Los Angeles County judge has once again dismissed the sexual assault and battery lawsuit filed against rocker Marilyn Manson (born Brian Warner) by his former personal assistant, Ashley Walters, just weeks before it was scheduled to go to trial.
The case, first filed in 2021, alleged that Walters endured sexual harassment, assault, battery, and emotional distress while working for Manson from 2010 to 2011. However, Los Angeles County Judge Steve Cochran ruled that Walters’ claims were barred by California’s statute of limitations because the complaint was not filed until nearly a decade after the alleged events occurred. The judge also declined to apply the delayed discovery rule, a legal doctrine that can extend filing deadlines when alleged trauma prevents earlier reporting.
This marks the second time the lawsuit has been dismissed on statute‑of‑limitations grounds. After its initial dismissal in 2022, an appeals court revived the case in late 2023, allowing it to proceed to discovery and eventual trial preparation — until this latest ruling.
Walters’ legal team, led by attorney Kate McFarlane, expressed disappointment with the judge’s decision and indicated plans to seek another appeal, arguing that the delayed discovery rule should apply because of trauma‑related memory suppression.
Manson’s attorney, Howard King, welcomed the ruling, saying it reaffirmed that the claims were time‑barred and offered the musician a chance to move forward without the lingering legal matter.
This dismissal comes amid a broader backdrop of legal battles and allegations involving Manson over the past several years. Following a years‑long investigation by the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department into multiple claims, prosecutors announced in January 2025 that criminal charges would not be filed due to statute‑of‑limitations constraints and insufficient evidence.
Over time, other civil suits — including those brought by actresses and models alleging abuse — have either been settled out of court or dismissed. Manson also recently dropped a defamation lawsuit against actress Evan Rachel Wood and agreed to pay legal fees.
As it stands, the dismissal of Walters’ lawsuit removes a major civil claim from Manson’s docket, though his accuser’s legal team plans to continue exploring options to challenge the ruling.