Status: LAWSUIT DISMISSED
This case really got messy. Five orphaned Higgins siblings who appeared alongside their foster family, the Leomitis, on Extreme Makeover later sued ABC, the production companies, and the Leomiti family. Probably should have led with this: the whole situation was complicated from the start.
The Original Episode
The episode featured Phil and Loki Leomiti taking in five orphaned children, Charles Higgins and his four siblings, after their parents died. The show built a nine-bedroom mansion for the newly formed family.
The Allegations
The five children, ranging in age from 15 to 22, claimed that after the show aired, the Leomitis engaged in “an orchestrated campaign” to drive them out of the home. They alleged the foster family used them to get on the show, then wanted them gone.
Legal Outcome
A Los Angeles judge dismissed the case against ABC Television, ruling the siblings had failed to prove their claims against ABC, the production companies, and the builder. As someone who follows these cases, the Higgins situation highlighted the show’s vetting challenges and the complexity of family dynamics. That’s what makes blended family episodes particularly tricky and cautionary for us viewers.
Last verified: January 2026
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