Lately it seems that Lisa Vanderpump is trying to give Sheree Whitfield a run for her money as the Real Housewife with the most legal problems.
There have been numerous lawsuits about Villa Blanca. There was the one brought by Martha Diaz, a pastry chef who worked at Villa Blanca alleges that yet another manager has created a hostile workplace and sexual harassment by her immediate supervisor Gustovo Molina. The suit alleges that beginning in March of 2014 Molina began to harass her by inappropriately touching her in a sexual manner including touching of her vaginal area. Molina and another kitchen worker would make sexually inappropriate comments toward Diaz in the course of her workday. The two would also pull up pornographic images on their cell phones and expose them to her. The two kitchen works would refer to Diaz as fat, ugly and call her a whore. They also places pornographic drawings in her work space and on her locker.
There was one brought by a Villa Blanca dishwasher, Ricardo Velasco, who sued Blanca LLC, Ken Todd and Lisa Vanderpump for breach of faith of covenant of good faith and fair dealing, disability discrimination, failure to provide reasonable accommodation, failure to engage in good faith interactive practices (specifically by acting with malice and oppression), wrongful termination, retaliation, willful failure to pay wages, and violation of business and professions code. For those counting, that’s a total of eight causes of action. His attorney asked for general, specific and punitive damages, attorney fees, his job back, and other restitution.
The was the Bustillos case where a waitress filed a hostile work environment action that included sexual harassment. This case went on for two years and ended with a large award to the plaintiff. The jury awarded $100K in damages and all attorney fees. And the judge later found Ken and Lisa both PERSONALLY liable for the putative damages. Lisa actually lied to the press and said that they won the lawsuit. Then they sued their attorney for losing the case.
Recently there was a lawsuit brought against them by another dog rescue that accused Ken of being aggressive toward the female plaintiff. That suit was dropped by the plantiff. Smells like they bought their way out of that to avoid yet another lawsuit where Ken is accused of aggressive behavior toward women. In that case, the other dog rescue claimed they failed to follow through on a proposed partnership and opened their own dog rescue instead, it seemed like a breach of contract case.
Which brings me to the latest case that am reading the court documents on. This case is brought by Fifi & Romeo a luxury dog clothing designer. No seriously, they are the real deal. The dress celebrity pets, including Oprah Winfrey’s and other rich folks, they dress dogs in movies like Legally Blonde, they are big time.
So here is what happened. In 2012, Ken and Lisa met the owners of Fifi & Romeo at the American Humane Association’s Hero Dog Awards. They loved the fancy dog clothes. The following year Lisa and Ken asked Fifi & Romeo to make an out for Giggy to wear to the American Humane Association’s Dog Fashion show. They really loved the custom look.
Shortly thereafter, according to the court documents, Ken approached the owner and proposed a deal where they would make additional clothes for Giggy. Ken and Lisa would pay for only the materials and in exchange for the deep discount would give clothing credits for Giggy’s looks on all social media, and on every TV appearance.
So for a while that is what happened. Then in 2015 Ken and Lisa suggested that they partner on a dog clothing line. Basically, they wanted in on the successful business but they would be mass producing dogwear under the partnership name, Fifi & Romeo For Vanderpump Dogs. The owners agreed.
Within a week after the agreement was reached, Ken and Lisa stopped giving Fifi & Romeo credit for the looks on social media. In fact, the suit alleges that they even went back into their social media and misspelled the company name on posts where they had given credit. They also stopped paying for the manufacturing costs for Giggy’s clothes. They dodged phone calls made to request payment.
The next thing you know, Lisa Vanderpump announces she is starting her own line of dog clothes. The suit seems to claim that they took their designs to break down and use as patterns for their line. They are suing on multiple claims: breach of contract, fraud, conversion,and unjust enrichment. They are suing for all possible financial remedies at the discretion of the court.
This looks like an open and shut case to me.
