Actor David Del Rio, formerly a series regular on the CBS legal drama Matlock, has launched arbitration proceedings against CBS Studios, claiming the network relied on “false and misleading allegations” when it fired him in October 2025.
The dispute stems from a sexual assault accusation made by Del Rio’s co-star Leah Lewis, which led to his immediate removal from the show and sparked months of controversy behind the scenes and in the media.
Arbitration Filing Marks First Official Statement
Del Rio’s legal team confirmed the arbitration filing in early March 2026. In a statement released by his attorney Shawn Holley, the actor said he intends to challenge the circumstances that led to his dismissal.
Holley stated that Del Rio is seeking arbitration to address allegations that she says caused “substantial professional and reputational harm.”
According to the statement, Del Rio plans to present real-time text messages and other evidence that his legal team believes contradict earlier public descriptions of the alleged incident.
Holley also argued that this evidence was not fully reviewed before CBS took disciplinary action.
“Mr. Del Rio looks forward to resolving this matter through the appropriate legal forum,” the statement said. “He has faith that a full evidentiary review will establish the truth and restore his professional reputation.”
CBS Studios declined to comment on the arbitration filing.
Allegations Led to Immediate Removal From the Series
The controversy began on October 2, 2025, when Del Rio was escorted off the Paramount lot and fired from Matlock.
The action followed an internal investigation launched after Leah Lewis — who plays associate Sarah Franklin on the show — accused Del Rio of sexual assault allegedly occurring on September 26, 2025.
Reports indicated the alleged incident took place on the Paramount studio lot, possibly in Lewis’s trailer.
Lewis reported the incident to the production team on October 2. Producers and CBS quickly opened an internal investigation. After the initial inquiry, Del Rio’s contract was terminated.
Executive producer Eric Christian Olsen reportedly escorted the actor off the lot following the decision.
No criminal charges have been filed related to the allegation.
Social Media Reaction Added to the Public Attention
Shortly after the news of Del Rio’s dismissal became public, Lewis posted a brief message on Instagram addressing the situation.
“Mom is here, we’re moving forward in love and strength,” she wrote. “I’m in good hands. Thank you to everybody for any kind of support and care.”
The situation also gained attention when Del Rio’s wife, Katherine Del Rio, criticized Lewis on social media, calling her a “disturbing human being.” The post was later deleted.
CBS Stood by Its Decision After Review
Later in 2025, Del Rio’s attorneys reportedly presented new evidence, including digital communications, prompting CBS to reopen its investigation.
However, in February 2026, the network concluded the supplemental review and confirmed it would stand by its original decision to terminate the actor.
The arbitration filing now represents the next phase in the dispute.
‘Matlock’ Adjusted Its Storyline After Del Rio’s Exit
Del Rio played Billy Martinez, a first-year associate at the law firm featured in Matlock. His sudden departure forced the writers to quickly adjust the storyline mid-season.
During the Season 2 mid-season finale in December 2025, Billy’s absence was explained by a plotline in which his girlfriend suffered a miscarriage, prompting him to step away from the firm.
The show later introduced new characters played by Henry Haber and Sarah Wright Olsen to shift the workplace dynamic. Producers emphasized that these characters were not direct replacements for Billy but new associates.
A “Meta” Moment in the Mid-Season Premiere
When Matlock returned on February 26, 2026, the show appeared to reference the controversy in a brief scene that some viewers interpreted as a meta comment on the actor’s departure.
In the episode, Sarah Franklin and lead character Matty Matlock meet with a new HR representative, Gwen Easton.
When asked about Billy’s whereabouts, Sarah awkwardly says he is “very, very sick” and “vomiting.” The HR representative jokingly responds that his job could simply be eliminated — a line many viewers saw as a tongue-in-cheek acknowledgment that the character would not return.
Legal Fight Now Moves to Arbitration
Arbitration proceedings typically occur privately and can involve reviewing contracts, evidence, and witness testimony before a neutral arbitrator rather than a public court.
Del Rio’s legal team argues that the process will allow all evidence to be fully reviewed, including communications they believe challenge the allegations.
For now, CBS has declined public comment, and the outcome of the arbitration could take months to resolve.
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