- "On the real, I'm ashamed of what I did, of course, but I'm I'm pissed, too. I'm their mother but they won't even look me in the eye."
Raul Hargrove v. Soraya Hargorve was a divorce and custody battle for Nico and Grace Hargrove, the children of the former married couple Raul and Soraya.
Case[]
Season 3[]
In an AA meeting, Soraya told her story of how a year ago she picked up her children from their nanny while drunk driving, then pulled over with the car running and fell asleep, causing Nico to wave down help. Her husband Raul filed for custody the next day. At the time of the meeting she was seeing her children twice a week in supervised visits. Annalise, who was in the meeting, felt for her. The next day, Annalise gave Soraya Nina Horton's phone number, a prominent family attorney in Philadelphia. Soraya said there was no need because she and her husband at the time were trying to work things out but took the number anyway. ("Call It Mother's Intuition")
The next day, Soraya called Annalise to her office to show her that Raul had served her divorce papers. He wanted full custody of their children, their house, spousal support and said that if Soraya didn't comply he would take things publicly, which would ruin Soraya's reputation. Annalise was confused because she had given her Nina Horton's number, so Soraya explained that Nina said the fact she plead guilty to reckless endangerment of her children made it nearly impossible to challenge anything. Annalise questioned why Soraya pled guilty and she said it was to keep the file sealed and prevent the university board from finding out. Annalise said she would read over the divorce papers and get back to her.
On the same day Wes testified against Charles Mahoney, Soraya and Annalise met again. Annalise told her it was a 'loser case' but said there was a way to fix it, by appealing the child-endangerment plea. Soraya said her alcohol level was incredibly high and that it would be impossible. Annalise gave her a pep talk and then offered to take the case. A week or so later Annalise is arrested and charged with arson and first degree murder, so she never represented Soraya at the time like she said she would. ("No More Blood", "Who's Dead?")
While Annalise is in prison, Soraya visited her to offer support. When Annalise is on bail, Soraya rang her to congratulate and offer support. The two then met up at a cafe where Annalise put it together that Atwood was working with Soraya. She came clean, saying that Atwood promised custody of her children if she got Annalise to talk. Annalise left following that. ("It's War")
Season 4[]
Annalise began work on her class action lawsuit, being inspired to take one on after working on Jasmine Bromelle's appeal and Ben Carter's retrial. She was in need of money to fund her work and stopped Soraya on campus to ask her to be hired on the divorce case. Soraya was hesitant and said a mediation was already scheduled, saying both her and Raul wanted to settle. Annalise told her she wouldn't have to fire her lawyer, she could consult and if she got Soraya a better deal, she got paid instead. Soraya agreed.
At Caplan & Gold, Michaela and Tegan were talking in the elevator and Tegan said that the firm was trying to get Middleton University as a client and the first step was impressing Presdent Hargrove. They then made it to the conference room and Tegan introduced Michaela to Soraya. The two had already met after Wes' death when Michaela lectured her and defended Annalise. Once Tegan realised that Annalise was becoming co-councel, she pulled Soraya aside to tell her it was against policy to take on new counsel without vetting them. Soraya said that she vetted Annalise.
Once Raul and his lawyer Barry Thompson arrived, the mediation began. Raul wanted $6 million and Tegan said it was extortionate. Barry said that Soraya's net worth was nearly $10 million, implying that $6 million was a fair ask. Tegan replied that her net worth was why she had Raul sign a prenup, and Raul rhetorically asked where in the prenup it stated that Soraya could 'drink herself stupid and endanger the lives of [their] children'. Annalise told Raul he would be served a defamation suit if he spoke to Soraya again. Barry clarified that Raul had upped his ask due to the serve emotional distress he suffered as a result of Soraya's alcoholism. and that he had to seek counselling. Annalise and Tegan continued to argue back, causing Barry to draw from his briefcase an affidavit listing every instance of Soraya's intoxication over the marriage. He said that the $6 millon was to be agreed to by the next day or the affidavit would be filed with the court in an effort to gain sole custody of their children. Annalise called it hearsay so Barry handed them a USB stick with a video of Soraya drunk in the children's bathroom.
