A woman who has publicly accused award-winning author Neil Gaiman of sexual assault has now sued him, alleging human trafficking as well as sexual assault and battery.

In a federal civil lawsuit filed in Wisconsin and obtained by USA TODAY on Monday, Scarlett Pavlovich claims Gaiman “repeatedly raped” her and “received free sexual services and labor” from her in 2022. The accusations allegedly occurred while Pavlovich was a live-in nanny for Gaiman and wife Amanda Palmer’s child in their New Zealand homes. At the time, she was around 24, while Gaiman was 61.

She accused Palmer, who is also named as a defendant in the lawsuit, of “procuring and presenting (Pavlovich) to Gaiman for such abuse.”

Describing herself as “broke and homeless,” Pavlovich says she was “in effect, an economic hostage to Palmer and Gaiman.” She claims the estranged couple “intended to have Scarlett trapped, vulnerable, and penniless” and exploited her financial and housing insecurities to “coerce sexual services and free childcare.”

As recently as last month, Gaiman has denied participating in any “non-consensual sexual activity.”

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USA TODAY reached out to representatives for Gaiman and Palmer for comment.

Pavlovich previously leveled these allegations against Gaiman and Palmer in a Vulture report published Jan. 13.

Scarlett Pavlovich claims Gaiman and Palmer left her ‘alone, penniless, and struggling’

In her lawsuit, Pavlovich says that in 2020 she met and became acquaintances with Palmer in Auckland, and in February 2022, Palmer asked Pavlovich to babysit over a weekend. Gaiman allegedly first raped Pavlovich on Feb. 4, 2022, after sending his child to a friend’s house and suggesting she bathe in his garden bathtub.

Following Palmer’s alleged offer of employment as a live-in nanny, a “desperate” Pavlovich – who needed “secure employment and affordable housing” – accepted the job. Pavlovich claims that during her employment, Gaiman sexually assaulted her vaginally and anally on multiple occasions, at points causing her to experience “overwhelming” pain and bleeding. She also says Gaiman ordered her to “call him ‘master'” while referring to her as a “slave.”

During this time, she claims, “Gaiman and Palmer intentionally withheld Scarlett’s pay” and it took months to get paid. She claims Gaiman later approached her and paid her invoice for services but also required her to sign “an employment agreement” in exchange for rent money, to which she agreed.

Pavlovich claims Palmer showed negligence as she “knew that Scarlett was an abuse survivor who had suffered mental health challenges in the remote and recent past.” Pavlovich says she told Palmer about the alleged abuse, but Gaiman’s wife “expressed no surprise” and allegedly said other women had confided in her with similar stories about him.

The lawsuit states, “Having taken labor, her sense of self-worth, and her optimism, Palmer and Gaiman abandoned Scarlett – leaving her alone, penniless, and struggling.” Pavlovich seeks at least $1 million in damages.

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Neil Gaiman denies abuse allegations as collaborators distance themselves

Last month, the Hugo Award-winning novelist wrote an open letter denying “any abuse” took place and claiming the “stories circulating the internet” “simply never happened.” Since last summer, Gaiman has faced sexual assault allegations from nearly a dozen women via a six-episode podcast series from U.K. media outlet Tortoise as well as Vulture’s report.

“As I read through this latest collection of accounts, there are moments I half-recognize and moments I don’t, descriptions of things that happened sitting beside things that emphatically did not happen,” Gaiman wrote. “I’m far from a perfect person, but I have never engaged in non-consensual sexual activity with anyone. Ever.”

“At the time I was in those relationships, they seemed positive and happy on both sides,” Gaiman added. “I also realize, looking through them, years later, that I could have and should have done so much better.”

However, he took a firm stance against the misconduct allegations, writing, “I am prepared to take responsibility for any missteps I made. I’m not willing to turn my back on the truth, and I can’t accept being described as someone I am not, and cannot and will not admit to doing things I didn’t do.”

In the aftermath of these assault allegations, a handful of companies has either cut ties with or distanced themselves from the acclaimed fantasy writer behind “The Sandman,” “Good Omens,” “American Gods” and “Coraline.”

On Jan. 24, Dark Horse Comics announced it would no longer publish his works. The comic book publisher has worked with the author on comic adaptations of his works, including “How to Talk to Girls at Parties.”

IndieWire reported in September that Disney had paused its film adaptation of Gaiman’s “The Graveyard Book.” Amazon MGM Studios confirmed to USA TODAY that the Michael Sheen- and David Tennant-starring series “Good Omens” would not have a full third season but will end with a 90-minute TV movie episode.

Last week, a U.K. stage production “Coraline – A Musical” announced the project was canceled. “After careful consideration, we feel it would be impossible to continue in the context of the allegations against its original author,” the theater companies wrote. “Ticket holders have been contacted directly via email.”

If you or someone you know has experienced sexual violence, RAINN’s National Sexual Assault Hotline offers free, confidential, 24/7 support to survivors and their loved ones in English and Spanish at: 800.656.HOPE (4673) and Hotline.RAINN.org and en Español RAINN.org/es.

Contributing: Edward Segarra and Taijuan Moorman, USA TODAY