A judge has revived a lawsuit brought by a former assistant to Marilyn Manson accusing the shock rocker of sexual harassment and assault, a ruling that comes within weeks of an extension of a law allowing plaintiffs to file sexual assault cases that otherwise would be barred by time.
Los Angeles Superior Court Judge Steve Cochran handed down the decision regarding plaintiff Ashley Walters’ case on Monday. On Dec. 16, the same judge had granted Manson’s motion to dismiss the case filed in May 2021 based on a violation of the statute of limitations.
However, in October Gov. Gavin Newsom signed into law AB 250, creating a two-year window to report sexual assault claims that are past the statute of limitations. The law took effect Jan. 1 and six days later Walters moved for a revisit of the Dec. 16 dismissal ruling.
“Plaintiff moves for this court to reconsider granting defendants’ (dismissal motion) given a change in the applicable law,” Walters’ attorneys wrote in their motion.
Walters, a photographer, worked with and for Manson Records from May 2010 to October 2011 and alleged the singer sexually abused and battered her multiple times and required her to travel with drugs. She also maintained he bragged about raping women and showed her a video of himself abusing an underage girl.
Walters’ attorney said during a 2022 court hearing that her client initially repressed her memories of the alleged abuses by Manson due to post-traumatic stress disorder, but then hired an attorney and reported what happened to law enforcement when she recovered her memory in 2020. Manson also threatened to “ruin” her career and reputation, the attorney said.
A Manson attorney responded said that much of what Walters alleged was contradictory and that the evidence showed she knew the alleged abuses were wrong at the time. He also said Walters did not provide proof of any threats by Manson against her, but only that he was “bad” and “scary.”
Walters came forward along with other women who accused the singer of sexual abuse. The 57-year-old Manson’s real name is Brian Hugh Warner.