As has been previously reported in the ongoing saga of the Ashley Walters case against Marilyn Manson, on December 16th 2025, a summary judgment was granted to Marilyn Manson which brought the case to an end through a dismissal. Immediately after the summary judgment, Ashley Walters promised to appeal the ruling, so on January 7th 2026 she filed a Motion for Reconsideration, where she invoked the new California law known as AB 250 which went into effect after the dismissal on January 1st 2026, which gives a two-year revival window for otherwise time-barred claims of sexual assault. On January 26th 2026, Judge Steve Cochran reversed his previous ruling to dismiss the case and granted a revival of the case to Ashley Walters based on the new law. "I do think the statute revives the claim. You’re [heading toward trial] all over again,” said the Judge according to Rolling Stone . From the date of this ruling in favor of Walters, she now has 15 days to file an amended complaint. During ...
Ashley Walters Case Against Marilyn Manson Revived Under New California Law, Previous Dismissal Reversed
As has been previously reported in the ongoing saga of the Ashley Walters case against Marilyn Manson, on December 16th 2025, a summary judgment was granted to Marilyn Manson which brought the case to an end through a dismissal.
Immediately after the summary judgment, Ashley Walters promised to appeal the ruling, so on January 7th 2026 she filed a Motion for Reconsideration, where she invoked the new California law known as AB 250 which went into effect after the dismissal on January 1st 2026, which gives a two-year revival window for otherwise time-barred claims of sexual assault.
On January 26th 2026, Judge Steve Cochran reversed his previous ruling to dismiss the case and granted a revival of the case to Ashley Walters based on the new law. "I do think the statute revives the claim. You’re [heading toward trial] all over again,” said the Judge according to Rolling Stone.
From the date of this ruling in favor of Walters, she now has 15 days to file an amended complaint. During these 15 days, the plaintiff may: 1) Correct deficiencies noted in the earlier dismissal, 2) Update legal claims in light of the statute that “revives the claim,” 3) Clarify facts, add allegations, or adjust causes of action as permitted by law.
According to Rolling Stone, Judge Cochran said he would allow Manson to file a new summary judgment motion to challenge the viability of Walters’ claims under AB 250. Walters’ lawyers had asked him to treat the issue as settled and move directly to trial, but the judge said the case would essentially reset to the phase just after discovery, before the summary judgment was granted in December 2025.
Walter's attorney Bina Ahmad told Deadline after the hearing:
Immediately after the summary judgment, Ashley Walters promised to appeal the ruling, so on January 7th 2026 she filed a Motion for Reconsideration, where she invoked the new California law known as AB 250 which went into effect after the dismissal on January 1st 2026, which gives a two-year revival window for otherwise time-barred claims of sexual assault.
On January 26th 2026, Judge Steve Cochran reversed his previous ruling to dismiss the case and granted a revival of the case to Ashley Walters based on the new law. "I do think the statute revives the claim. You’re [heading toward trial] all over again,” said the Judge according to Rolling Stone.
From the date of this ruling in favor of Walters, she now has 15 days to file an amended complaint. During these 15 days, the plaintiff may: 1) Correct deficiencies noted in the earlier dismissal, 2) Update legal claims in light of the statute that “revives the claim,” 3) Clarify facts, add allegations, or adjust causes of action as permitted by law.
According to Rolling Stone, Judge Cochran said he would allow Manson to file a new summary judgment motion to challenge the viability of Walters’ claims under AB 250. Walters’ lawyers had asked him to treat the issue as settled and move directly to trial, but the judge said the case would essentially reset to the phase just after discovery, before the summary judgment was granted in December 2025.
Walter's attorney Bina Ahmad told Deadline after the hearing:
"We are thrilled for Ms. Walters. She has never given up fighting for justice. [We] look forward to continuing the fight for Ms. Walters until Mr. Warner finally answers for his abuse. She has had to overcome a lot of obstacles, as so many survivors are forced to do. Mr. Warner has tried time and again to avoid accountability for his abuse against Ms. Walters. But now, thanks to AB 250, abusers like Mr. Warner can no longer hide behind the statute of limitations.”
Walters’ attorney Kate McFarlane issued the following statement to Billboard:
“Mr. Warner has tried time and again to avoid accountability for his
abuse against Ms. Walters. But now, time is no longer
an obstacle Ms. Walters will be forced to overcome. AB 250 has created a
path forward for her and so many women like her to finally hold their
abusers accountable. We look forward to continuing to fiercely advocate
for Ms. Walters until Mr. Warner finally answers for his abuse.”
Manson's attorney's had previously argued that Walters missed her chance to invoke AB 250 prior to the dismissal before the new law went into effect, despite it having passed into law two months prior.
In a statement only partially published by the media but fully gathered by Marilyn Manson Uncanceled from partial statements in Rolling Stone, Deadline and Billboard, Manson's attorney Howard King said:
"Ashley Walters has been given the right to pursue a narrow claim of sexual assault under the newly enacted law, a claim that will not survive the next motion for summary judgment. While Ms. Walters made several now-irrelevant claims about so-called workplace harassment, she has no pending claims for sexual assault as defined in the penal code, as would be required under the new law, nor is she permitted under the ruling to add new claims. The undeniable fact is that Mr. Warner never committed any sexual assault which undoubtedly is the reason the District Attorney declined Ms. Walter’s request that Mr. Warner be criminally charged. Going forward, we will seek dismissal of the amended complaint on the grounds the allegations do not fall within the scope of the new statute.”
Rolling Stone showed this full statement to Walters' attorney Kate McFarlane, who reacted as follows:
"That’s an insane argument. It’s a desperate attempt by the defense to avoid accountability. The law is very clearly in our favor.”
Judge Cochran has set a Case Management Conference for March 27th, with a trial to follow unless there is a settlement.
Manson’s lawyer says, according to Deadline, he doubts it will get anywhere near that far.
"That’s an insane argument. It’s a desperate attempt by the defense to avoid accountability. The law is very clearly in our favor.”
Judge Cochran has set a Case Management Conference for March 27th, with a trial to follow unless there is a settlement.
Manson’s lawyer says, according to Deadline, he doubts it will get anywhere near that far.