LA Judge Teresa Beaudet teased last fall that she does not consider forging a federal document impersonating a real FBI agent as “illegal” activity in a limited discovery ruling in the Brian Warner aka Marilyn Manson case against Evan Rachel Wood and her ex-girlfriend Ashley Illma Gore.
And so it was pretty expected she would grant Evan Rachel Wood’s anti-slapp motion to strike the fake FBI letter from Manson’s lawsuit along with a checklist allegedly used to help false accusers craft their messaging and a defamation claim that Wood and Gore spread a vicious false rumor that he produced child pornography in the 90s.
(Note: He did not. Although Judge Teresa Beaudet also disregarded testimony from the actress in the short film in question that she was over the age of 21 at the time, was never abused and didn’t go onto commit suicide as Gore told others. More on that, here.)
Nonetheless, Judge Beaudet’s anti-slapp ruling — which is quite tardy by the way as it comes more than one calendar year after Evan Rachel Wood’s anti-slapp motion was filed in Los Angeles Superior Court in Spring 2022 — does demonstrate a disregard of fact, evidence and testimony.
The good news?
Despite Wood getting near the entirety of her anti-slapp motion granted, there still remains 80 percent of Manson’s lawsuit as his case actually had very little to do with speech related claims to begin with.
Moving forward now into discovery is conduct of Evan Rachel Wood and Illma Gore against Manson that includes:
- Fraud
- Swatting
- Hacking
- Creating a fictitious email in Brian Warner/Manson’s name without his consent
- Using said email to forge communications between law enforcement
- Emailing links to illicit material of minors
- Violating the Computer Data Act
Even with much left to explore in discovery, the anti-slapp ruling of Judge Teresa Beaudet was anticipated to be appealed no matter the outcome. Manson’s lead attorney Howard E. King confirmed that is the intent in a statement to the press.
The situation as a whole is disheartening news for Manson and his wife Lindsay Usich – costing additional effort and expense. Sending them love and support.
RELEVANT LINKS
- Manson v Gore and Wood Lawsuit
- Judge Beaudet’s Anti-Slapp Ruling
- Anti-Slapp Hearing Minute Order and Pre-Trial Schedule
- All the Receipts To Date On the Fake FBI Letter