Kate Leinbaugh

Caroline Wallner accused the acclaimed author Neil Gaiman of sexual exploitation. She said that it happened when she was a caretaker for a property Gaiman owned. Gaiman denied the allegations. Wallner approached Gloria Allred's firm, Allred, Morocco, and Goldberg, in 2021. She wanted to find a lawyer who could take on a case against such a high-profile figure.

Caroline spoke with Allred's legal partner, Nathan Goldberg. And what happened surprised her. When she told him Gaiman's lawyer's name, he told her that he actually knew that lawyer and he would call him.

Caroline spoke with Allred's legal partner, Nathan Goldberg. And what happened surprised her. When she told him Gaiman's lawyer's name, he told her that he actually knew that lawyer and he would call him.

Caroline spoke with Allred's legal partner, Nathan Goldberg. And what happened surprised her. When she told him Gaiman's lawyer's name, he told her that he actually knew that lawyer and he would call him.

After that call, things moved fast. Within a day of retaining Allred's firm, Caroline had signed a settlement with Gaiman. It included a non-disclosure agreement, or NDA, that both she and Gaiman signed. These agreements prevented her from suing Gaiman or speaking about her allegations against him to family, friends, and associates.

After that call, things moved fast. Within a day of retaining Allred's firm, Caroline had signed a settlement with Gaiman. It included a non-disclosure agreement, or NDA, that both she and Gaiman signed. These agreements prevented her from suing Gaiman or speaking about her allegations against him to family, friends, and associates.

After that call, things moved fast. Within a day of retaining Allred's firm, Caroline had signed a settlement with Gaiman. It included a non-disclosure agreement, or NDA, that both she and Gaiman signed. These agreements prevented her from suing Gaiman or speaking about her allegations against him to family, friends, and associates.

She and Gaiman were also asked to destroy photos, texts, and videos they sent each other. But the settlement wasn't the only thing Caroline signed over those quick few days. When she agreed to be a client of Allred's firm, she signed a retainer agreement, basically a contract between a lawyer and a client. Within this contract was something called a forced arbitration clause.

She and Gaiman were also asked to destroy photos, texts, and videos they sent each other. But the settlement wasn't the only thing Caroline signed over those quick few days. When she agreed to be a client of Allred's firm, she signed a retainer agreement, basically a contract between a lawyer and a client. Within this contract was something called a forced arbitration clause.

She and Gaiman were also asked to destroy photos, texts, and videos they sent each other. But the settlement wasn't the only thing Caroline signed over those quick few days. When she agreed to be a client of Allred's firm, she signed a retainer agreement, basically a contract between a lawyer and a client. Within this contract was something called a forced arbitration clause.

This clause is found in many types of contracts, and in this case was meant to prevent Caroline from taking the firm to court or publicizing her experience with the firm.

This clause is found in many types of contracts, and in this case was meant to prevent Caroline from taking the firm to court or publicizing her experience with the firm.

This clause is found in many types of contracts, and in this case was meant to prevent Caroline from taking the firm to court or publicizing her experience with the firm.

That's our colleague Khadija Safdar again.

That's our colleague Khadija Safdar again.

That's our colleague Khadija Safdar again.

It protects Allred and her firm.

It protects Allred and her firm.

It protects Allred and her firm.

Caroline said when she signed the settlement agreement, her focus wasn't on her ability to speak about her case. She said she believed at the time she was Gaiman's only accuser.