Federal Judges Dismiss Lawsuits Accusing Neil Gaiman of Sexual Assault

Lawsuits filed in the U.S. against the bestselling fantasy author were dismissed, with courts saying the disputes should be resolved in New Zealand.

Published on Feb. 9, 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. The lawsuits were filed in Wisconsin, Massachusetts, and New York by Scarlett Pavlovich, who alleged that Gaiman sexually assaulted her while she worked as the family's nanny in 2022. The courts ruled that the disputes should be resolved in New Zealand, where the alleged incidents took place.

Why it matters

This case highlights the complex jurisdictional issues that can arise when allegations of sexual assault occur across international borders. The courts determined that the appropriate venue for resolving these claims is in New Zealand, where the alleged incidents took place, rather than in the United States where the lawsuits were filed.

The details

Scarlett Pavlovich filed lawsuits against Gaiman and his wife, Amanda Palmer, accusing Gaiman of multiple sexual assaults while she worked as the family's nanny in New Zealand in 2022. Pavlovich alleged that when she told Palmer about the assaults, Palmer told her that more than a dozen women had previously told her that Gaiman had sexually abused them. Gaiman's attorneys argued that Pavlovich and Gaiman had a brief consensual relationship, and that the New Zealand police investigation found the assault allegations to be meritless.

  • In February 2025, Pavlovich filed a lawsuit against Gaiman and Palmer in Wisconsin.
  • On the same day, Pavlovich also filed lawsuits against Palmer in Massachusetts and New York.
  • In May 2025, Pavlovich dropped the portion of the Wisconsin lawsuit against Palmer.
  • In October 2025, U.S. District Judge James Peterson in Madison dismissed the rest of the Wisconsin lawsuit, saying Pavlovich needed to pursue the case in New Zealand.
  • On Friday, U.S. District Judge Nathaniel Gorton in Boston threw out the Massachusetts filing on the same grounds.

The players

Neil Gaiman

A bestselling British fantasy author known for works like "American Gods," "The Graveyard Book," and "Coraline".

Scarlett Pavlovich

A woman who filed lawsuits accusing Gaiman of sexually assaulting her while she worked as the family's nanny in New Zealand 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 (AP)

What’s next

The courts have determined that any further legal disputes related to these allegations should be resolved in New Zealand, where the alleged incidents took place.

The takeaway

This case highlights the complexities that can arise when allegations of sexual assault occur across international borders, and the importance of determining the appropriate jurisdiction for resolving such disputes.