Neil Gaiman is suing his former caregiver, Caroline Wallner, for breach of contract. The Coraline author filed a demand for arbitration, which calls for compensation of $500,000 from Wallner for her alleged violation of an NDA that prohibits her from sharing the details of their relationship with the media.
Wallner joined the group of women accusing Gaiman of sexual assault last year when she revealed to New York magazine multiple instances in which she believed her former employer crossed boundaries. “He didn’t have boundaries,” Wallner shared. “I remember thinking there was something really wrong with him,” she added.
Caroline Wallner and her husband moved onto Neil Gaiman’s property in 2014. The couple ended the marriage 2018. It was then that Neil allegedly began sexually abusing Caroline. In particular, there was reportedly an instance of Gaiman climbing into bed with Wallner and his son. According to Wallner, Gaiman forced her to engage in lewd acts with him while his son slept between them.
The relationship between the author and his employee allegedly began to sour in 2021, which is when Gaiman offered Wallner $5,000 to leave the property. “What am I going to do with $5,000,” Wallner recalled asking her then-employer. “I need therapy. This is maybe $300,000.”
Neil Gaiman paid Caroline Wallner $275,000 after she signed an extensive nondisclosure agreement that prohibited her from discussing their relationship with the press. Gaiman now hopes to be compensated $275,000 plus $50,000 for each interview Wallner has given to the media since signing the NDA.
“Caroline Wallner’s purported claims are completely meritless,” Neil Gaiman’s legal representation told the press in a statement. “We have no doubt that we will prevail in arbitration — and that Ms. Wallner’s actions will result in her having to pay Neil’s legal fees.”
In addition to Wallner, New York magazine and Wallner’s ex-husband were also named in Gaiman’s demand for arbitration.