Del Rio’s attorney claimed that the actor suffered “substantial professional and reputational harm” after he was fired from the legal drama in October.

Matlock references Billy’s absence 1 day after David Del Rio announces arbitration against CBS

Del Rio's attorney claimed that the actor suffered "substantial professional and reputational harm" after he was fired from the legal drama in October.

By Wesley Stenzel

Wesley Stenzel is a news writer at **. He began writing for EW in 2022.

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March 6, 2026 12:00 a.m. ET

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David Del Rio in 'Matlock'. Credit:

Sonja Flemming/CBS

- *Matlock* once again acknowledged the absence of Billy Martinez, who was written out of the show after actor David Del Rio was fired in October.

- Thursday's episode "The Greater Good" confirms that Billy accepted a severance package to leave the Jacobson Moore law firm.

- Del Rio's attorney announced the actor had entered arbitration against CBS Studios on Wednesday, claiming he suffered "substantial professional and reputational harm" after being fired from the show in October.

*Matlock* has seemingly sealed Billy Martinez's fate for good after actor David Del Rio was fired from the show.

In Thursday's episode "The Greater Good," Matty (Kathy Bates) and Olympia (Skye P. Marshall) are shocked when they receive word that Billy accepted a severance package to leave the Jacobson Moore law firm.

Upon learning of Billy's exit, Matty asks, "Does Sarah know?"

The ep then cuts to Sarah (Leah Lewis) telling Matty that she'd already been informed about Billy's departure.

Leah Lewis and David Del Rio in 'Matlock'.

"Yeah, I know. He called me last night," she says.

"Are you doing okay, darling?" Matty asks.

"Oh, yeah. Honestly, it's the perfect time for him to bail," Sarah responds. "I was already pivoting to Julian's team anyway." (The last few episodes of *Matlock* have seen Sarah begin assisting Julian, played by Jason Ritter, after spending the first 1.5 seasons of the show working for Olympia.)

Later in the ep, Sarah breaks down in tears as she becomes overwhelmed by the sight of Matty and Olympia palling around with Hunter (Henry Haber), a new employee assisting them on cases in Sarah and Billy's absence.

"It's just getting replaced so quickly," she tells Julian. "And then Billy leaving the way that he did — I guess I just didn't realize how important my work family is to me.

HR representative Gwen (Sarah Wright Olsen) had previously joked about eliminating Billy's job in the midseason premiere "Collateral," though she clarified that she was kidding at the time.

In that same episode, Gwen suggested that either Sarah or Billy could be removed from Jacobson Moore if one of them opted to accept a "generous severance package."

Kathy Bates in 'Matlock'.

Sonja Flemming/CBS

"The Greater Good" aired a day after Del Rio announced that he had entered arbitration against CBS Studios following his termination from the show in October. In a statement to **, the actor's attorney, Shawn Holley, said that the actor sought "to address false and misleading allegations that caused substantial professional and reputational harm."

The attorney said that Del Rio plans to "present real-time text communications and evidence that directly contradicts prior public characterizations of the interaction at issue," alleging, "This evidence was not fully considered before adverse employment action was taken."

Holley's statement concluded, "Mr. Del Rio looks forward to resolving this matter through the appropriate legal forum and has faith that a full evidentiary review will establish the truth and restore his professional reputation."

Del Rio was fired from *Matlock* in October shortly before the show's second season premiered. CBS parted ways with the actor after investigating an incident involving him, and Billy was written out of the show. EW later learned that CBS reopened its investigation into the incident, and the network ultimately stood by its decision to dismiss Del Rio.

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Del Rio had already shot several episodes that aired after his dismissal. His last appearance on the show came in the Dec. 4 episode, "Prior Bad Acts." In the following episode, the season 2 midseason finale "Call It a Christmas Gift," Billy takes a "personal day" and does not appear on screen.

In a phone conversation with Sarah, Billy explains his absence by revealing that his girlfriend, Claudia (Bella Ortiz), has had a miscarriage, suggesting that he will take a leave of absence from Jacobson Moore. Billy did not return in the show's most recent episode, the midseason premiere "Collateral," though Matty said the team has "got him covered."

Deadline Hollywood previously reported that the incident that led to Del Rio's dismissal concerned a sexual assault allegation involving Lewis; Del Rio has previously denied the allegation, according to TMZ.

Lewis has yet to comment on the situation directly, though she posted a vague statement on her Instagram Stories shortly after Del Rio's exit.

"Mom is here, we're moving forward in love and strength. I'm in good hands," the actress wrote. "Thank you to everybody for any kind of support and care. Truly, we're moving forward in strength. Key word, strength. Please, let that be the takeaway."

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Last month, Lewis celebrated *Matlock* being renewed for a third season, expressing her gratitude toward the show's executive producers as well as "to the oodles of guest stars we've had come on this show and make it SO rich every single week, and to our hard working and incredible crew that is allllways showing up with even more warmth, professionalism and creativity every season."

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