What Happened to John Lowe's Lawsuit Against CBS and 'Matlock' Producers?

The CBS reboot of 'Matlock', starring Kathy Bates, has faced significant legal scrutiny with a lawsuit filed by former executive story editor John Lowe on June 17, 2026. Lowe, who was hired in October 2023, alleges that the show's writers' room, under the leadership of showrunner Jennie Snyder Urman and executive producers Nicki Renna and Jeffrey Lieber, fostered a hostile work environment rife with sexually explicit and discriminatory conduct.

According to the lawsuit, Lowe, who is Black, experienced repeated racially and sexually offensive comments. Specific allegations include Urman allegedly using a racial slur to refer to Juneteenth in June 2025 after Lowe inquired about observing the holiday. Lowe claims he was verbally fired just 13 days later, in July 2025, in retaliation for reporting this incident, without written notice or justification. The complaint also details alleged sexually inappropriate comments from Snyder and Lieber regarding Lowe's clothing and shoe size, and graphic descriptions of Renna's sex life. Furthermore, Lowe claims Renna made racist and sexist remarks about Black cast member Eme Ikwuakor, stating he 'can barely read' and making a sexually explicit comment about him. Lowe also alleged that Urman coerced him into taking care of her dog for nearly a year, which he described as 'racially motivated harassment and an exercise of supervisory power designed to burden him.'

CBS Studios issued a statement in response to the lawsuit, asserting their commitment to maintaining a safe and respectful environment and taking all workplace complaints seriously. However, the studio stated that 'a thorough investigation was completed, and we were unable to find support for his allegations. We look forward to vigorously defending this lawsuit.' A source close to the network also indicated that CBS was not aware the lawsuit had been filed on June 17, 2026, and that Lowe's complaints about the workplace were made 'well after' his employment ended.

This lawsuit is not the first controversy to hit the 'Matlock' production. In late 2025, actor David Del Rio was fired following a sexual assault allegation from a co-star, Leah Lewis. Del Rio subsequently initiated arbitration against CBS Studios, arguing that evidence undermining the claims against him was not fully considered before his termination. The series, which premiered in October 2024 and was renewed for a third season, is slated for a midseason 2027 return with a significant 'reset' and time jump, a decision made by showrunner Jennie Snyder Urman to allow more development time for a new storyline. As of June 18, 2026, the lawsuit is in its initial stages, with CBS preparing its defense against Lowe's claims for unspecified compensatory and punitive damages.