California Superior Court Judge Denise de Bellefeuille threw out charges from both sides yesterday (July 31) in Santa Barbara.
For several months, the two sides have been clashing with charges of sexual misconduct. Gibson claims to have been a victim of sexual abuse and inappropriate actions by Lowe.
The actor claims that the former nanny wanted to extort $1.5 million in exchange for her silence. He is charging Gibson with defamation and is asking for compensation for more than one million dollars.
Yesterday, the judge ruled that the 44-year-old actor cannot pursue his case of defamation, stating that the 24-year-old woman is protected by the laws of working conditions.
"This is a huge victory for us today," said Gibson’s lawyer, Gloria Allred. "We look forward to continuing with our sexual harassment suit against the Lowes."
The actor’s lawyer also saw the ruling as a victory. "We didn’t lose anything today," Lowe’s attorney Larry Stein told People. "I’m delighted with the dismissal we won, and in essence, our lawsuit against Gibson remains totally intact."
Gibson was accompanied by her father in court, while Lowe did not attend.
Since the accusations were filed last April, another former nanny, Laura Boyce, has claimed that she was also sexually harassed by the Brothers & Sisters star.