Aerosmith frontman Steven Tyler's lawyer argued that the singer's accuser cannot use his memoir against him in the ongoing sexual assault lawsuit.
Tyler's memoir became a hot topic as it reportedly included his admission to having a sexual relationship with Julia Holcomb Misley when she was only 16. Law experts have since predicted that the alleged victim could use the book as evidence, but the singer's lawyer dismissed the idea.
Why Steven Tyler's Accuser Cannot Use the Memoir Against Him, Per Singer's Lawyer
In the documents filed in a Los Angeles County Superior Court Friday (obtained by People), Smith's legal team said the plaintiff cannot treat any of Tyler's memoir as the cause of her emotional distress in court. The lawyer argued that writing the book was free speech, arguing that the frontman did not name her in it in any way.
"Tyler's statements in his memoirs, including his statements about his relationship with Plaintiff, thus concern a matter of public interest and qualify as protected activity," the filing read.
Tyler's legal team added that there is a two-year statute of limitations for the claim after the "Does the Noise in My Head Bother You?" publication in 2011.
The lawyer defended his client and said that it was Misley who continuously spoke about her former relationship with Tyler and accused her of capitalizing on the rocker's fame by calling herself his "former girlfriend."
On the other hand, the other memoir that became part of the filing is Tyler's "Walk This Way: The Autobiography of Aerosmith," which was released in 1997.
Misley filed the case before the deadline for filing California's Child Victims Act-related lawsuits on Dec. 31. Meanwhile, Tyler previously presented 24 defenses to ultimately deny the claims, including a statement regarding his memoir being protected under the first amendment.
In one of the aforesaid books, Tyler admitted to almost taking a teen bride but ended up signing a legal guardianship at that time.
Steven Tyler Criticized Over Defenses
Lawyers and legal professionals not directly connected to the case have since shared their thoughts regarding the sexual assault lawsuit, with some of them branding the Aerosmith singer "insane" for his rebuttal.
Several attorneys told Rolling Stone that Tyler's defense that he had immunity as his alleged victim's guardian was unbelievable. They added that there should be no such thing for sex abuse.
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