On January 26, the Los Angeles Superior Court revived the lawsuit of Ashley Walters against Brian Warner, known publicly as Marily Manson. Ms. Walters is represented by HSRD attorneys Dan Stormer, Kate McFarlane, and Bina Ahmad, and Valli Kane & Vagnini (VK&V) attorneys Robert Valli, Jr., James Vagnini and Sara Kane.
Mr. Warner hired Ms. Walters in 2010 as his personal assistant but repeatedly subjected her to extreme and repeated acts of physical, emotional, and sexual abuse. Ms. Walters sued Mr. Warner in 2021 for claims including sexual assault and battery.
The trial court dismissed Ms. Walter’s case in December 2025 but reinstated it on January 26, 2026, due to the passage of Assembly Bill 250, which extends the statute of limitations for adult sexual assault claims. With the benefit of this new law, abusers like Mr. Warner will finally have to answer for their conduct in a court of law.
HSRD attorney Kate McFarlane said, “We are thrilled for Ms. Walters. She has never given up fighting for justice. She has had to overcome so many obstacles, as so many survivors are forced to do.”
HSRD attorney Bina Ahmad added, “Mr. Warner has tried time and again to avoid accountability for his abuse against Ms. Walters. But now, thanks to AB 250, abusers like Mr. Warner can no longer hide behind the statute of limitations. We look forward to continuing the fight for Ms. Walters until Mr. Warner finally answers for his abuse.”
Read the press release here
Read the Complaint here
Read some of the press coverage of this victory:
- Rolling Stone, Marilyn Manson Accuser Seeks Revival of Claims Based on New California Law
- Deadline, Marilyn Manson Sexual Assault Case From Former Assistant Revived Because of New California Law
- Entertainment Weekly, Marilyn Manson Sexual Assault Lawsuit Revived by New California Law
- Billboard, Marilyn Manson’s Ex-Assistant Successfully Revives Sex Abuse Lawsuit Against Rocker (Again)
- Pitchfork, Marilyn Manson Sexual Assault Suit from Ex-Assistant Revived
- The Express Tribune, Marilyn Manson Sexual Assault Case Returns As Court Reopens Lawsuit
- Yahoo Entertainment, Dismissal Reversed in Ashley Walters’ Lawsuit Against Marilyn Manson
- My News LA, Judge Reinstates Assistant’s Sexual Harassment Against Marilyn Manson
- Men’s Journal, Marilyn Manson’s Sexual Assault Lawsuit to be Reconsidered in Court
- Blunt, Marilyn Manson Faces Revived Lawsuit Under New California Law
- Tone Deaf, Marilyn Manson Sexual Assault Lawsuit Revived Under New California Law