The U.S. federal court rejected three lawsuits brought against British author Neil Gaiman and American composer Amanda Palmer by Scarlett Pavlovich, who was the couple's nanny. The allegations include sexual assault, coercion, and human trafficking, claim that the incidents occurred in New Zealand, where they should be addressed. The decision was made without evaluating the merits of Pavlovich's allegations but instead focused on jurisdiction, concluding that American courts were not appropriate for this case.

Pavlovich, a New Zealander who first met Amanda Palmer in Auckland in 2020 while living in vulnerable conditions, became the nanny for Gaiman and Palmer's child after being invited to their home on Waiheke Island. She alleges that the alleged abuses began in 2022 when she encountered Gaiman and continued during her tenure as the family's caregiver. The accusations detail a troubling dynamic in which Pavlovich asserts she was subjected to unwanted advances and coercive behavior, with Palmer allegedly being aware of these interactions.

The ruling emphasizes the jurisdictional limits of U.S. courts in cases arising from events that take place abroad, pushing the responsibility to the legal system in New Zealand. As allegations like those made by Pavlovich draw attention, they highlight the complexities of addressing accusations of abuse in cross-jurisdictional contexts, and they may have broader implications for how similar cases are handled in the future.