In the United States, three lawsuits filed against bestselling British fantasy author Neil Gaiman were dismissed by federal judges. The lawsuits were initiated by Scarlett Pavlovich, who accused Gaiman of multiple sexual assaults while she served as a nanny for his family in New Zealand in 2022. Pavlovich's legal actions spanned across three states: Wisconsin, Massachusetts, and New York. The lawsuits claimed that Gaiman had transmitted his interest in sexual relationships to Pavlovich under false pretenses, suggesting that he would assist her writing career in exchange for her compliance. Furthermore, Pavlovich alleged that Gaiman abused her after having met for the first time, a claim she made in court documents. Gaiman's legal team countered her assertions by stating that their relationship was consensual, involving only brief physical intimacy. The legal proceedings were complicated as Pavlovich was initially unsure about the jurisdiction, leading her to file separate lawsuits in multiple states. Ultimately, U.S. District Judge James Peterson in Wisconsin ruled that the case should be pursued in New Zealand, dismissing Pavlovich's lawsuit in October. A similar decision was reached by U.S. District Judge Nathaniel Gorton in Boston when he dismissed the Massachusetts filing. Pavlovich had previously dropped the New York lawsuit, and her attorneys did not respond to media inquiries regarding the case. The events surrounding these lawsuits drew attention due to serious allegations against Gaiman, who has faced numerous accusations from other women as well, raising questions about a pattern of behavior. Pavlovich’s allegations came to light after an article in New York magazine detailed various women's experiences regarding assault and coercion, creating a broader discussion about accountability in the literary community. Gaiman has since maintained his innocence and denied all wrongdoing, indicating a willingness to defend his reputation against the serious claims made in court.