David Del Rio Takes Legal Action Against CBS Following Matlock Dismissal
Actor David Del Rio has officially initiated arbitration proceedings against CBS Studios in response to his termination from the popular television series Matlock. The legal action comes after Del Rio was removed from the show in October following allegations of sexual assault made by his co-star, actress Leah Lewis.
Arbitration Filed to Address Allegations and Restore Reputation
According to a statement provided to Variety by Del Rio's attorney, Shawn Holley, the actor has commenced arbitration to confront what he describes as false and misleading allegations that have caused significant damage to his professional standing and personal reputation. Holley emphasized that Del Rio intends to present substantial evidence during the proceedings, including real-time text communications that directly contradict previous public characterizations of the interaction in question.
"David Del Rio has initiated arbitration against CBS Studios to address false and misleading allegations that caused substantial professional and reputational harm," Holley stated. "The evidence was not fully considered before adverse employment action was taken."
Holley further noted that Del Rio maintains confidence that a comprehensive review of all evidence will ultimately establish the truth and facilitate the restoration of his professional reputation through the appropriate legal channels.
Background of the Matlock Departure and Investigation
Del Rio portrayed lawyer Billy Martinez during the first season of the Kathy Bates-led legal drama. The actor had already completed filming for seven episodes of the show's second season when he was escorted off the Paramount Pictures lot and subsequently dismissed from the production. His final appearance on Matlock occurred in the December 4 episode titled "Prior Bad Acts."
In the episode that followed, Del Rio's character was notably absent, with the narrative explaining that Billy had taken a personal day. During last week's midseason premiere, when an HR representative inquired about Billy's whereabouts, Lewis's character Sarah responded, "Out sick. Very, very sick. Vomiting," to which Bates's titular character added, "And we've got him covered."
Network Investigation and Co-Star Responses
CBS Studios conducted an investigation into the alleged incident involving Del Rio and Lewis approximately one week before the actor's removal from the Paramount lot. The network has declined to comment on the ongoing arbitration matter. Entertainment Weekly reported last month that CBS had reopened its investigation regarding Del Rio and reaffirmed its decision to exclude the actor from the show.
Leah Lewis has not directly addressed the situation publicly, though she posted a statement on her Instagram Stories following the announcement of Del Rio's firing. "Mom is here, we're moving forward in love and strength. I'm in good hands," Lewis wrote. "Thank you to everybody for any kind of support and care. Truly, we're moving forward in strength. Key word, strength. Please, let that be the takeaway."
Family Reactions and Social Media Exchanges
Del Rio's wife, Katherine, responded to Lewis's post with a since-deleted message on her own Instagram Stories. "Mom is here. We're moving forward in love and strength after what Leah did to our family. Thank you all for the love and support!" she wrote. Katherine also allegedly posted a close-up photograph of Lewis with the caption, "This is the most disturbing human being I have ever met," which has also been removed from social media platforms.
The arbitration proceedings represent the latest development in a controversy that has captured significant attention within the entertainment industry, highlighting ongoing discussions about workplace conduct, due process, and the professional consequences of allegations in the television production landscape.