The two kitchen works?” Is that supposed to be kitchen workers? I don’t get how they can sue Lisa and Todd if it was indeed two kitchen workers (chef?) Or are they suing VB and not them personally? Because she has partners for all her restaurants that would be included right?
If the woman complained to management, and management did nothing to stop the harassment, then the owners are liable.
Hey Jennifer GO FUCK YOURSELF.
I love you, Kenya. x
?????❤️❤️❤️
TT you made my day❤️
When you write a blog all by yourself and post multiple posts a day, with no help from copy editors you are bound to have typos.
As far as suing Ken & Lisa; they allowed the MANAGER to get away with the behavior.
P.S.
Instead of pointing out typos- why not just enjoy the content?
Exactly!!! I enjoy this site while I sip on a glass (or two) of wine. What typos?
You’re right, no brainer for the Todd’s to lose especially with a signed contract. Sounds like they are getting too big for their britches. Next they’ll be copying pink dog food idea like RHOD.
Sounds like they need to stop faffing about with reality TV and get back to managing their businesses – this must be costing them a fortune & we that run businesses know that you have these problems when you take your eye off what is going on – surely if you are so callous that you don’t care about your workers you would be financially savvy enough to see merit in a harassment free work environment if only to save legal costs?
Vanderpump sells herself on her eye for detail – looks like ego’s are causing blurred vision if not flexible morality. I have been aware of her manipulations but have still liked her – its this stuff that gives me a jaundiced eye.
i think it’s time for LVP to retire.
I agree L VPump is an enabler for Kim Richards along with Kyle.
The show is so much better with out Kim Richards, even Kyle presents herself in a better image. Also the insults Lisa VPump throws at Lisa R on each show is disgusting and then bragged about it on the show. > I think Lisa R has been attacked so many times and the gang turns it around and plays innocent for everyone else just as guilty of wrong doings with nasty comments. I wish Lisa VPump and Kyle would take a long look at the Limousine ride Lisa R took with Kim R,, I would have made the Limo Driver stop and I would have called a cab or walked…..
Also the C word by Erica was so offensive to Lisa VP and the other gang, but when Nasty Dorit says it to Camill at a public dinner it is a Joke per Lisa VPump and Dorit.
Really I almost stopped watching the show after last season because of the Nasty treatment of Lisa R I agree LVpump RETIRE
Brandi Glanvile had Ira Dewitt (wife of the president of st Luis cardinals) on her podcast talking about how Ken was physically aggressive with the lady they had the vanderpump pets deal with, and how basically they stole her client list and took over her business.
She had to drop the lawsuit due to a legal technicality not a payout according to Ira (who is her friend and was on the board of her charity)
Highly recommending listening to this segment on Brandis podcast. It’s about the last 20 minutes. Ira lays out the whole story. She was on the board of the charity LVP screwed over. Her husband owns the St Louis Cardinals. They’re loaded and have no financial motive for speaking up.
Well, legal papers quite often describe reality, which has nothing to do with real reality. I mean ex-worker taking you to the court may be about many things.
However number of those lawsuits give them much more credibility. When people will start to associate Vanderpump brand with shit like this, she is done.
And don’t forget Cedric and his book.
Do we know how her businesses in the UK ended?
Ken and Lisa really are grade A a***holes. As Martin has said, businesses will surely start to give the Vanderpumps a wide berth. Losing your designs and client list isn’t worth the risk.
BTW: that old pic of Lisa- she’s got a whole NEW FACE!!
Lisa, Ken and Giggy may end up losing their shirts over this one.
I cannot wait for the real Ken and Lisa to stand up.
Lisa and Ken are, arguably, the most Machiavellian couple in the RH franchise (past and present). These lawsuits demonstrate that they have no regard for the welfare and happiness of those in their care or trust. As they say, what goes around comes around.
100%
Tamara, I appreciated your time and reporting because I’ve seen bits of these cases and just lack the brain power to follow all of the details.
