“Southern Charm” star Thomas Ravenel reached a $125,000 settlement with his ex-nanny, to end her sexual assault lawsuit.
According to court documents obtained by The Blast, Ravenel and his former employee, Dawn Ledwell, hashed out a confidential deal in July 2019.
The deal stated Ledwell “will not accept any monetary payment personally from Defendant Ravenel.” Instead, “Ravenel will make a payment and donation to the 501 (c) non-profit organization People Against Rape in the name of Plaintiff Dawn Ledwell of the total sum of” $80,000.
Ravenel also agreed to pay $45,000 to cover Ledwell’s legal bills. Per the deal, Ledwell would drop her civil lawsuit against Ravenel. The two each had to make public statements.
Last year, Ledwell sued Ravenel for an alleged sexual assault that went down in 2015. She added producers and Bravo as defendants, claiming they should be partly liable for damages due to her belief they failed to provide adequate security to her and other persons who appeared on ‘Southern Charm’.
Ledwell claimed the producers and Bravo created and encouraged plot lines that focused on alcohol, sex and the concept that “that male cast members, including Defendant Ravenel, suffer from ‘Peter Pan Syndrome’ and they are the ‘Lost Boys’ and Charleston is their ‘Neverland.’”
In the suit, she claimed to have told the network about the alleged assault and they failed to investigate her accusations. She sued seeking unspecified damages. Ravenel has denied all allegations he assaulted Ledwell.
The producers and network fired back demanding to be let out of the lawsuit brought by Ravenel’s former nanny, saying she signed away rights when she appeared on the reality show.
The producers pointed to two releases that Ledwell signed to appear on ‘Southern Charm’ as an unpaid voluntary participant. They claim she even signed one release after the alleged assault by Ravenel. Producers asked for the entire case dismissed as a result.
Per the settlement, Ledwell will dismiss all claims against Ravenel ,but is continuing on against the network.
In November, Ravenel was sentenced in the criminal assault case and avoided jail time. The reality star pleaded not guilty to third degree assault and battery charges. The judge sentenced him to “30 day sentence suspended to a $500 fine.”
Ravenel was accused of assaulting his former nanny, Dawn Ledwell, back in 2015. He allegedly got undressed and put the nanny’s hand on his privates. She claimed he then grabbed her private area.
Ravenel agreed with the facts of the case and said, “Your honor, on the night of the incident I did attempt to kiss her and in so doing I grabbed her arm and that was wrong, and I am much appreciative of the opportunity to apologize to her in court today.”
Ravenel’s ex, Kathryn Dennis, recently scored joint custody of their two kids.
