Crystal Castles defamation suit tossed
Singer Alice Glass accused bandmate Claudio Palmieri of abuse over 10-year period
Alice Glass, whose sexual-abuse allegations against her former Crystal Castles bandmate spurred him to file a defamation lawsuit against her, says the suit was thrown out in a Los Angeles court on Friday.
“I won in court today!” Glass tweeted on Friday, and music website Pitchfork says it confirmed with the Los Angeles Superior Court that her motion to strike was granted. The singer, whose real name is Margaret Osborn, was served the lawsuit in November by her former bandmates Claudio Palmieri, when she accused him in October of sexual, physical and psychological abuse that lasted nearly a decade, starting when she was 15.
Palmieri, 40, has denied the allegations.
“This is a victory for survivors of abuse and sexual misconduct in countries where abusers use the court system to further victimize and keep people silent,” Osborn wrote in another tweet.
“We are extremely pleased with the Court’s decision to grant our motion to strike, which effectively dismisses Palmieri’s complaint in its entirety,” said Vicki Greco, Glass’ lawyer.
Palmieri’s lawyer could not be reached for comment.
In October, Osborn wrote on her website that Palmieri, over “many months,” gave her drugs, alcohol and had sex with her “in an abandoned room at an apartment he managed,” saying that “it wasn’t always consensual and he remained sober whenever we were together.”
In response, Palmieri filed a statement of claim in an L.A. that said Osborn’s “malicious lies to the online world” damaged his career. He cited “irreparable damages,” including lost wages and the cancellation of a North American tour worth roughly $300,000.
Palmieri, also known by his stage name Ethan Kath, currently resides in Los Angeles.
In December, Toronto police confirmed that their sex crimes unit was investigating Palmieri. The Star has spoken with three women who say they filed criminal complaints against him.
Crystal Castles started in 2006 in Toronto, eventually gaining international popularity.
Osborn left the band in 2014 to pursue a solo career.