A Torrance Superior Court judge has signed off on a tightly limited new round of questioning for Aerosmith frontman Steven Tyler, giving the woman suing him another crack at his finances and possible witness bias while keeping the scope on a very short leash. The order confines the deposition to confirming Tyler’s net worth disclosures and the circumstances of his meetings with two witnesses, as both sides gear up for a late August trial.
Judge narrows scope of Tyler questioning
Judge Patricia A. Young ruled that the fresh deposition may focus only on verifying the accuracy and completeness of Tyler’s stated net worth and on the details surrounding his meetings with two witnesses before they gave declarations or sat for depositions. She also rejected the plaintiff’s request to depose two other third-party witnesses, finding they were unlikely to offer admissible testimony. The plaintiff’s attorneys say they want to explore whether the two cleared witnesses became biased after meeting with Tyler, according to MyNewsLA.
Case timeline and allegations
The suit, filed in December 2022, alleges the plaintiff began a relationship with Tyler in 1973 when she was 16, that she became pregnant in 1975, and that she later had an abortion she says occurred under pressure. The complaint states that Tyler obtained guardianship so the teen could travel with him on tour, and the court filings incorporate excerpts from Tyler’s memoirs and earlier testimony, as reported by Rolling Stone.
Legal stakes before trial
Tyler initially raised a caregiver and guardian immunity defense but later dropped that argument, a shift the plaintiff’s lawyers say should allow them to ask why he previously believed he was immune. Judges have already trimmed the case by dismissing most claims tied to alleged conduct outside California, leaving a single California based allegation to go before a jury. The procedural history and earlier rulings are summarized in the court’s minute order and accompanying legal coverage by LegalClarity.
What’s next
Under the latest order, the plaintiff may ask Tyler limited questions about his finances, even though his declaration identifies his director of business management as the person best equipped to address his assets. Lawyers for both sides are expected to argue over the timing and exact scope of the deposition before the case reaches a jury on Aug. 31, 2026, according to MyNewsLA.
