A previously dismissed sexual assault lawsuit filed against shock rocker Marilyn Manson has been resurrected in a Los Angeles court, marking a significant legal turn just weeks after the case appeared to be closed. On Monday, January 26, Superior Court Judge Steve Cochran ordered the revival of civil claims brought by Manson’s former assistant, Ashley Walters, citing new state legislation that extends the window for survivors to seek justice.
The lawsuit, which accuses Manson—legal name Brian Warner—of subjecting Walters to sexual exploitation, manipulation, and psychological abuse between 2010 and 2011, had been dismissed in December 2025 on the grounds that the statute of limitations had expired. However, the legal landscape shifted on January 1, 2026, with the enactment of California’s Assembly Bill 250.
Judge Cochran’s ruling on Monday effectively set aside the December dismissal, applying the new statute to Walters’ claims. The brief court order stated, “The motion for reconsideration filed by Ashley Walters on 7 January 2026, is granted. Statute revives the claim.”
Walters’ legal team expressed immediate relief at the decision. In a statement released following the ruling, her attorneys emphasized their determination to hold the musician accountable. “Mr. Warner has tried time and again to avoid accountability for his abuse against Ms. Walters,” the statement read. “We look forward to continuing to fiercely advocate for Ms. Walters until Mr. Warner finally answers for his abuse.”
Walters originally filed her suit in 2021, joining a group of women, including actor Evan Rachel Wood, who publicly accused the musician of abuse. While Manson has consistently denied all allegations, calling them “horrible distortions of reality,” this specific case has seen a turbulent legal timeline, facing dismissal, a successful appeal, a second dismissal, and now a revival under the new “lookback window” provided by the state.
The revival of the Walters case serves as one of the first high-profile applications of Assembly Bill 250, which was designed to allow alleged victims of sexual abuse to file lawsuits that would otherwise be time-barred. A follow-up court appearance for the reinstated case is currently scheduled for March.
