Majority of sex assault claims against Aerosmith’s Steven Tyler dismissed
A judge has dismissed the majority of sex assault claims made against Aerosmith singer Steven Tyler.
All claims, apart from one, made by Julie Misley, which relate to a three-year relationship she had with Tyler during the 1970s, have been thrown out due to the passing of the statute of limitations.
During their relationship, they primarily lived in Massachusetts, which is where the statute of limitations applies.
However, due to different laws in California, Misley can still sue Tyler relating to one allegation that they had sex in a hotel and a hot tub during a visit to the state in 1974. At the time, Misley was 16, and Tyler was in his mid-20s.
Notably, the age of consent is 16 in Massachusetts, but 18 in California.
California previously had a ten-year statute of limitations in place, which was removed in 2016 in the wake of the MeToo movement.
Following the judge’s decision, Tyler’s lawyer, David Long-Daniels, said in a statement to Billboard, “This is a massive win for Steven Tyler. Today, the Court has dismissed with prejudice 99.9% of the claims against Mr. Tyler in this case.”
Long-Daniels continued, “The court has decided that only one night, fifty-plus years ago, out of a three year relationship is allowed to remain. We look forward to trying this case on August 31.”
Per The Independent, Misley, who first made the allegations in 2022, quoted from Tyler’s 1997 memoir in her lawsuit.
In the book, Tyler wrote that he “almost took a teenage bride”, who he did not name, and claimed her parents “signed a paper over for me to have custody, so I wouldn’t get arrested if I took her out of state. I took her on tour with me.”
In the lawsuit, she alleged that Tyler pressured her into having an abortion at 17, as well as claiming Misley was “coerced and persuaded into believing this was a ‘romantic love affair’”.
Tyler has denied all claims of wrongdoing, and his lawyers insisted that the relationship was consensual.
For help, advice or more information regarding sexual harassment, assault and rape in the UK, visit the Rape Crisis charity website. In the US, visit RAINN.
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