RHOSLC alum Monica Garcia files to appeal $35k judgment in lawsuit with ex-friend Heather Gay’s company Beauty Lab

Monica Garcia, a former cast member of The Real Housewives of Salt Lake City, has appealed a judge’s decision to provide $35,000 to her old friend Heather Gay’s business, Beauty Lab and Laser.

The U.S. Sun exclusively obtained court documents that show Monica’s lawyer filed a Notice of Appeal on November 18.

According to the one-page document, the former RHOSLCstar is appealing the case’s ruling to the Utah Supreme Court.

In a letter filed on November 19, the Supreme Court of Utah informed lawyers that the matter will be transferred to the Utah Court of Appeals and that they would need to file all future documents with the clerk of the appellate court.

The judge stated, “Failure to perfect an appeal at any time during the appeal process may result in dismissal of the appeal.”

More than a year after it was initially filed, the lawsuit appeared to be resolved on November 4 when the U.S. Sun reported that a Utah judge had approved Heather Gay’s company’s proposed verdict.

The 40-year-old Monica was ordered to pay Beauty Lab and Laser more than $35k, which includes the $2,000 principal that the company first sued for in August 2023 as well as pre-judgment interest at the rate of 18 percent annually (from February 2020 until October 2024).

Monica was also assessed a $15 late fee, $604.98 in lawsuit-related charges and fees, and $31,550 in attorney fees.

All of this added up to $35,853.60.

Additionally, as stated in the court documents, the medical spa was permitted to collect post-judgment interest at the rate of 18 percent annually until the judgment is fully met.

FIRING BACK

Larry Reed, Monica’s lawyer, previously informed The U.S. Sun that an appeal would be filed in response to the judgment. We have faith.

In records from October that The U.S. Sun was able to obtain, he contended that the plaintiff’s requested costs were wildly out of proportion to the amount at issue in this case.

The lawyer noted that the $2,000 amount of the initial complaint was only 13% of the $15,000 Small Claims cap.

Monica posted her feelings about the ruling on Instagram on November 6.

I would say that I was taken aback by the repulsive, cruel remarks made online that celebrated my collapse, but I’m not shocked at all in light of the choices being made in our society.

She stated in her Instagram story that “hatred, discrimination, and the desire to destroy and glorify in people’s pain have absolutely taken over this nation.”

She continued by saying that her girls are healthy in spite of everything that has happened and that she continues to feel incredibly thankful and fortunate for every chance that has been presented to her.

There are a lot of things going on in my life for which I am grateful and thrilled. She went on to say that, in the end, being sued is a little inconvenience.

I am neither the first nor the last housewife or celebrity to find themselves in this predicament. We have so much more to be concerned about, I assure you.

Heather has not yet released a statement or responded to the news.

EXPLOSIVE LAWSUIT

The U.S. Sun revealed exclusively in November 2023 that Heather’s business had sued Monica for breach of contract and violation of the covenant of good faith and fair dealing.

According to court documents, Monica reportedly signed a contract with the medical spa, which has two facilities in Utah, on December 10, 2019, agreeing to pay $2,449 for cosmetic injection procedures.

The documents show that Monica only made the $449 down payment and the $49 setup charge and down payment.

For the next ten months, she was expected to pay $200 per month, but she never did.

In its own words, Beauty Lab “suffered, and continues to suffer, significant losses and damages.” At trial, they asked the court to decide how much Monica should turn over, “not less than $2,000,” “plus reasonable attorney’s fees, and other remedies provided by statute or contract.”

In her reaction to the complaint filed in September 2023, Monica retaliated against Beauty Lab by submitting a counterclaim.

She filed a lawsuit against Beauty Lab for violating the company’s independent duty of care, contract, and good faith and fair dealing obligations.

She clarified that although though Beauty Lab offered to repair the damages, she didn’t keep making more payments since she felt she had “botched” injections and needed to see another “competent party to fix the damage” to her lips and nose.

According to The U.S. Sun, Monica’s counterclaim complaint was dropped on January 17 of this year because she “failed to obtain a certificate of compliance from the Division of Professional Licensing” and her claim was “time-barred by the statute of limitations.”

NO MORE HOUSEWIFE

When season four of RHOSLC debuted in September 2023, Monica made her on-screen debut.

The gang exposed her for managing the Instagram gossip account Reality Von Tease during a dramatic season finale, and she was returned home to Bermuda with the moniker of “villain.”

After being sacked, Monica did not return for the September 2024 debut of season 5.

In addition to newcomers Bronwyn Newport, Britani Bateman, and Meili Workman, the current cast consists of Lisa Barlow, Mary Cosby, Heather Gay, Angie Katsanevas, Meredith Marks, and Whitney Rose.

Whitney reportedly stirred things up and caused more controversy when she told the gang in the recently released midseason trailer that she had contacted Monica.

Bravo broadcasts new RHOSLC episodes every Wednesday at 9 p.m. ET.

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