You might have already made the right guess that this Reza Branson lawsuit is all about the famous magician in the area, but right now, he is going through a nasty legal mess against him and this is what this case is all about. For those who are hearing about this case for the very first time, then you must be feeling a bit confused about the details that are spread so far on the internet, but worry not, we’re here to clear things up. So let’s just get to the details of it all.
Who Is Reza Borchardt?
Reza Borchardt, who goes by the stage name Reza the Illusionist, is a well-known Branson, Missouri area magician. He’s been performing his show “Reza – Edge of Illusion” in Branson for quite some time. If you’ve ever made it to Branson, then you’re probably familiar with his work, like his advertisements, flyers, or shows might have caught your eye.
However, under the brilliant stage lights and magic, there have been some very serious accusations made against him. Formerly, two of his teenage employees, who are now women, have alleged that he had sexually inappropriate conduct, that he groomed them, and that there was more.
What Are the Allegations?
In a legal filing, it was reported that two girls of 17 years (Katie Van De Carr and Jayden Harris) who were involved with Reza’s program, have made the following allegations against him:
- Sending explicit messages via Snapchat and Instagram
- Sharing inappropriate photos and videos
- Threatening to fire them if they didn’t comply
- Spreading negative rumors about them at work
- Acting possessive, even tracking their phones
- Deleting data from their personal devices
During these events, Reza’s age was said to be approximately 36 years. The complaint alleges that the mentioned conduct was not only unprofessional but also illegal and abusive.
Where and When Was the Lawsuit Filed?
The legal action was initiated in Taney County, Missouri, and the case is about one person, namely Reza, and several companies connected to his program. These include:
- Skyline Entertainment
- Branson Theatre
- Gracie Gray Entertainment
- State Farm Insurance
The primary contention is that these corporations were careless, they had knowledge or ought to have known about Reza’s conduct, and they did not do the right thing to ensure the safety of the employees.
What About the $5 Million Settlement?
Earlier this year, a settlement was reportedly agreed upon. Here’s the breakdown:
- $3 million to Katie Van De Carr
- $2 million to Jayden Harris
Reza’s team actually handed the NDAs to the women, hoping that they would keep quiet about the case, prior to the payments being made. It was mentioned that an additional $50,000 would be given as part of the deal. On the other hand, both women declined to sign.
Why? It is due to a new law in Missouri, Trey’s Law, that prohibits NDAs in situations where child sexual abuse is involved. Legally, these women were not required to keep the information even if they had consented to an NDA because, according to that statute, they were free to talk. Hence, the NDAs did not have any legal power.
Reza’s team didn’t proceed with the payment after the denial. Consequently, a legal action was initiated again; this time, the case was a breach of contract due to the non-fulfillment of the agreed settlement.
And What About Now?
Well, many of you may be a little shocked by the fact that Reza is still performing. But other than that, there were some sketchy details that came out from this case, like the time when Reza’s team tried to hide the court files from the public. Why? Well, only he and his team know what possible advantage they could get from doing that.
