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Neil Gaiman Hit with Rape & Trafficking Lawsuits; Spouse Also Named
After months of horrific allegations of sexual misconduct, The Sandman creator Neil Gaiman has been taken to court in a trio of states on allegations of rape, human trafficking and more by a former New Zealand nanny of his and musician Amanda Palmer’s son.
“This claim arises out of Defendant Neil Gaiman’s sexual abuse of Plaintiff, and his wife Amanda Palmer’s role in procuring and presenting Plaintiff to Gaiman for such abuse,” states a rape and human trafficking complaint filed in federal court Monday in Wisconsin by Scarlett Pavlovich. “Gaiman has a decades-long history of sexual misconduct consistent with the actions that will be described in the following paragraphs,” the 28-page nine claim action adds, with vivid detail including a sodomy rape of “slave” Pavlovich by Gaiman just three years ago.
Seeking at least $1 million and a jury trial, the case’s details align with the deeply researched New York Magazine “There Is No Safe Word”piece by Lila Shapiro from earlier this year and the allegations made by Pavlovich and seven different women against Gaiman. That New York Magazine article drew from Tortoise Media’s six-part podcast Master: The Allegations Against Neil Gaiman from last summer.
In a January 14 blog post, after the Shapiro penned piece came out, Gaiman wrote: “As I reflect on my past – and as I re-review everything that actually happened as opposed to what is being alleged – I don’t accept there was any abuse. To repeat, I have never engaged in non-consensual sexual activity with anyone.”
Having said that, the no longer CAA-repped Gaiman recently has been dropped by his UK agent Casarotto Ramsay & Associates’ client list, as my colleague Jake Kanter exclusively reported last week. Additionally, Anansi Boys publisher Dark Horse Comics has dropped the once-acclaimed scribe, and a UK stage production of Coraline was canceled in the last days of January. As allegations against Gaiman grew, Season 3 of Amazon Prime Video‘s Good Omens was scaled back to a 90-minute episode and Disney paused production on its big screen adaptation of The Graveyard Book.
On January 31, Netflix revealed that the upcoming second season of the much viewed The Sandman will be the last, with a proposed Season 3 now DOA.
Dresden Dolls co-founder Palmer, who separated from Gaiman during the pandemic and her and their son’s lockdown in New Zealand, and said in November 2022 that the couple were divorcing after more than a decade of marriage. To that, Palmer posted this on her usually active Instagram page three weeks ago as the allegations against the Good Omens showrunner intensified:
Along with the midwestern state, where American Gods author and TV series EP Gaiman has a home, filings were submitted in New York, and Massachusetts by Pavlovich’s NYC-based Kamerman Uncyk Soniker & Klein P.C. lawyers with Palmer as the defendant.
Pavlovich and her attorneys claim that Palmer knew how vulnerable the plaintiff was mentally and economically and essentially led her into the lion’s den.
“Palmer was sufficiently aware that Gaiman was likely to target Scarlett, that she warned Gaiman to stay away from Scarlett before she brought Scarlett to Gaiman’s house as a babysitter,” the Empire State and New England state filings declare of the initial encounters with the openly open marriage Gaimans in the southwestern Pacific Ocean country and the early 2022 job offer. “Yet Palmer never warned Scarlett of the known danger posed by Gaiman. Had Palmer warned Scarlett of the known danger posed by Gaiman, Scarlett would never have agreed to babysit Palmer’s child at Gaiman’s house.”
In that context, the reasoning behind the multi-state filing is all about residency.
“Upon information and belief, jurisdiction over Palmer is appropriate in either New York or Massachusetts, and Palmer may consent to jurisdiction in Wisconsin. Given the uncertainty regarding Palmer’s state of residence, Plaintiff is simultaneously filing actions against Palmer in the United States District Courts for the Southern District of New York and the District of Massachusetts and will proceed against Palmer only in the district of her choosing.”
Full disclosure: New York Magazine is owned by Vox Media, which Deadline’s parent company PMC has had an ownership stake in since 2023.
