A long-running civil lawsuit against Marilyn Manson has survived another attempt to have it dismissed — putting the controversial shock-rock musician back on the road towards a potential jury trial.
⚠️ CONTENT WARNING: This article discusses allegations of sexual assault and abuse.
Marilyn Manson — real name Brian Warner — is continuing to face a civil lawsuit brought by his former personal assistant Ashley Walters, after a California judge rejected the musician’s latest attempt to have the case thrown out.
And this one has already taken one hell of a journey through the American court system.
Originally filed in 2021, dismissed, revived on appeal, dismissed again and then resurrected under a new California law, the case is once again moving through the courts.
Here’s what’s occurring.
⚖️ WHAT IS THE CASE ABOUT?
Ashley Walters worked as Manson’s personal assistant around 2010 and 2011.
In her lawsuit, Walters has accused Warner of sexual assault, sexual harassment, sexual battery and emotional abuse, alongside other claims connected with her time working for him.
Warner denies the allegations.
The lawsuit was originally filed in May 2021, but its progress has been dominated by arguments surrounding California’s statute of limitations — essentially, whether too much time had passed for Walters’ claims to be pursued through the courts.
That question has resulted in the case being dismissed and revived more than once.
Yep.
The legal equivalent of a band announcing a farewell tour and then booking another one.
Except, obviously, the allegations involved here are extremely serious.
🗓️ THE CASE WAS FIRST DISMISSED IN 2022
Walters’ lawsuit initially hit a major roadblock in May 2022, when a judge dismissed the case after determining that the claims were barred by the statute of limitations.
However, Walters appealed.
In December 2023, a California appeals court reversed that decision, ruling that Walters had alleged sufficient facts at that stage for her argument involving delayed discovery to proceed.
The case was therefore sent back to the lower court. (Courthouse News)
That wasn’t the end of the legal wrangling.
Not even close.
⚖️ THEN IT WAS DISMISSED AGAIN
In December 2025, Los Angeles Superior Court Judge Steve Cochran again dismissed Walters’ case.
The dispute once more centred on whether the claims had been brought within the legally permitted timeframe.
At that point, it looked as though the years-long lawsuit might finally have reached the end of the road.
Then California law changed.
And suddenly the entire situation was back on.
🔥 CALIFORNIA’S NEW LAW CHANGED EVERYTHING
On 1 January 2026, California’s Assembly Bill 250 (AB 250) came into effect.
The legislation created a new two-year window allowing certain adult sexual-assault claims that would otherwise have been barred because of expired statutes of limitations to potentially be brought before the courts.
Walters’ lawyers subsequently asked Judge Cochran to reconsider his dismissal.
And he did.
On 26 January 2026, Cochran vacated his previous dismissal and allowed Walters’ lawsuit to proceed again.
The judge said he believed the new statute revived the claim. (The Guardian)
So after being dismissed twice during its lengthy history, the lawsuit was alive again.
🚨 MANSON TRIED AGAIN TO HAVE THE CASE THROWN OUT
Warner’s legal team wasn’t finished challenging the lawsuit.
His lawyers subsequently argued that Walters’ allegations did not satisfy the requirements necessary to proceed under the new California legislation.
But on 5 June 2026, Judge Cochran refused to dismiss or substantially trim the claims contained within Walters’ amended complaint.
The ruling means the civil case remains active and can continue through the legal process. (Rolling Stone Canada)
Warner’s lawyer Howard King indicated afterwards that the decision wasn’t unexpected and suggested the defence could challenge the case again later through a motion for summary judgment.
So while talk of a jury trial is absolutely back on the table, there are still legal stages to navigate before anyone starts picking jurors.
🎤 MARILYN MANSON DENIES THE ALLEGATIONS
This bit is important.
Warner has consistently denied committing sexual assault.
Following the January revival of Walters’ lawsuit, his lawyer Howard King said:
“The undeniable fact is that Mr. Warner never committed any sexual assault.”
His legal team has maintained that Walters’ claims will ultimately fail. (The Guardian)
Walters’ lawyers, meanwhile, welcomed the decision allowing the lawsuit to continue and have maintained that their client should be permitted to pursue her allegations through the courts. (Rolling Stone Canada)
None of the allegations in this civil lawsuit should be treated as proven fact unless and until they are established through the legal process.
⚠️ WHAT ABOUT THE CRIMINAL INVESTIGATION?
There’s another important distinction here.
This is a civil lawsuit, not a criminal prosecution.
In January 2025, the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office announced that it would not file criminal charges against Warner following a four-year investigation into allegations of domestic violence and sexual assault.
Prosecutors said allegations of domestic violence fell outside the statute of limitations and that they could not prove sexual-assault charges beyond a reasonable doubt. (Los Angeles County DA)
That decision is separate from Walters’ civil lawsuit.
Different proceedings.
Different legal standards.
And, thanks to California’s newer legislation, Walters’ civil claim has been able to continue despite its previous dismissal.
⚖️ SO IS MARILYN MANSON DEFINITELY GOING TO TRIAL?
Not necessarily — but the possibility of a jury trial is very much alive.
The latest ruling doesn’t mean Walters has won her case.
It doesn’t mean Warner has been found liable.
It means the court has allowed the lawsuit to continue rather than dismissing it at this stage.
Further motions could still be filed, and civil cases can also potentially be settled before reaching trial.
But after years of appeals, dismissals and legal arguments, Walters’ lawsuit remains standing.
And that’s significant.
🎸 THE RIFF REPORT VERDICT
This isn’t a story where we’re picking teams, chucking devil horns around or turning serious allegations into rock-star gossip.
There are allegations of sexual assault at the centre of this case, they’re being contested, and ultimately the courtroom is where the evidence needs to be tested.
What makes the case particularly notable from a legal perspective is the extraordinary route it’s taken.
Filed in 2021.
Dismissed in 2022.
Revived on appeal in 2023.
Dismissed again in December 2025.
Revived again in January 2026 following a change in California law.
Another dismissal attempt rejected in June 2026.
That’s quite the legal timeline, mun.
For now, Marilyn Manson continues to deny the allegations, Ashley Walters continues to pursue her civil claims, and the lawsuit continues moving through the California court system.
Whatever happens next, we’ll stick to the court record and confirmed developments rather than the social-media rumour mill.
Because when allegations are this serious, facts matter more than clicks.
🤘 The Riff Report — Proudly Welsh. Proudly Loud. Zero Apologies.
