MADISON, Wis. (AP) — A girl from New Zealand has filed three civil lawsuits towards best-selling British creator Neil Gaiman and his spouse, accusing Gaiman of repeatedly sexually assaulting her whereas she was working because the couple’s babysitter and nanny.
Scarlett Pavlovich filed the lawsuits in federal court docket in Wisconsin, Massachusetts and New York on Monday.
The Related Press doesn’t determine individuals who say they’ve been sexually assaulted until they publicly determine themselves. Pavlovich recognized herself in an interview with New York Journal, which revealed an article in January detailing allegations of assault, abuse and coercion leveled by eight girls.
Pavlovich alleges within the lawsuits that she was homeless and dwelling on a seaside when she met Palmer in Auckland, New Zealand, in 2020. Pavlovich was 22 years previous on the time.
In keeping with the lawsuits, Gaiman’s spouse, Amanda Palmer, invited Pavlovich to the couple’s house on Waiheke Island. Pavlovich started working errands for the couple, babysitting their son and serving to with chores, ultimately turning into the couple’s nanny.
Gaiman first sexually assaulted her the night time they met in February 2022, in line with the lawsuits. The assaults continued however she saved working for the couple as a result of she was broke and homeless and Gaiman had informed her he would assist her writing profession, in line with the lawsuits.
When she informed Palmer in regards to the assaults, Palmer informed her that greater than a dozen girls had informed her prior to now that Gaiman had sexually abused them, in line with the lawsuits.
The assaults didn’t cease till Pavlovich informed Palmer she was going to kill herself, the lawsuits stated. She left the household and have become homeless once more, though the paperwork say Gaiman ultimately paid her for her work caring for the couple’s youngster and helped cowl her lease for just a few months.
Palmer knew of Gaiman’s sexual wishes and offered Pavalovich to him understanding he would assault her, in accordance the lawsuits. Pavlovich alleges Gaiman and Palmer violated federal human trafficking prohibitions and seeks not less than $7 million in damages.
After the New York Journal article was revealed, Gaiman launched a press release in January denying he had ever engaged in non-consensual intercourse. The allegations of 4 of the ladies have been beforehand broadcast in July in a Tortoise Media podcast.
“I’m far from a perfect person, but I have never engaged in non-consensual sexual activity with anyone. Ever,” Gaiman posted on the social media platform Tumblr.
Representatives for Gaiman and Palmer didn’t instantly reply to requests for remark Monday and on-line court docket information didn’t listing attorneys representing them within the fits. Pavlovich’s attorneys said within the filings that Gaiman, creator of such bestsellers as “Coraline” and “The Sandman” collection, is a resident of Menomonie, Wisconsin. However they’re uncertain if Palmer resides in Massachusetts or New York.
Pavlovich informed New York Journal that she filed a police report in January 2023 accusing Gaiman of sexual assault. Police haven’t confirmed whether or not Gaiman was ever underneath investigation.
Gaiman has labored with quite a few publishers over time. Two of them, HarperCollins and W.W. Norton, have stated they don’t have any plans to launch his books sooner or later. Others, together with Bloomsbury, have to this point declined remark.
Darkish Horse Comics introduced in January that it might now not launch its illustrated collection based mostly on Gaiman’s novel, “Anansi Boys.” The seventh of eight editions was launched earlier that month.
Disney has paused a deliberate adaptation of Gaiman’s “The Graveyard Book,” whereas Netflix remains to be scheduled to launch a second season based mostly on “The Sandman.”