In shocking news, acclaimed author Neil Gaiman has been hit with rape and trafficking lawsuits, with his spouse also named in the legal action. The allegations against Gaiman have sent shockwaves through the literary world, as fans grapple with the disturbing accusations against the beloved writer.The details of the lawsuits have not been made public, but the claims against Gaiman and his spouse are sure to have far-reaching consequences for their careers and reputations. As more information comes to light, the full extent of the allegations and their impact on Gaiman’s work and legacy remains to be seen.
Stay tuned for updates on this developing story.
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#Neil #Gaiman #Hit #Rape #Trafficking #Lawsuits #Spouse #NamedJustin Baldoni’s Wife Emily Shares Birthday Tribute amid Blake Lively Lawsuits
Justin Baldoni’s wife Emily broke her silence amid his heated legal battle with Blake Lively in order to publicly wish him a happy birthday.
The It Ends With Us director-actor turned 41 on Friday, Jan. 24, and Emily, 40, paid tribute to him on Instagram, writing alongside a family photo: “Happy birthday my love. Celebrating the man, husband, and father that you are. I’d choose you again and again.”
Baldoni has been vacationing in Hawaii in recent days with Emily, whom he married in 2013, and their two kids, Maiya, 9, and Maxwell, 7.
In December, Lively, 37, sued Justin, accusing him of sexual harassment and orchestrating a retaliatory smear campaign against her. Bryan Freedman, a lawyer for Baldoni, has called her allegations “false, outrageous and intentionally salacious with an intent to publicly hurt.”
Blake Lively; Justin Baldoni.
Katie Jones/Beauty Inc via Getty; Araya Doheny/Variety via Getty
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Filed months after rumors of behind-the-scenes strife on the set of the adaptation of the Colleen Hoover novel began, Lively’s complaint claimed that the actress “suffered from grief, fear, trauma, and extreme anxiety” due to Justin’s alleged actions, which included “invasive, unwelcome, unprofessional and sexually inappropriate behavior.”
In turn, Baldoni filed a $400 million lawsuit against Lively, her husband Ryan Reynolds, 48, and their publicist, claiming defamation and extortion.
Lively’s lawyers called the lawsuit “meritless” and “another chapter in the abuser playbook,” adding, “The strategy of attacking the woman is desperate, it does not refute the evidence in Ms. Lively’s complaint, and it will fail.”
Justin Baldoni and Emily Baldoni on Dec. 10, 2024.
Raymond Hall/GC Images
After his lawsuit made headlines, Baldoni was approached by TMZ at the Los Angeles International Airport on Jan. 17 while traveling with his wife and kids. When asked how he was doing, he said, “Grateful to be with the family, man. We have amazing friends and family. And faith.”
Lively has not been spotted in public since the lawsuits, though Reynolds attended the National Board of Review gala on Jan. 7, spoke to students at Harvard Business School, and made a surprise appearance at friend Hugh Jackman’s opening night at Radio City on Jan. 24.
In a heartwarming birthday tribute, Justin Baldoni’s wife Emily shared a sweet message on social media amidst the ongoing lawsuits involving their close friend Blake Lively. Despite the legal battles, Emily took to Instagram to express her love and admiration for her husband, highlighting his kindness, generosity, and unwavering support.In her post, Emily praised Justin for his dedication to his family and his commitment to creating a positive impact in the world. She also thanked him for being a loving partner and a wonderful father to their children.
The birthday tribute comes at a challenging time for the couple, as they navigate the complexities of the legal system and support their friend Blake Lively through her own struggles. Despite the hardships, Emily’s message serves as a reminder of the strength and resilience of their relationship, and the importance of standing by each other through thick and thin.
As the world continues to watch the legal drama unfold, Emily’s heartfelt tribute to Justin Baldoni is a touching reminder of the power of love and friendship in the face of adversity. It serves as a beacon of hope and positivity in a time of uncertainty, showing that no matter what challenges come their way, the bond between Justin and Emily remains unbreakable.
