A Wisconsin judge has dismissed the lawsuit filed by Scarlett Pavlovich against Neil Gaiman and his estranged spouse Amanda Palmer, with charges including human trafficking, assault and battery, infliction of emotional distress, and negligence, on procedural grounds.
The judge writes that while “Pavlovich’s allegations are serious and disturbing… the issue before the court is not whether Pavlovich’s allegations are true.” Gaiman has asserted that the case does not belong in the US, but rather in New Zealand, where the alleged acts occurred and where Pavlovich is a citizen, and that the relevant provisions of the Trafficking Victims Protection Act do not apply to extraterritorial conduct. The judge’s reasoning aligns with the first assertion:
The only connection that Wisconsin or the United States has with this lawsuit is that Gaiman has a residence in this state and he may live here currently. […] Under these circumstances, it is clear that New Zealand is the more appropriate forum for resolving this dispute, so the court will dismiss the case without prejudice. If Pavlovich sues Gaiman in New Zealand, and he refuses to accept service there, Pavlovich may move to reopen this case.
Pavlovich’s legal complaint has been previously covered. For more information on the judge’s decision, see the full court document.
