Julia Misley, formerly known as Julia Holcomb, filed a sexual assault lawsuit against the Aerosmith frontman in December
Jason LaVeris/FilmMagic Steven Tyler
Steven Tyler denies all allegations made in a recent lawsuit alleging that he sexually assaulted a minor.
In his response to the lawsuit the Aerosmith singer, 75, filed in a Los Angeles County Superior Court last week, he presented a lengthy line of defenses against the claims made against him. Meanwhile, plaintiff Julia Misley’s attorney suggests the rocker just “gaslight” her.
In the new filing, Tyler explains that the plaintiff, formerly known as Julia Holcomb, consented to their sexual relationship and that as her legal guardian at the time of the alleged incidents, he had immunity. He also moved for the lawsuit to be dismissed outright, according to documents obtained by PEOPLE.
Tyler’s response to Misley’s complaint lists 24 affirmative defenses, all of which deny her allegations. In part, Tyler alleges that Misley “did not suffer any injury or damage as a result of any action by the defendant” and “if the plaintiff is found to have been harmed, then such damage was not caused by the defendant.”
A rep for Tyler did not immediately respond to PEOPLE’s request for comment.
Kevin Mazur/Getty Steven Tyler
See also: Steven Tyler accused of sexual assault and battery of a minor in new lawsuit
His response comes three months after Misley – who had a sexual relationship with Tyler as a teenager in the ’70s – filed a lawsuit against Tyler alleging sexual assault, sexual violence and intentional infliction of emotional distress.
Misley filed the lawsuit just days before the Dec. 31 deadline for California’s Child Victims Act, which lifted the statute of limitations on reporting child sex abuse felonies.
PEOPLE received a copy of the complaint, which does not name Tyler, but its allegations align with comments the rocker made public in his 2011 memoir. Does the noise in my head bother you? about a relationship with an unnamed 16-year-old girl. Misley later directly named Tyler in a statement released after the complaint was filed.
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In the complaint, Misley — who is “quoting directly from Tyler’s memoir” — alleges that Tyler was able to persuade her mother to grant her guardianship when she was 16, which provided the star with a means of allegedly pursuing a sexual relationship with her have their. She claims she was “powerless to resist Tyler,” who has “power, fame, and considerable financial opportunity.”
In the memoir, which doesn’t name Misley, Tyler wrote that he “almost took a teenage bride” because “her parents fell in love with me, signed a custody paper for me so I wouldn’t be arrested if I took her.” out of the country. I took her on tour.”
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When Misley became pregnant in 1975, she claimed Tyler convinced her to arrange for an abortion and told her that a recent apartment fire harmed the baby due to smoke inhalation and lack of oxygen. A medic told Misley the baby was likely unharmed, the complaint said.
Misley says she eventually left Tyler and returned home to Portland after the abortion, married, and became a devout Catholic.
In a statement from Misley’s attorney, Jeff Anderson, he called Tyler’s response “gaslighting” and said he was using “feigned legal guardianship to avoid prosecution for sex crimes.”
“He inflicts even more pain on Misley and sets her on fire by falsely claiming that she ‘consented’ and that the pain he inflicted on her was ‘justified and in good faith,'” Anderson said in a statement . “Never have we encountered a legal defense more repugnant and potentially dangerous than that launched by Tyler and his attorneys this week: your claim that legal guardianship is consent and permission for sexual abuse.”
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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