Lara Sophia 
RHOP star Candiace Dillard is “grateful for common sense” after a Virginia judge dismisses Michael Darby’s defamation lawsuit against her.
2024 is off to a great start for Candiace Dillard as last month a judge in Virginia dismissed the defamation lawsuit Michael Darby filed against her in 2023.
The estranged husband of Real Housewives of Potomac OG Ashley Darby first filed his lawsuit against Candiace Dillard on February 15, 2023. In his lawsuit Michael Darby objected to claims Candiace Dillard made about his sexuality and sex life in an a season 7 episode of RHOP.
The court determined that Michael was “was precluded from maintaining a lawsuit against [Candiace] based on a release that he signed to appear on the Bravo reality series.”
As a result Michael’s lawsuit was dismissed with prejudice on January 3, 2024. This means that the judge’s determination is final and the lawsuit may not be refiled.
Since Michael filed his lawsuit almost a year ago, Candiace Dillard has remained mum on the subject and refused to discuss the legal case when her RHOP co-stars brought it up on camera while filming season 8.
However, now that this legal mess is behind her, the RHOP star is breaking her silence on the subject.
“I am incredibly grateful to God for protecting me,” Candiace told PEOPLE. “I am also grateful for common sense, the support of my family and my incredible legal team for helping the plaintiff to get exactly what he deserves from me: absolutely nothing.”
If you remember, during season 7 of RHOP, Candiace defended her husband, Chris Bassett, against claims that he has flirted with women that are in the Potomac Housewives friend group.
At Wendy Osefo’s burn session, Candiace called Ashley a “lying ass vindictive b–ch” on repeat after Ashley made the claim that Chris flirted with her friend at Karen Huger’s Spring Fling party. Candiace questioned why Ashley didn’t tell her this information in private instead of doing it in front of the entire group of women.
In retaliation for Ashley spreading lies about Chris, Candiace fired back with a shocking allegation against Michael.
“Your husband likes to leave you and go to a man named —— ‘s house and suck his dick,” Candiace alleged.
“I was not supposed to talk about this person,” Candiace continued in her confessional interview. “But he says Michael Darby is a client of his. That’s what your ass gets because I was holding on to that. You wanted smoke, so here.”
After the scene aired on Bravo, Michael filed his now dismissed lawsuit against Candiace. The Virginia businessman was seeking $2 million in damages.
The Real Housewives of Potomac airs Sundays at 8 p.m. ET on Bravo.