Once the two left, Soraya explained the video was the first night Raul brought up getting a divorce. Tegan said they couldn't let the affidavit be filed with the court because the university could see it and Soraya got annoyed and said Michaela shouldn't be there. She said that attorney client privilege applied to her as well. Soraya asked what to do and Annalise suggested a countersuit because Soraya didn't know she was being recorded, making it an invasion of privacy. Tegan said that wouldn't work because they're married so Annalise said they could add voyeurism. Michaela said a voyeurism charge would require arousal or sexual gratification, so Annalise asked what their idea was unless plan was to write a $6 million dollar cheque. Tegan said they needed to 'take a beat' and Annalise disagreed saying they needed to hit back. Soraya said she didn't care about her reputation she just wanted her children, so Annalise told her they needed to fight.
Later, Annalise was heading out to meet with Isaac Roa for therapy and told Tegan that she emailed her a draft of the countersuit. She said that a second set of eyes wouldn't hurt but Tegan asked Michaela if there was any reason she would help on a lawsuit she disagreed with, and Michaela said no. On her way out, Michaela stopped Annalise and gave her Barry Thompson's email address, saying Tegan wanted to get the pleadings to him by 5pm that day. Annalise told Michaela to tell Tegan she didn't take orders from her.
In the waiting area of Isaac's office, Annalise wrote an email to Barry Thompson, attaching the countersuit. She sent the email to Barry Lewiston, the Middleton board member, instead. At the same time she was on the phone with the records office at the courthouse, requesting transcripts for every Virginia Cross case. During her session with Isaac, her phone kept ringing and she eventually picked it up and Michaela told her that she emailed the wrong Barry. Annalise rushed back to Caplan & Gold to find Soraya on the phone with Barry Lewiston trying to salvage her job. After the call, she started shouting at Annalise before things calmed down and the two had a brief heart to heart that ended with Annalise saying she would fix the situation she caused. She call Barry that night and the next day to no answer. Isaac then emailed her his monthly progress report which caused her to have a revelation.
She went to Caplan & Gold and told Tegan, Michaela and Soraya that they needed to subpoena Raul's therapist notes because if he was claiming emotional damage his therapist notes could prove that. Tegan met with the judge and the subpoena was granted so Michaela and the interns at Caplan & Gold went through Raul's therapist notes until somebody found something. Once somebody did, Michaela took it to the team and said that Raul was cheating on Soraya. 'Patient mentioned meeting a friend name Sue for dinner. He said they spoke about preparing for the future, despite him still being married. He refused to answer any more about Sue upon further questioning.' Tegan said they could use that to counter back with an adultery allegation but Soraya said that Sue was their money manager. Annalise and Tegan put it together that Raul was illegally hiding his assets before filing for divorce. They presented their evidence for this which caused Raul to cave and ask Soraya what she wanted. She replied joint custody with a $1 million settlemet which was agreed to. ("Was She Ever Good at Her Job?")
See also[]
- Timeline
- Murder of Wallace Mahoney
- Annalise Arson and Murder Case
- Jasmine Bromelle Appeal
- Ben Carter Retrial
Mentioned[]
| Season 3 | |||||||||||
| "We're Good People Now" | "There Are Worse Things Than Murder" | "Always Bet Black" | "Don't Tell Annalise" | ||||||||
| "It's About Frank" | "Is Someone Really Dead?" | "Call It Mother's Intuition" | "No More Blood" | ||||||||
| "Who's Dead?" | "We're Bad People" | "Not Everything's About Annalise" | "Go Cry Somewhere Else" | ||||||||
| "It's War" | "He Made a Terrible Mistake" | "Wes" |
Appearances[]
| Season 4 | |||||||||||
| "I'm Going Away" | "I'm Not Her" | "It's for the Greater Good" | "Was She Ever Good at Her Job?" | ||||||||
| "I Love Her" | "Stay Strong, Mama" | "Nobody Roots for Goliath" | "Live. Live. Live." | ||||||||
| "He's Dead" | "Everything We Did Was For Nothing" | "He's a Bad Father" | "Ask Him About Stella" | ||||||||
| "Lahey v. Commonwealth of Pennsylvania" | "The Day Before He Died" | "Nobody Else Is Dying" |