US Judges Dismiss Lawsuits Against Neil Gaiman Over Sexual Assault Allegations
Federal judges in the United States have dismissed three separate lawsuits that accused renowned British fantasy author Neil Gaiman of sexually assaulting his children's nanny in New Zealand. The legal actions, which also implicated Gaiman's wife, musician Amanda Palmer, were thrown out on jurisdictional grounds, with judges ruling that the matters should be pursued in New Zealand rather than American courts.
Details of the Lawsuits and Dismissals
Scarlett Pavlovich filed the initial lawsuit against Neil Gaiman and Amanda Palmer in Wisconsin in February 2025. She alleged that Gaiman had committed multiple sexual assaults against her while she worked as the family's nanny in 2022. On the same day, Pavlovich filed additional lawsuits against Palmer in Massachusetts and New York. Gaiman maintains a residence in northwestern Wisconsin, while Palmer lives in Massachusetts.
In May 2025, Pavlovich moved to drop the New York lawsuit against Palmer, explaining in court documents that she had filed there due to uncertainty over jurisdiction following Palmer's relocation from New York to Massachusetts. U.S. District Judge Mary Kay Vyskocil in New York City granted this request in June.
Pavlovich also dropped the portion of the Wisconsin lawsuit targeting Palmer in May. Subsequently, U.S. District Judge James Peterson in Madison dismissed the remainder of the Wisconsin case in October, explicitly stating that Pavlovich needed to pursue her claims in New Zealand. U.S. District Judge Nathaniel Gorton in Boston dismissed the Massachusetts filing on identical grounds on Friday, February 6, 2026.
Allegations and Background of the Case
In her lawsuits, Pavlovich alleged that she was 22 years old and homeless when she met Amanda Palmer in Auckland, New Zealand, in 2020. Palmer reportedly invited Pavlovich to the couple's home on Waiheke Island, where she eventually became the nanny for their son. Pavlovich claimed that Gaiman sexually assaulted her on the night they met in February 2022, with the assaults continuing thereafter.
She stated that she continued working for the couple because she was financially destitute and homeless, and Gaiman had promised to assist her writing career. According to the filings, when Pavlovich informed Palmer about the assaults, Palmer allegedly revealed that more than a dozen women had previously told her that Gaiman had sexually abused them. The assaults reportedly ceased only when Pavlovich told Palmer she was contemplating suicide.
Pavlovich further alleged that Palmer was aware of Gaiman's sexual desires and presented her to him, knowing an assault would occur. She argued that Gaiman and Palmer violated federal human trafficking prohibitions and sought at least $7 million in damages.
Responses and Legal Arguments
Neil Gaiman issued a statement following the publication of a New York magazine article in January 2025, which detailed allegations from eight women, including Pavlovich. He firmly denied ever engaging in non-consensual sexual activity with anyone. Gaiman's attorneys, in a motion to dismiss the Wisconsin lawsuit, contended that Gaiman and Pavlovich had a brief personal relationship involving consensual physical intimacy.
The motion also asserted that New Zealand police had investigated Pavlovich's assault allegations and found them meritless. Gaiman's legal team argued that the lawsuits were part of a calculated plan to smear the author's reputation and that any legal disputes should be resolved in New Zealand, not the United States.
Author Profile and Current Status
Neil Gaiman is a prolific and acclaimed author of science fiction and fantasy works. His notable novels include 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 British National Book Award, cementing his status in the literary world.
As of Monday, February 9, 2026, attorneys for Pavlovich did not respond to emails from The Associated Press seeking comment on the dismissals. Similarly, attorneys listed for Gaiman and Palmer did not respond to messages. The Associated Press maintains a policy of not identifying individuals who say they have been sexually assaulted unless they publicly identify themselves, which Pavlovich did in her interview with New York magazine.
