Marilyn Manson Wins Dismissal of Sexual Battery Lawsuit Filed by Former Assistant

Marilyn Manson’s former assistant’s sexual battery lawsuit has been dismissed by a Los Angeles Judge, stating that the complaint falls outside California’s statute of limitations.

A Los Angeles judge has dismissed the sexual assault and battery lawsuit filed against Marilyn Manson by his former assistant, Ashley Walters, and has vacated the trial date scheduled for next month.

Per Rolling Stone, Los Angeles County Judge Steve Cochran ruled on Tuesday that Walters’ claims against Manson, whose real name is Brian Warner, fell outside the statute of limitations and could not be revived under California’s delayed discovery rule. Walters filed the lawsuit approximately 10 years after the alleged incidents.

“We have a situation where the complaint was not filed until about 10 years after the operative events. I’m not able to find that the delayed discovery rule is applicable,” Judge Cochran stated during the morning hearing. “I don’t have the authority to rule that the delayed discovery doctrine would apply under the circumstances that exist in this case.”

In her lawsuit, Walters alleged that Warner lured her into employment in 2010, believing she would be working with the musician on an artistic photographic collaboration. According to the lawsuit, she instead would endure physical abuse, including whipping, having plates thrown at her, being pinned down and forced to touch Warner inappropriately.

The lawsuit would also include the claim that Walters witnessed the musician throwing a prop skull at his former fiancée, Evan Rachel Wood, which allegedly caused visible injury.

A lawyer for Walters has expressed that they are exploring an appeal. “We’re disappointed. We think this is the wrong decision. The delayed discovery rule is specifically to address situations where victims of sexual abuse deserve the ability to seek justice when their abuser has used tactics to prevent them from coming forward,” Walters’ lawyer, Kate McFarlane, told Rolling Stone after the hearing. “This is something we see time and time again, and it seems the law hasn’t caught up to the science and what’s right for victims. But I don’t believe this is the end of the road.”

Warner’s own lawyers would share a statement with the publication, writing: “It’s gratifying, after all these years, that a judge can just look at the facts and see that once again, Brian Warner was wrongfully accused,” Warner’s lawyer, Howard King, said after winning the motion. “It’s nice for him to get some justice, though it was at great personal cost. Now he can move on.”

Walter would step forward in 2021 along with multiple women, including Warner’s former fiancée Wood, accusing the musician of intense physical and emotional abuse. A judge dismissed Walters’ lawsuit in May 2022, finding the allegations were too old. Walters would challenge the ruling and have her lawsuit revived on appeal in 2023.

Warner has reached out-of-court settlements with several of his accusers, including actress Esmé Bianco and has dropped his previous lawsuit against Wood.

Following the news of the dismissal, Warner has announced a series of U.S. tour dates. for 2026