Maybe one of these lawsuits is what Dorit commented about to LVP that made her cry? (reference to another post, sorry if this is breaking a rule) With as much as she and Ken love their businesses one would think they would be more responsible!
I don’t understand why people feel the need to take advantage of folks. Why would you risk the opportunity you have been given? Reality TV for some reason make people think they are invincible!!! Look at all the reality stars in trouble legally and emotionally.
Lisa has been manipulating and conning people in lots of ways since her first season on the housewives. She knows how to play the game and play it well. Not a Brandi fan but I do believe she was duped by LVP, she did it to Rinna, she did it to Kyle (when they both tried to call her out) I have no problem believing she would run over anyone who she could to make a buck.
She exploits her own employees and pretends she cares about them while she exposes them to the world as shallow, selfish, drunken fools. Her own son was one of Jame dearest friends but you didn’t see him being in any of the bars or drinking etc. just James. Because he is good TV and good money for them. Ken is aggressive. He told James he would kick his ass, he threatened Yolanda.
Sorry not sorry. I believe this 100%
Please, Ken
I have waited for the day for people to see that LVP is not as fabulous as Bravo portrayed her. It use to drive me crazy when the superfans would dismiss all of her wrongdoings. This is the first time when the majority of the comments are anti-LVP. I use to feel sorry for Ken but he is not the sweet, patient, loving man I thought he was. And, dammit put little Giggy on the floor.
I don’t ever admit that I watch the housewives. One night my mom and i reluctantly admitted we watch. My mom adores LVP. UGH! I was gobblesmacked and then she said “I just love her swans and ponies”. Well, ok, I have to give my mom a pass for being a LVP superfan. I still don’t like it–but I understand it, dahling.
Honey, she has had me blocked since 1987 lol. And I am not one of those idiots who contacts reality people I don’t like. And even the ones I do, it’s EXTREMELY limited. I think I talk to Kyle the most and that is because we chatted about summer reading one time. I did do a deep dive with several of the Shahs before season one aired. And that is basically when I learned it is best not to interact, because they all seemed so nice, and then, I saw the show. lol. Still I am friendly with most of them. It does hamper my recaps. So I stopped doing that.
My point kinda got lost, and it was that LVP HATES my reporting on her. She managed to get most of her cases ignored by TMZ and other big west coasts sites. And was pissed I had an informant on the other side. Especially for the Bustillos trial. I was the only one really covering it day by day. That is when her social media person blocked me despite me never saying pea turkey to her on Twitter.: )
http://tamaratattles.com/?s=Bustillos
I had a FABULOUS source for that.
I remember that report was super juicy!
Thanks for doing the lords work!!
I will be honest. THIS is the ONLY site I check for anything related to the shows I watch. All the others are pure Propaganda, much like the MSM.
While I am unable to check the site as often as I would like, I truly appreciate the hard work and time you put in for my enjoyment.
Thank you
Thanks Cyndy!
Another skeleton wearing a suit comes out their dirty laundry.closet. The Giggy’s up. Make no bones about it, TT will find them whether they are buried or hidden, the ability to sniff out truffles of truth. Delicious.
As the owner of an HR company for businesses, I can tell you that lawsuits are a pretty common thing when there is money to be given, and especially in restaurant environments. Apparently everything is owed to people, even when they are wrong. I take all cases here with a grain of salt. Settling says a lot about all parties, likely not a strong case on the plantiff side, and you have to take that into account before making a personal judgement. However, all people make mistakes, as we can see a proven one with the lawsuit that went fully through and the Vanderpump’s loss. But still not a surprise in a sexually charged restaurant environment, in LA where people need money and want to be rich for doing barely nothing. It happens.
*jaw dropped*
resurrected this old thread because you sent me here, TT.
Whoaaaa Nellie! I have NOT been paying enough attention it seems!
consider me aware and digging for more now.
Shady….