‘Vanderpump Rules’ Stars Tom Sandoval and Ariana Madix Sued Over Their Book ‘Fancy AF Cocktails’
By Liz Walters on December 17, 2020 at 9:50 AM EST
“Vanderpump Rules” stars Ariana Madix and Tom Sandoval are accused of breach of contract in a new lawsuit over their cocktail book.
According to court documents obtained by The Blast, the reality stars are being sued by writer Alison Baker. In the suit, she accuses the defendants of breaching a collaboration agreement and stealing trade secrets for a cocktail recipe book concept.
In legal documents, Alison Baker, a professional writer, and novelist, who has co-authored seven books with various Hollywood celebrities, claims Ariana and Tom are allegedly in breach of contract over their book, Fancy AF Cocktails: Drink Recipes from a Couple of Professional Drinkers. Baker claims, on or about March of 2016, she and Madix entered into an agreement for Baker to render services as Madix’s co-writer, in exchange for certain fixed and contingent compensation and cred on any published book based on the book concept.
She says the “agreement’s terms were evidenced by the draft collaboration agreement sent from Plaintiff to Defendant Madix, and implied-in-fact by Plaintiff’s rendering of all services under the terms thereof, Defendant Madix’s acceptance of such services and payment to Plaintiff of certain initial fixed fees in exchange therefore, as well as by the reference to Plaintiff in the Series as Defendant Madix’s ‘co-writer’”.
Alison Baker is accusing Tom Sandoval of intentional interference with contractual relations, claiming he was aware of the enforceable agreement by way of his relationship to Madix and his involvement with her and Baker in their efforts to “also try to separately self-publish a book based on the book concept”.
Baker says Ariana Madix has allegedly failed and refused to pay her 45% of the total advance paid by HMH to publish the “infringing book” based on the book concept and proprietary rights and 45% of all actual earned royalties on sales, in addition to failing and refusing to ensure that she received co-writing credit. Baker claims she presented Madix with her book concept which was a cocktail recipe book written from the point of view of Madix, a “burgeoning reality star famous for tending bar on the Series, and featuring unique drinks and original commentary inspired by Madix’s background and specific experiences on the Series”.
Baker claims as a direct result of Madix and Sandoval’s conduct, she is entitled to damages in an amount to be determined at trial, and that their conduct was “willful, malicious, and fraudulent” and she is entitled to exemplary damages and attorney’s fees. Baker says she invested considerable time, energy, and resources to help Madix and Sandoval with the book concept and that they have excluded her from valuable opportunities.
Baker is asking for a judgment against Madix and Sandoval for an accounting of all monies and benefits received or to be received for sales of the “infringing book”, for general and specific damages in an amount to be determined at trial, and for pre- and post- judgment interest at the maximum rate allowed by law.
Last week, Ariana Madix took to her social media and announced the book birthday of “Fancy AF Cocktails” and she wrote this in her post: I feel so lucky to have been able to work with the most amazing team and we really became a little family! @dannypellegrino you changed my life ? @tomsandoval1 your heart and your vision are unmatched. i love you! It has been such a success thanks to you all who are reading this and your support ❤️ there are so many people who kill it behind the scenes that are never in photos and without those people, we would be up a nowhere river without a paddle! ❤️ ps- it makes a great holiday gift and there’s a signed copy in every @gardenuity x fancyaf kit! cheers!"
