A California judge has denied Marilyn Manson’s latest attempt to dismiss a civil sexual assault lawsuit filed by his former personal assistant Ashley Walters, as reported by Rolling Stone.
The ruling came after Manson’s legal team argued that Walters’ allegations did not qualify for revival under California’s AB250, a law that grants a two-year lookback window for older sexual assault claims.
“Marilyn Manson lost his latest bid Friday to shut down a sexual assault lawsuit brought by his former assistant,” Rolling Stone reported. “A California judge refused to toss or trim the claims in Ashley Walters’ third amended complaint, five months after he revived the case under a new California law that gives older sexual assault claims a two-year lookback window to move forward.”
During the hearing in downtown Los Angeles, Manson’s attorney Alexa Foley attempted to argue that the alleged conduct did not meet the legal threshold for physical restraint required under the new law.
“Manson’s lawyer Alexa Foley had argued during the hearing in downtown Los Angeles that Walters’ allegations did not qualify as revivable under the new law, known as AB250,” Rolling Stone reported. “She tried in vain to convince the court that Walters couldn’t meet the standard of showing she was physically restrained during her alleged sexual assault.”
Foley elaborated on her argument, contending that the alleged restraint had ended before the alleged intimate touching occurred.
“Walters turned away when he tried to kiss her on the lips. She quickly moved away, so she’s no longer restrained at this point,” Foley said. “That’s when they allege that he came up behind her, grabbing her hand, and placing her hand in his underwear. At that point, when there is an alleged intimate touching, there’s no restraint.”
Los Angeles County Superior Court Judge Steve Cochran was unconvinced, making clear he had no intention of dismissing the case at this stage.
“What’s being alleged, as alleged, would ring that bell,” Judge Cochran said. “With allegations like this, you think I’m going to be quibbling with somebody about whether it’s sexual assault or not at the pleading stage? I’d have trouble sleeping.”
The case will now proceed, with Manson’s bid to have the lawsuit thrown out having been firmly rejected by the court.
The ruling marks the latest development in a legal battle that has stretched over several years and taken a number of significant turns before arriving at this point.
Chaos Zine reported that Walters’ initial complaint was dismissed in May 2022 after it was deemed time-barred under existing statutes. The case was only able to return to court after California enacted AB 250, which opened a new legal pathway for certain adult sexual assault claims that had previously expired under earlier deadlines. Walters filed her third amended complaint this past January, directly invoking the new law to bring her allegations back before the court.
The significance of AB 250 to the case cannot be overstated. As Law Commentary noted, Walters is “seeking to revive her sexual abuse lawsuit against the musician by invoking a newly enacted California law.” This underscores how the statute has become the central legal battleground in the dispute, rather than the underlying allegations themselves.
The Mosh noted that Manson’s defense attorney Alexa Foley specifically argued that Walters failed to meet the legal threshold required under AB 250. She contended that Walters could not demonstrate the physical restraint the law requires for a claim to be revivable. Judge Cochran’s refusal to accept that argument means the case will now be tested on its merits rather than dismissed on procedural grounds.
The lawsuit is also part of a broader legal trend in California. The PRP reported that AB 250 has enabled a wider wave of revived sexual assault litigation across the state, with Walters’ case serving as one of the more high-profile examples of the law being put to use. The statute has given plaintiffs whose claims were previously shut out of court a renewed opportunity to seek justice. Friday’s ruling suggests that courts are prepared to allow those claims to be heard.
With the dismissal bid now firmly rejected, the case against Manson is set to move forward into the next phase of litigation, keeping the rock musician’s legal troubles firmly in the spotlight.