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RFK Jr. to keep collecting fees from lawsuits against Merck over HPV vaccines : Shots
RFK Jr. made $856,559 in referral fees from the law firm Wisner Baum, which is suing Merck over claims its HPV vaccine caused cervical cancer, according to new filings with the Office of Government Ethics.
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Even if Robert F. Kennedy Jr. is confirmed as the next Health and Human Services secretary, he still plans to collect fees from Wisner Baum, a law firm suing Merck over claims that the pharmaceutical company failed to properly warn consumers about risks from its HPV vaccine, Gardasil, according to new filings with the Office of Government Ethics.
Kennedy will only collect the fees if Wisner Baum wins, and only for cases that aren’t against the United States or in which the United States isn’t a party and doesn’t have “a direct or substantial interest,” according to the filings.
“Pursuant to the referral agreement, I am entitled to receive 10% of fees awarded in contingency fee cases referred to the firm,” Kennedy wrote in his signed ethics agreement. “I am not trying these cases, I am not an attorney of record for the cases, and I will not provide representational services in connection with the cases during my appointment to the position of Secretary.”
The filings, submitted to the U.S. Office of Government Ethics as part of the confirmation process, detail Kennedy’s many financial holdings and interests. If he becomes HHS secretary and continues to collect fees, he would be in a position to potentially profit from vaccine litigation while also regulating drugmakers and exercising authority over federal vaccine policy.
“RFK Jr’s ethics agreement is inadequate because it doesn’t address the bias created by his continuing financial interest in the litigation against Merck,” Kathleen Clark, a law professor at Washington University in St. Louis who specializes in government ethics wrote to NPR.
Neither a spokeswoman for Kennedy nor the Trump transition team immediately returned repeated requests for comment.
The documents and their link to the Gardasil vaccine lawsuit were first reported by The New York Times.
The Senate Finance Committee has scheduled a hearing on Wednesday, Jan. 29, to consider Kennedy’s nomination to run HHS.
In Kennedy’s profile page on Wisner Baum’s website, he is first identified as “co-counsel with Wisner Baum in the Gardasil litigation,” and he has used his platforms on social media and through his nonprofit to promote the suit and his concerns with the vaccine against the human papillomavirus.
HPV is a very common sexually transmitted virus that can cause cancers later in life. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends two doses of HPV vaccine at ages 11 to 12 and says it provides safe, effective and lasting protection against HPV infections.
According to Kennedy’s personal financial disclosure report, he made $856,559 in referral fees from the law firm. That’s in addition to $326,056 in salary and benefits he earned from the nonprofit Children’s Health Defense, an organization Kennedy chaired and that has been influential in the anti-vaccine movement. The nonprofit has filed nearly 30 federal and state lawsuits since 2020, including some that target the federal agencies he would oversee at HHS. Many of the legal actions taken by CHD challenged vaccines and public health mandates.
The filing says Kennedy took an unpaid leave of absence from the organization in April 2023, when he declared his run for the presidency, and that he resigned from CHD effective December 2024.
The filing also shows Kennedy declared a $8,848,402 share of partnership profits from the law firm Kennedy and Madonna, LLP, which has been renamed Madonna and Madonna, LLP. The filing says he received his “final partnership payout in May 2024.” He also made money from another law firm, publishing and various other fees for speaking and endorsements.
Edited by Scott Hensley and Jane Greenhalgh
Robert F. Kennedy Jr., the prominent anti-vaccine activist, has announced that he will continue to collect fees from lawsuits filed against pharmaceutical company Merck over their HPV vaccines. Despite facing criticism for his involvement in spreading misinformation about vaccines, Kennedy insists that he is fighting for justice and accountability.In a recent statement, Kennedy declared that he will not back down from his legal battles against Merck, alleging that the company has knowingly produced unsafe vaccines that have caused harm to individuals. He claims that his efforts are aimed at holding Merck accountable for their actions and ensuring that the public is aware of the risks associated with their products.
Kennedy’s decision to continue pursuing legal action against Merck has sparked controversy within the medical and scientific communities, with many experts condemning his anti-vaccine rhetoric and tactics. Critics argue that his unfounded claims about vaccine safety can contribute to the spread of misinformation and pose a threat to public health.
