Marilyn Manson's Former Assistant Wins Appeal to Revive a Previously Dismissed Sexual Assault Lawsuit

Ashley Walters claims Manson sexually assaulted her, whipped her and threw her against a wall when she was his assistant in 2011

Marilyn Manson's former assistant has won a critical appeal that will revive her previously dismissed lawsuit against the rocker.

On Wednesday, a tribunal with California’s Second Appellate District sided with Ashley Walters and reversed a lower court ruling — sending the case back to a judge for trial, according to documents obtained by PEOPLE.

In the court filings, Walters claims that Manson (whose real name is Brian Warner) forced her hand into his underwear, whipped her, pushed her into a wall, forced her to stay awake for 48 hours straight, offered her up sexually to friends and associates, once required her to stand on a chair for 12 hours and fed her cocaine to keep her awake among other accusations. She also claims he used threatening behavior, like blackmail, to ensure her silence.

Related: Marilyn Manson Settles Lawsuit Over Sexual Assault and Abuse Allegations Before Trial Begins

"We believe this ruling makes clear that courts must factor in trauma induced repression into the legal reasoning why survivors often come forward years after their trauma to raise claims," Walters' lawyer, James Vagnini, says in a statement to PEOPLE. "This clears a path, much like many of the newly passed laws sweeping the country, allowing victims of sexual assault and harassment to raise their claims against their abusers when they are able to, not by a deadline set by statute."

In 2021, Walters sued Manson, 54, with claims of sexual assault, sexual harassment and sex discrimination. At the time, she argued that though the alleged abuse took place during her year of employment in 2011, the two-year statute of limitations didn't apply because she had suppressed her memories until 2020.

Using the delayed discovery rule, which postpones the statue of limitations for victims who bury painful memories, her window to file was extended. However, a trial court judge ultimately tossed her case in May 2022 and said Walters "failed to plead facts to invoke the delayed discovery rule."

"Walters contends she alleged sufficient facts to support application of the delayed discovery rule, which postponed accrual of her claims until 2020, when she joined a support group and was able to recover suppressed memories of Warner's abuse," the judges wrote in her ruling.

Related: Marilyn Manson Fined and Sentenced to Community Service After Pleading No Contest to Blowing Nose on Videographer

Adding, “Walters’ allegations of delayed discovery were sufficient to withstand demurrer, and we reverse."

Manson's lawyer did not immediately respond to PEOPLE's request for comment.

The appeal comes after several accusers have come forward in the past two years against Manson for sexual abuse. In April 2021, actress Esmé Bianco became the first to file a civil suit against Manson over these allegations. The suit was settled in January.

Most recently, in September, Manson reached a settlement agreement with a woman who accused him of rape, days before the trial was due to begin.

If you or someone you know has been sexually assaulted, please contact the National Sexual Assault Hotline at 1-800-656-HOPE (4673) or go to rainn.org.

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Read the original article on People.