US Judges Dismiss Sexual Assault Lawsuits Against Author Neil Gaiman
Federal judges in the United States have dismissed three lawsuits that accused the bestselling fantasy author Neil Gaiman of sexually assaulting his children's nanny in New Zealand four years ago. The legal actions were filed by former nanny Scarlett Pavlovich, who alleged multiple assaults occurred in 2022 while she worked for Gaiman and his wife, Amanda Palmer.
Details of the Lawsuits and Dismissals
Scarlett Pavlovich initiated lawsuits against Gaiman and Palmer in three different states. In February 2025, she filed a lawsuit in Wisconsin, accusing Gaiman of sexual assault. On the same day, she filed separate lawsuits against Palmer in Massachusetts and New York. Pavlovich later moved to drop the New York lawsuit against Palmer in May 2025, explaining in court documents that she was uncertain about jurisdiction due to Palmer's recent relocation from New York to Massachusetts. US District Judge Mary Kay Vyskocil in New York granted this request in June.
In May, Pavlovich also dropped the portion of the Wisconsin lawsuit targeting Palmer. Subsequently, US District Judge James Peterson in Madison dismissed the remainder of the Wisconsin case in October, stating that Pavlovich needed to pursue the matter in New Zealand, where the alleged incidents occurred. Similarly, US District Judge Nathaniel Gorton in Boston threw out the Massachusetts filing on Friday, citing the same jurisdictional grounds.
Allegations and Responses
Pavlovich's lawsuits detailed that she was 22 and homeless when she met Palmer in Auckland in 2020. According to the filings, Palmer invited her to the couple's home on Waiheke Island, where she eventually became their son's nanny. Pavlovich alleged that Gaiman sexually assaulted her on the night they met in February 2022, with the assaults continuing thereafter. She claimed she continued working for the couple because she was financially destitute and homeless, and Gaiman had promised to assist her writing career.
The lawsuits further asserted that when Pavlovich informed Palmer about the assaults, Palmer reportedly told her that more than a dozen women had previously accused Gaiman of sexual abuse. The assaults allegedly ceased only when Pavlovich threatened suicide. Pavlovich also accused Palmer of knowingly presenting her to Gaiman, aware of his sexual desires, and argued that both violated federal human trafficking prohibitions, seeking at least $7 million in damages.
In response, Gaiman released a statement after a New York magazine article published in January 2025 detailed allegations from eight women, including Pavlovich. He denied ever engaging in non-consensual sex. His attorneys argued in a motion to dismiss the Wisconsin lawsuit that Gaiman and Pavlovich had a brief personal relationship involving consensual physical intimacy. They also noted that New Zealand police had investigated the assault allegations and found them meritless, suggesting the lawsuits were part of a smear campaign and should be resolved in New Zealand.
Background and Impact
Neil Gaiman is a renowned author of science fiction and fantasy works, including novels such as American Gods, The Graveyard Book, Anansi Boys, and the dark children's fairy tale Coraline. His 2013 novel, The Ocean at the End of the Lane, won the National Book Award in Britain. The Associated Press reported that attorneys for Pavlovich, Gaiman, and Palmer did not respond to requests for comment on Monday. The AP typically does not identify individuals who claim to have been sexually assaulted unless they publicly identify themselves, as Pavlovich did in her interview with New York magazine.
This case highlights complex jurisdictional issues in international legal disputes and raises questions about the handling of sexual assault allegations involving high-profile figures. The dismissals by US judges underscore the challenges plaintiffs may face when pursuing cases across borders, particularly when events occur in foreign countries like New Zealand.
