Steven Tyler faced a major change in his long-running legal battle just days before his expected trial. A new judge will now handle the next steps in the case. Sources close to the Aerosmith singer said he remained confident as he fought the allegations.
Steven Tyler remains “confident” after a new judge takes over his case ahead of trial over a remaining emotional distress claim
According to Page Six, Los Angeles Superior Court Judge Patricia A. Young recused herself from the case less than two weeks before trial. Supervising Judge Lawrence Riff will oversee the reassignment and determine the case’s next steps. The court had scheduled lawyers to appear before Riff on September 18 to discuss whether the case remained ready for trial. The court later removed the September 28 trial date from the calendar.
A source told the outlet that Tyler’s team viewed Riff as fair and well-educated. The source also reported that the 78-year-old rocker was “confident” the facts would work in his favor. Tyler originally faced claims of sexual assault, sexual battery, and intentional infliction of emotional distress. The court rejected most of those allegations, leaving one emotional distress claim connected to an alleged incident in Los Angeles in 1974.
Julia Misley filed the lawsuit in December 2022 over allegations tied to her relationship with Tyler during the 1970s. Misley alleged that Tyler took her to a Los Angeles hotel and down to a pool area before they had sex in a public hot tub when she was 16. Tyler denied wrongdoing and said their relationship was consensual. He also said Misley’s parents gave him permission to take her on the road.
Another source told Page Six that opening the case more than 50 years later felt “simply unfair” to Tyler. The source claimed Tyler and Misley stayed together after the alleged incident and later became engaged. “They were in love,” the source said. “None of this was unusual at the time.” Tyler’s case now awaits further court action after Young’s recusal and the removal of the previous trial date.