Tag Archives: lawsuit

A Judge Has Dismissed a Second Sexual Assault and Human Trafficking Case Against Marilyn Manson

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TW for DV, sexual abuse, etc.

If you or someone you know has been impacted by sexual misconduct, you can reach out for support:
RAINN Hotline
1-800-656-HOPE (4673)
http://www.rainn.org

According to a published report from Consequence of Sound the second lawsuit out of a dozen-plus cases of Sexual Assault, harassment, abuse, human trafficking, threatening witnesses, and other allegations against embattled musician and actor Marliyn Manson has been dismissed. Model Ashley Morgan Smithline had accused Manson, a.k.a. Brian Warner of sexual assault, human trafficking, and unlawful imprisonment. Smithline’s attorney Jay Ellwanger withdrew his representation in October, Judge Fernando L. Aenlle-Rocha gave Smithline a 90-day window to either hire a new attorney or decide to represent herself. She did neither by the December 5th deadline, prompting Aenlle-Rocha to dismiss the case without prejudice late Tuesday. This follows the report last years’ case brought by ex-Manson personal assistant Ashley Walters for “sexual assault, battery, and harassment” which was dismissed by a judge. According to CBS News, that case was dismissed by Los Angeles Superior Court Judge Michael Stern on the grounds of Walters waiting too long to file the lawsuit and failing to prove why the statute of limitations should be overlooked. This developemnt is the latest in the saga that has carried on multiple years, with many facets of investigations by the LA County Sherrifs office, allegations by over a dozen accuseers, lawsuits, counter-suits by Manson, and Manson’s former parter Evan Rachel Wood’s bombshell documentary with allegations of rape, sexual abuse, torture in her documetary –  Phoenix Rising which debuted on HBO on March 15th, 2022. Manson’s countersuits are on-going. Manson’s attorney commented on the dismissal of claims in the Smithline case below.Continue reading →


Metallica Loses Their Legal Case Against Lloyd’s Of London Over Losses From Their Postponed South American Tour

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According to a report by Billboard, a California judge has ruled that Lloyd’s Of London is not liable to cover Metallica’s insurance claim for financial losses suffered when the band was forced to postpone six shows in 2020 because of the pandemic. The lawsuit stemmed from the cancelation of Metallica’s six-date tour of South America in April 2020 with Greta Van Fleet. Due to late 2020 COVID-19-related travel restrictions, the band postponed the dates. They would rebook and complete this tour in December of 2021. 

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Cro-Mags Founder Harley Flanagan Sues Former Bandmate John Joseph Over 2019 New York City Show

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Cro-Mags founder Harley Flanagan and current trademark holder has filed a lawsuit against his former bandmate John Joseph McGowan (a.k.a. John Joseph, John Bloodclot) for allegedly ripping off the group’s name. According to a published report from the New York Post and Blabbermouth.net, the federal trademark infringement lawsuit, filed on Monday by Savoia NYC Inc., which is owned by Flanagan, claims that McGowan used the name “Cro-Mags Jam” in violation of a 2019 settlement agreement giving Flanagan the rights to the Cro-Mags name. The suit alleges McGowan used “Cro-Mags Jam” to promote an April 23rd, 2019 benefit concert in the East Village’s Tompkins Square Park, causing confusion about who was actually performing, according to the filing. Just prior to that concert the two parties came to an agreement in which Flannagan retained the name, logos and all legal rights to release music as Cro-Mags, while Joseph and  Mackie Jason were to operate under Cro-Mags “JM.” Flannigan released an album – In The Beginning, and an EP, 2020,  via the Mission Two Entertainment label in 2020.  Continue reading →


A Judge Has Tossed Out The Sexual Battery and Harassment Case Against Marilyn Manson Brought By His Former Assistant

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TW for DV, and sexual abuse.

According to a published report from CBS News in Los Angeles, the case brought against embattled rockstar Marilyn Manson by ex-assistant Ashley Walters for “sexual assault, battery, and harassment” has been dismissed by a judge. According to CBS News, the case was dismissed by Los Angeles Superior Court Judge Michael Stern on the grounds of Walters waiting too long to file the lawsuit and failing to prove why the statute of limitations should be overlooked. This develoipemnt is the latest in the saga that has carried on multiple years with many facets of investigations by the LA County Sherrifs office, allegations by over a dozen accuseers, lawsuits, counter-suits by Manson, and Manson’s former parter Evan Rachel Wood’s bombshell documentary with allegations of rape, sexual abuse, torture in her documetary –  Phoenix Rising which debuted on HBO on March 15th, 2022. Continue reading →


UPDATED: Marilyn Manson Sues Evan Rachel Wood Over Abuse Allegations: “A Malicious Falsehood”

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TW for DV, sexual abuse.

