Judges Dismiss Lawsuits Accusing Neil Gaiman of Assault

Lawsuits filed against the 'Sandman' author and his wife in multiple U.S. states have been dismissed.

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. The lawsuits were filed by Scarlett Pavlovich in Wisconsin, Massachusetts, and New York, but have been dismissed on the grounds that the disputes should be resolved in New Zealand, where the alleged incidents took place.

Why it matters

The dismissal of these lawsuits against a high-profile author like Neil Gaiman raises questions about the challenges of pursuing legal action across international borders, as well as the difficulties victims of alleged sexual assault can face in seeking justice, especially when the accused has significant resources and influence.

The details

Scarlett Pavlovich, who was 22 years old and homeless when she met Gaiman's wife Amanda Palmer in Auckland, New Zealand in 2020, alleged that Gaiman sexually assaulted her multiple times after she became the family's nanny. Pavlovich claimed that Palmer was aware of Gaiman's 'sexual desires' and presented her to him, knowing he would assault her. However, Gaiman's attorneys argued that the relationship was consensual and that the New Zealand police found the assault allegations to be meritless.

  • The alleged assaults took place in 2022.
  • Pavlovich filed the lawsuits in Wisconsin, Massachusetts, and New York in February 2025.
  • The Wisconsin lawsuit against Gaiman was dismissed in October 2025.
  • The Massachusetts lawsuit against Palmer was dismissed on Friday.
  • The New York lawsuit against Palmer was dismissed in June 2025.

The players

Neil Gaiman

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

Amanda Palmer

Gaiman's wife, who Pavlovich alleged was aware of Gaiman's 'sexual desires' and presented Pavlovich to him.

Scarlett Pavlovich

A 22-year-old woman who was the Gaiman family's nanny in New Zealand and filed the lawsuits accusing Gaiman of sexual assault.

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What they’re saying

“Gaiman sexually assaulted her on the night they met in February 2022, she alleged in the lawsuits. The assaults continued, but she kept working for the couple because she was broke and homeless, and Gaiman had told her that he would help her writing career, according to the filings.”

— Scarlett Pavlovich (New York magazine)

“When she told Palmer about the assaults, Palmer told her that more than a dozen women had told her in the past that Gaiman had sexually abused them, according to the lawsuits.”

— Scarlett Pavlovich (New York magazine)

What’s next

The judges dismissed the lawsuits on the grounds that the disputes should be resolved in New Zealand, where the alleged incidents took place. It's unclear if Pavlovich plans to pursue the case further in New Zealand.

The takeaway

This case highlights the challenges victims of alleged sexual assault can face when pursuing legal action, especially against high-profile individuals with significant resources. The dismissal of the lawsuits on jurisdictional grounds raises questions about access to justice across international borders.