Despite the backlash, Kennedy remains steadfast in his mission to challenge Merck and seek justice for those he believes have been harmed by their vaccines. As the legal battles continue, the outcome remains uncertain, but one thing is clear: the debate over vaccines and their safety will persist as long as activists like Kennedy continue to push their agendas.
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Kennedy to make money on lawsuits while in Trump administration
Robert F. Kennedy Jr. says he will continue earning money from lawsuits once he is confirmed to run the Department of Health and Human Services, so long as the lawsuits don’t directly involve the United States or the federal government’s interests.
The longtime environmental lawyer turned politician wrote in an ethics agreement that he would keep receiving fees under a previous consulting agreement with WisnerBaum, a law firm that has an ongoing case against prescription drug maker Merck over the Gardasil vaccine.
Kennedy does not directly represent plaintiffs in the firm’s cases, but receives fees for referring cases. Kennedy played a key role in creating the mass lawsuit against Merck over the Gardasil vaccine from plaintiffs who allege it had severe side effects, according to Reuters. WisnerBaum is now one of the lead lawyers, according to its website.
“I am entitled to receive 10% of fees awarded in contingency fee cases referred to the firm,” Kennedy wrote in the ethics agreement. “I am not trying these cases, I am not an attorney of record for the cases, and I will not provide representational services in connection with the cases during my appointment to the position of secretary.”
Gardasil is the only vaccine used in the U.S. to protect against human papillomavirus, which causes some cancers. The Centers for Disease Control, which is under the umbrella of the Department of Health and Human Services, calls the vaccine safe and effective and recommends that children start getting the vaccine between 9 and 11 years old.
“An overwhelming body of scientific evidence, including more than 30 years of research and development along with real world evidence generated by Merck and by independent investigators, continues to support the safety and efficacy of our HPV vaccines,” Merck said in a statement to USA TODAY.
Kennedy has a long history of repeating false and misleading claims about vaccines, including the debunked claim that vaccines cause autism, claiming that the coronavirus vaccine is deadly, and blaming a measles outbreak on the measles vaccine. As the leader of the Department of Health and Services, he would oversee the Centers for Disease Control and the Food and Drug Administration, which regulates drugs including Gardasil.
WisnerBaum said in December it expected the lawsuit to go to trial this month, and Merck told USA TODAY on Thursday the case is currently in the jury selection phase. The firm did not immediately respond to USA TODAY’s inquiry for comment. Neither did the Trump-Vance transition team.
Kennedy wrote that he may be entitled to future recoveries in cases that the United States “does not have a direct and substantial interest.” In cases where the government does have those interests, he said he would assign those fees a family member who is not a dependent.
In his June 2023 ethics disclosure from when he was a presidential candidate, Kennedy said he received $1.6 million in consulting fees from WisnerBaum and had been a consultant with the firm since 2016.
Kennedy also wrote in his ethics agreement he would divest any interests he has in receiving fees from claims against the Vaccine Injury Compensation Program, a program that allows people to file claims against the secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services to receive money if they are found to have been injured by vaccines.
This story was first reported by the New York Times.
Kennedy’s New Money-Making Strategy: Lawsuits Against Trump AdministrationFormer Supreme Court Justice Anthony Kennedy has found a new way to make money during his retirement from the bench – by filing lawsuits against the Trump administration.
Kennedy, who retired from the Supreme Court in 2018, has reportedly been quietly working behind the scenes to build a legal team and prepare lawsuits against various government agencies and officials. The lawsuits are said to focus on issues such as immigration, civil rights, and environmental protections.
While some may question Kennedy’s motives for targeting the Trump administration, others see it as a savvy move to capitalize on the current political climate. With the Trump administration facing numerous legal challenges, Kennedy’s lawsuits could potentially result in hefty payouts or settlements.
It remains to be seen how successful Kennedy’s legal endeavors will be, but one thing is for certain – he’s not afraid to take on the powers that be in pursuit of justice and financial gain. Stay tuned for updates on Kennedy’s legal battles against the Trump administration.
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