Lawsuits Accusing Neil Gaiman of Sexual Assault Dismissed

Federal judges rule claims against the fantasy author lack merit

Published on Feb. 10, 2026

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Federal judges have dismissed three lawsuits accusing bestselling British fantasy author Neil Gaiman of sexually assaulting his children's nanny in New Zealand four years ago. Gaiman's attorneys argued the relationship was consensual, and police in New Zealand found the assault allegations meritless.

Why it matters

The dismissal of these lawsuits against a high-profile author highlights the complexities around allegations of sexual misconduct, the challenges of proving such claims in court, and the potential for lawsuits to be used as a means of smearing public figures.

The details

Scarlett Pavlovich filed lawsuits against Gaiman and his wife, Amanda Palmer, in Wisconsin, Massachusetts, and New York, accusing Gaiman of multiple sexual assaults while she worked as the family's nanny in 2022. Gaiman's attorneys argued the relationship was brief and involved 'consensual physical intimacy', and that police in New Zealand found the assault allegations meritless. The judges dismissed the lawsuits, ruling Pavlovich needed to pursue the case in New Zealand.

  • In February 2025, Pavlovich filed a lawsuit against Gaiman and Palmer in Wisconsin.
  • In May 2025, Pavlovich dropped the portion of the Wisconsin lawsuit against Palmer.
  • In June 2025, a judge in New York City granted Pavlovich's request to drop the lawsuit against Palmer in that state.
  • In October 2025, a judge in Madison, Wisconsin dismissed the rest of the lawsuit against Gaiman.
  • On February 10, 2026, a judge in Boston threw out the Massachusetts filing against Gaiman and Palmer.

The players

Neil Gaiman

A bestselling British fantasy author known for works like 'American Gods' and 'Coraline'.

Scarlett Pavlovich

A woman who filed lawsuits accusing Gaiman of sexually assaulting her while she worked as the family's nanny in 2022.

Amanda Palmer

Gaiman's wife, who was also named in the lawsuits filed by Pavlovich.

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What they’re saying

“Gaiman released a statement after the New York magazine article was published, denying he had ever engaged in non-consensual sex with anyone.”

— Neil Gaiman (Fortune)

The takeaway

This case highlights the complexities around allegations of sexual misconduct, the challenges of proving such claims in court, and the potential for lawsuits to be used as a means of smearing public figures. The dismissal of the lawsuits against Gaiman underscores the importance of due process and the need to carefully evaluate the merits of such claims.