LOS ANGELES—In a significant legal development, the Los Angeles Superior Court has ruled in favor of Nikki Benz, dismissing Lisa Ann’s application for a temporary restraining order. This decision comes after the court granted Benz’s anti-SLAPP motion, marking a decisive victory in the publicized dispute between the two adult film stars.
The legal saga began on February 13th when Lisa Ann filed for a temporary restraining order (TRO) against Nikki Benz. This action followed a heated exchange on Twitter, widely dubbed the “Twitter War,” which garnered media attention from outlets like TMZ and various other news sources. The public feud quickly escalated, leading to the courtroom drama that has now reached a resolution.
Nikki Benz responded to the TRO with an anti-SLAPP (Strategic Lawsuit Against Public Participation) motion. This motion argued that Lisa Ann’s application was frivolous and lacked evidentiary support. After a thorough hearing on Monday, the court sided with Benz, granting her anti-SLAPP motion in its entirety. Lisa Ann, recognized for her role as Sarah Palin in the Nailin’ Paylin series and a retiree from the adult film industry last year, found her claims of harassment unconvincing to the court. Nikki Benz, a Penthouse Pet of the Year recipient who recently gained attention for a mock mayoral run in Toronto, successfully defended herself against these allegations.
Judge John L. Segal, presiding over the case in the Los Angeles Superior Court, concluded that Nikki Benz’s tweets and statements about Lisa Ann, including remarks made at an awards show in January 2015, did not constitute actionable harassment. The court’s ruling explicitly stated that Lisa Ann “failed to submit sufficient evidence to demonstrate her petition has the minimal merit.” This underscored the court’s view that the threshold for harassment was not met in this instance.
The origins of the conflict trace back to December 21, 2014, when Benz initiated the online sparring with a tweet challenging Ann to a charity boxing match, stating she wanted to “beat your ass.” Subsequent tweets from Benz alleged that Ann had “next to zero friends left in this industry,” and included derogatory terms such as “hooker” and “old.” Following these online exchanges, Lisa Ann claimed to have been bombarded with anonymous and threatening phone calls and voicemails. One particularly alarming voicemail allegedly contained the threat, “I’m going to fucking kill you! I know exactly who you are … I know who you are!”
Nikki Benz and Lisa Ann in a news report about their legal dispute
Lisa Ann further detailed the menacing nature of these calls, emphasizing her concern as only a limited number of people, including a security guard allegedly linked to Benz, had her home phone number. She also reported receiving similar threats on her cell phone. In one disturbing call, the anonymous caller purportedly recited her social security number, driver’s license details, and other private information not publicly accessible. The threats escalated to include graphic violence, such as threats to “dismember a baby” and renewed death threats, alongside demands for money. Adding to her claims of harassment, Ann alleged that Benz heckled her during an awards presentation and directed “menacing looks” towards her.
These escalating incidents led Lisa Ann to file for the TRO, accusing Nikki Benz of civil harassment. Thirteen days later, Benz countered with the anti-SLAPP motion, arguing that Ann’s lawsuit was an attempt to stifle free speech. The California Anti-SLAPP Project defines a SLAPP lawsuit as a complaint where the alleged harm stems from “petitioning or free speech activities protected by the First Amendment.” Benz’s legal team effectively argued that the TRO was a form of civil complaint that infringed upon her right to free speech.
The legal battle culminated on Monday with Judge Segal’s extensive ruling. After a detailed examination of the claims and counterclaims from both actresses, Judge Segal concluded that Lisa Ann’s allegations did not constitute a credible threat warranting a restraining order.
Following the court’s decision, Nikki Benz expressed her relief and determination. “I am thrilled that the Court has thrown out Lisa Ann’s frivolous case for supposed harassment against me,” Benz stated in a press release. “I intend to pursue her for all damages she has caused me as a result. Filing legal cases just to get in TMZ is just sad. A big thank you to all adult stars and industry people who showed me support on Twitter and in court. The overwhelming support is greatly appreciated.”
Stephen M. Kernan, Nikki Benz’s attorney, highlighted the broader implications of the case, stating, “This case involved interesting issues of First Amendment, publicity and social media. Courts would be overflowing with even more cases if they allowed ‘harassment’ cases to proceed every time a Twitter war breaks out. True harassment cases must be supported with evidence, not manufactured theories that make great soundbites on TMZ. We are glad the Court ruled in Nikki Benz’s favor. The statute now requires Murphy pay Ms. Benz’s attorney’s fees incurred in this matter, and we intend to file a motion for those fees shortly.”
AVN has reached out to legal representatives for both parties seeking further comments and will update with any responses received.
