British renowned author Neil Gaiman faces a lawsuit on Monday from Scarlett Pavlovich, who alleged that he has repeatedly sexually assaulted and trafficked her. According to reports, the lawsuit, filed in the federal court in Wisconsin, includes Gaiman’s estranged wife, Amanda Palmer, saying she knew or should have known that she placed Pavlovich in harm’s way.
Pavlovich, who claims she suffered through months of abuse while working as a live-in nanny for the couple on Waiheke Island, New Zealand, reports that Gaiman committed a pattern of acts of sexual violence, coercion, and psychological manipulation. Pavlovich claims to have been in an economically coerced relationship, fearing homelessness had she tried to leave.
The complaint further alleges negligence against Palmer for failure to advise Pavlovich of Gaiman’s purported history of misbehavior. Court papers indicate that Palmer was aware of the risks but proceeded to facilitate Pavlovich’s employment at Gaiman’s residence.
Gaiman denied all the accusations and maintained that he had never entered into non-consensual sexual activities. He posted a message on his website in which he admitted personal failures in the past but said that accusations against him were either false or misrepresented.
The case has received a lot of attention since other women have recently made similar accusations against him in a New York Magazine exposé. The lawsuit is for over $1 million in damages and emotional and psychological distress suffered by Pavlovich. According to legal experts, the case could spell disaster for Gaiman’s career as major publishers and production studios shun the beleaguered writer.
Further and even clearer uncovering of the accusations is expected in court proceedings as the legal battle continues. The next few months promise a lot as the two parties prepare their cases.
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