Lisa Vanderpump Lawsuit: Former Villa Blanca Employee Receives "Lump Sum" After Alleged Wrongful Termination
Lisa Vanderpump has reportedly settled her wrongful termination lawsuit with a former employee.
On Thursday, it was reported that the Real Housewives of Beverly Hills star and her husband, Kenn Todd, paid her former Villa Blanca employee, Ricardo Velasco, a lump sum settlement, putting an end to their legal drama.
On June 5, Radar Online announced Vanderpump and Todd had given Velasco a "lump sum" in regard to his lawsuit against them, and had also reached a second settlement with him over another set of claims.
Two years ago, Velasco sued the reality star and her husband, claiming “wrongful termination,” and requesting nearly $75,000. In his court documents, Velasco stated that after hurting his back and being placed on temporary disability in September, 2011, Vanderpump and Todd fired him. While Vanderpump and Todd alleged Velasco had “abandoned his employment” in response documents, Velasco insisted he was fired because of “his physical disability or medical condition,” and proceeded to claim "discrimination."
Also in their response documents, Vanderpump and Todd stated Velasco “was in habitual neglect of his duty as an employee,” and that making allowances for his injuries would have been “unduly costly and burdensome.”
A trial date for the case was initially set for July 8, 2013, but called off beforehand after Velasco's attorney filed a "notice of settlement."
Meanwhile, as their legal battle raged on, Velasco filed a second suit against the couple, alleging he had sustained injuries to his “head, back … including spine and spinal cord, chest … including internal organs [and] nervous system.” A settlement on the case was reached on Aug. 7, 2012. The exact sum was not disclosed.