According to a published report from The Blast, Marilyn Manson has filed a lawsuit against actress Evan Rachel Wood over allegations of rape and sexual abuse.
Wood’s upcoming acclaimed documentary Phoenix Rising airs on HBO on March 15th. Wood alleged “coerced into a commercial sex act under false pretenses” while filming the 2007 music video for “Heart-Shaped Glasses” with her then-boyfriend Manson. Manson’s attorney Howard King later denied Wood’s allegations in a statement to People, claiming that the singer “did not have sex with Evan on that set, and she knows that is the truth.” In his lawsuit against Wood, Manson, whose real name is Brian Warner, accused his ex-fiancée of intentional infliction of emotional distress, defamation, computer fraud, and impersonation over the Internet. Wood has alleged abuse from Manson and more than a dozen other victims have come forward, gone on record, promting the the Los Angeles Sheriff’s office to investigate Manson and raid his home, and for his music and film career to dry up, as well his sponsors, and dropped by his film/TV agent and record label. Manson has made repeated statements denying abuse claims of his victims. UPDATED: Manson has posted a statement commented on his lawsuit.

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A Judge Refuses to Dismiss the Lawsuit Against Metallica for Their Canceled South American Tour with Greta Van Fleet

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According to published reports from Blabebrmouth.net and www.BusinessInsurance.com, a Los Angeles state court has refused to dismiss pandemic-related event cancellation litigation filed by Metallica despite a virus exclusion in its coverage. This stems from a tour originally booked by Metallica with Greta Van Fleet during the pandemic that could not move forward. The California Superior Court held in Frantic Inc. v. Certain Underwriters at Lloyd’s et. al. that it could not dismiss a lawsuit over a canceled South American tour at this preliminary stage of the litigation because a “proximate cause” has not been established as to what caused the loss involved.

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The Baby From the Cover of Nirvana’s “Nevermind” Album Sues The Band for “Child Pornography”

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Spencer Elden, who as a baby was featured on the album artwork of Nirvana’s classic album Nevermind (Geffen) is suing the surviving members of the band and the estate of late frontman Kurt Cobain for Child Pornography charges and restituition acccording to a record from court records s obtained by TMZ.  Elden alleges the image of the baby reaching for a dollar in a swimming pool violated federal child pornography statutes and argues child sexual exploitation.Continue reading →


The Family of Chris Cornell Has Reached a Settlement Against his Former Doctor

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According to reports from Deadline and Blabbermouth.net, the family of late Soundgarden frontman Chris Cornell’s widow Vicky Cornell, his children that are minors,  and his doctor have reached a confidential settlement in a lawsuit in which she accused the physician of over-prescribing drugs that eventually caused the singer to commit suicide.

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A Federal Judge Has Recommend Dismissing Two of Vicky Cornell’s Claims Against Soundgarden

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According to a report from Billboard.com, U.S. District Judge Michelle Peterson, working on the case between Vicky Cornell against the surviving members of Soundgarden, says there’s no evidence the band is withholding royalties from Chris Cornell’s widow. A federal judge in Washington state is recommending the court toss out two of Vicky Cornell’s six claims against the remaining members of Soundgarden, her late husband Chris Cornell’s band, so far.

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Ghost Loses its Trademark Claim Against British Ghost Vodka Brand

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According to a report from Blabbermouth.net, Occult Swedish Heavy Metal band Ghost, led by Tobias Forge, has lost their case in Swedish court has lost their case against Ghost Drinks Ltd. The spirits maker makes a Gin using the group’s name, and Forge and his representatives claimed the vodka could conceivably have caused marketplace confusion. Ghost Drinks famously trolled the band on social media after the suit. The vodka company, which launched in June 2015, countered that Forge had known about their product since 2016. On December 22, the Swedish Patent And Market Court, which deals with intellectual property infringement and validity cases, issued a judgment saying that the term “ghost” is a generic word and is, therefore, free for Ghost Drinks to use. Continue reading →