A sexual assault lawsuit against composer Danny Elfman has been dismissed by a Los Angeles County Judge. The complaint, filed anonymously in October 2023 under the name "Jane Doe," alleged that Elfman repeatedly exposed himself and committed sexual acts while the plaintiff was asleep over a span from 1997 to 2002. At the time, Elfman was in his late forties, while the accuser was in her early twenties.
On September 4, 2024, Judge Lisa K. Sepe-Wiesenfeld ruled in favor of Elfman, concluding that the claims made by Jane Doe were largely speculative and too old to pursue legally. The judge's order stated that Jane Doe shall take nothing from this action, affirming Elfman's right to defend against meritless claims. A representative for Elfman called the lawsuit "baseless" and expressed confidence in its dismissal, reflecting Elfman’s earlier denials of the allegations.
The Jane Doe lawsuit followed accusations made earlier by Nomi Abadi, who alleged that Elfman harassed and exposed himself to her in 2017. Abadi later reached a settlement with Elfman amounting to $830,000 but subsequently filed a breach of contract lawsuit after he purportedly missed multiple payments. She has also lodged defamation claims against Elfman, accusing him of making false statements to Rolling Stone regarding their settlement.
While Elfman's recent legal victory concerning Jane Doe's lawsuit concludes that case, he still faces ongoing litigation from Abadi. The outcome of this situation continues to unfold as both allegations and legal challenges persist in the wake of such serious claims. For a detailed account, you can read more at NME and Rolling Stone.