Starting a New Year off, the Susan Fountain Marilyn Manson case was again dismissed by LA County Superior Court.
The “personal injury” case filed in August 2021 by photographer Susan Fountain arrived exactly two years after some nasal spray got on her as she filmed a New Hampshire concert from the pit. Despite the incident taking place in NH, she elected to file her lawsuit in Los Angeles after Evan Rachel Wood and others had lodged a litany of unauthenticated accusations against the rockstar.
Susan Fountain Marilyn Manson Case Dismissed
Following the Aug. 2019 “bodily fluid attack” (as she put it), Susan Fountain went onto file local criminal charges and seek medical treatment — including testing twice for communicable diseases.
The criminal charges led to Marilyn Manson taking accountability for his actions by pleading “no contest” to a minor misdemeanor charge at his first official public appearance since being canceled in Feb. 2021.
When leaving the court house, he answered a local reporter “Hopefully working with people in rehab” when asked where he intended to serve the 20 hours of community service he was sentenced to on top of a $1200 fine.
Manson has been very vocal through the years – both through his art and interviews – about his struggles with addiction. Currently, he celebrates more than two years of sobriety.
LA COUNTY CIVIL CASE
Photographer Susan Fountain’s civil lawsuit in LA County Superior Court has taken a roundabout journey through the litigation process.
Fountain initially filed her lawsuit on Aug. 18, 2021 in Los Angeles – two years to the date after the “spit” incident took place at a New Hampshire Marilyn Manson concert on Aug. 18, 2019. When her counsel failed to appear in court for a Feb. 2023 hearing date – the case was dismissed without prejudice for the first time by Judge Mori.
Things did not end there, however.
Susan Fountain went on to file a March 2023 motion that asked the court to reopen the case and attempting to explain why she was yet to serve Manson with the lawsuit — despite it being six months since the case appeared in LA. Manson had multiple other active cases in the county with his representation a matter of public record. A hearing was then scheduled on the matter for July 2023.
That hearing did not, however, happen as planned as Fountain requested a delay and it was rescheduled for early November. At that point, the court acknowledged there was in fact a clerical error and ruled to reopen the civil claim with the next hearing set for Jan. 2024.
This hearing date was included in the written ruling from the court as well as added to the case’s public court docket.
Starting the year off in grand fashion, the photographer’s counsel again failed to appear at the hearing and Judge Hwang ruled for the case to once again be dismissed without prejudice as a result.
Whether or not the case will become a game of Groundhog Day with additional motions to reopen it remains to be seen. As for now? This piece of news can be considered an early birthday present for Manson — who turns 55 on Jan 5.
TIMELINE OF EVENTS
- AUG 18, 2019: Marilyn Manson spit on a camera lens at New Hampshire concert – with some spray getting on photographer Susan Fountain.
- FEB 1, 2021: Evan Rachel Wood and her employee Ashley Illma Gore launched a campaign to publicly case Manson as an ‘abuser’ — alleging various misconduct.
- AUG 18, 2021: Two years to the date later, Fountain filed an injury lawsuit in Los Angeles, California.
- FEB 1, 2023: Susan Fountain’s counsel failed to appear at the initial case hearing.
- FEB 15, 2023: Judge Mori dismissed the case without prejudice.
- MAR 17, 2023: Fountain’s counsel motioned to reopen the case, arguing his failure to appear was due to a clerical error by the court and he was never notified. A hearing on the motion to reopen the case was set for July 2023.
- JUNE 26, 2023: LA County granted a request from Susan Fountain to delay the July 2023 hearing. A new date was set for Nov. 2023.
- SEPT 18, 2023: Manson pled “no contest” in New Hampshire over the minor misdemeanor. He was sentenced with a $1200 fee and 20 hours of community service.
- NOV 2, 2023: LA County grants Susan Fountain’s motion to reopen her lawsuit and a hearing date was set for the New Year.
- JAN 3, 2024: Susan Fountain’s counsel (again) fails to appear at the hearing for her lawsuit. Judge Hwang orders the case dismissed without prejudice. Manson continued to never be served by her attorney.
WANT TO LEARN MORE ABOUT THIS CASE?
An episode of the podcase discusses Susan Fountain’s claim and Manson taking accountability by pleading “no contest” to the misdemeanor charge. Tune in on Amazon, Apple, Spotify, etc.
@justice4marilynmanson Marilyn Manson told @7 News leaving the courthouse he hopes to dedicate his 20 hours community service to helping those in rehab. 🫶 #justiceformarilynmanson #marilynmanson ♬ Witches Spell – Leanbh Fiain