Court Rulings Dismiss Lawsuits Against Author Neil Gaiman

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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. The nanny, Scarlett Pavlovich, filed suits against Gaiman and his wife Amanda Palmer in Wisconsin, Massachusetts, and New York, but the courts ruled the cases must be pursued in New Zealand, where the alleged incidents took place.

Why it matters

This case highlights the challenges victims can face in seeking justice, especially when alleged crimes occur across international borders. The dismissals suggest the U.S. legal system may be reluctant to take on cases against high-profile public figures like Gaiman, leaving victims with limited options to hold their alleged abusers accountable.

The details

Pavlovich filed the lawsuits in 2025, accusing Gaiman of multiple sexual assaults while she worked as the family's nanny in 2022. The courts ruled the cases must be pursued in New Zealand, where the alleged incidents took place, rather than in the U.S. states where Gaiman and Palmer reside. Pavlovich has since dropped the lawsuits.

• Pavlovich filed the lawsuits in February 2025.
• The New York lawsuit against Palmer was dismissed in June 2025.
• The Wisconsin lawsuit against Palmer was dismissed in May 2025.
• The remaining portion of the Wisconsin lawsuit against Gaiman was dismissed in October 2025.
• The Massachusetts lawsuit against Palmer was dismissed in February 2026.