayal: It recently emerged that Sandoval had been engaging in a months-long affair with Raquel for months despite being in a relationship with Ariana Madix for nine years
On Wednesday, Raquel discussed the alleged altercation with Shay while outside of a nail salon.
‘Scheana knows what happened that night,’ Leviss explained. ‘I’m not going to go into it too much. But I do have a permanent scar on my eyebrow.’
In regards to the reunion, the former beauty pageant contestant stated, ‘I know I have to take accountability for my actions. I’m completely prepared to do that.’
When the topic of when her alleged romance began with Tom Sandoval, she expressed that it had, ‘started off as a friendship and turned into something more. But I’m sure we will go into detail about all that tomorrow on the reunion.’
On where she stands with Sandoval, the star admitted that they were, ‘not putting a label on anything,’ and added they they were also, ‘taking a break for now.’
Heartbreak: Madix pictured with her then-boyfriend in 2019
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