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Shannon Beador and John Janssen have officially resolved their ongoing legal dispute.
After seven months of litigation, which began when Janssen filed a lawsuit seeking $75,000 he claimed to have loaned Beador during their relationship, the former couple has reached a settlement. Court documents dated November 15 confirm that the case has been settled, with a filing titled “Notice of Settlement of Entire Case.” The documents indicate that Janssen and Beador have agreed to a resolution, and a dismissal of the case will be filed within 45 days on an unconditional basis.
This development comes just a week after both parties requested a jury trial in a filing from November 7, where they also expressed their willingness to engage in a settlement conference. However, at that time, no date for such a conference had been set.
While the terms of the settlement have not been disclosed, the case has been a central topic on The Real Housewives of Orange County this season. In the first two parts of the season 18 reunion, which aired in early November, Beador revealed that she had offered Janssen a settlement of $70,000 in exchange for a mutual non-disparagement agreement. Beador claimed that Janssen rejected the offer, with a suggestion that his refusal stemmed from his desire to protect his public image amid the media attention surrounding the case.
Throughout the season, Beador’s narrative regarding the nature of the $75,000 payment was scrutinized by her castmates. During a cast trip, Beador seemed to confirm that the money was, in fact, a loan, despite her previous claims that it was a gift. “I did need money at the time,” Beador explained during a dinner conversation, recalling a discussion where Janssen allegedly offered her a “low-interest loan.” She added, “Well, you have money.”
When cast member Emily Simpson, a lawyer, asked if any communications indicated the transaction was a loan, Beador admitted that there was evidence supporting this, referencing a “promissory note” and confirming a related communication a few days later.
In a previous episode, Janssen made a rare appearance on camera, alongside his fiancée, to explain his legal actions. He stated that he filed the lawsuit after Beador allegedly failed to repay loans, including money given for a facelift. “I didn’t want to take legal action, but my hands were tied as I was days away from crossing the statute of limitations,” Janssen said. He also claimed to have evidence showing that Beador acknowledged the money was a loan, not a gift. “Shannon has an interesting relationship with the truth,” he remarked, referring to her statements about the nature of the transaction.
As the case draws to a close, it remains unclear exactly what terms the parties have agreed to, but the resolution marks the end of a prolonged and public legal battle.
