California Judge Allows Steven Tyler Child Sexual Abuse Case to Proceed Despite Dismissals Elsewhere
A California judge has ruled that a child sexual abuse lawsuit against Steven Tyler can proceed in the state, while dismissing parts of the case tied to Oregon, Washington, and Massachusetts.
Patricia A. Young, a judge in Los Angeles County Superior Court, determined that statutes of limitations and age-of-consent laws in those states prevented claims related to alleged conduct there from moving forward. However, allegations connected to incidents that allegedly occurred in California remain active, allowing the case to continue under state law.
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The lawsuit was filed by Julia Misley, formerly known as Julia Holcomb. Misley alleges that Tyler, who was 25 at the time, began a sexual relationship with her in the early 1970s when she was a high school sophomore. According to the complaint, they first met backstage in Portland, Oregon, and had sex the following night in Seattle, Washington — where the age of consent was 18 at the time.
In depositions, Misley described feeling exploited and humiliated during the relationship. She also referenced an encounter in California that Tyler later described in his 2011 memoir, Does the Noise in My Head Bother You?, though he did not identify her by name in the book. Misley alleges she was groomed over several years and that Tyler became her legal guardian during that period.
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In his memoir, Tyler wrote that he stayed with her parents and obtained legal custody so he could travel with her without risking arrest. Misley has said she was “lost in a rock and roll culture” and vulnerable as a teenager.
Tyler’s legal team sought to have the case dismissed, arguing that Misley lived with him in Boston, Massachusetts, where the age of consent was 16. Judge Young rejected that argument as it applied to California, stating that once the pair traveled outside Massachusetts, the laws of those states governed their conduct.
The ruling relies in part on California’s 2019 Child Victims Act, which opened a temporary window allowing survivors of childhood sexual abuse to file claims that would otherwise be barred by time limits.
From the bench, Judge Young emphasized California’s interest in addressing alleged abuse that occurred within its borders, regardless of laws elsewhere. She indicated she would issue a detailed written ruling and confirmed that the trial timeline would not be delayed.
A separate lawsuit filed by another woman alleging abuse by Tyler as a teenager was previously dismissed. As a result, Misley’s case is now the primary legal proceeding involving historical allegations against the Aerosmith frontman.
