One of the girls on Lifetime's reality show Dance Moms won't get to pursue her assault lawsuit against the show's instructor, Abby Lee Miller.
The suit filed on behalf of Paige Hyland was struck Thursday by Los Angeles Superior Court judge Ruth Ann Kwan, who ruled there was insufficient evidence for the claim.
Hyland's October lawsuit, filed when she was 13, stated Miller threw a chair at her during the filming of an episode, causing her to run from the room in fear.
The complaint states Miller "is paid to be abusive and bulling to her students" and "insulted and abused Paige on an almost daily basis, including cruel name calling, insults about Paige's physical appearance and making offensive false and defamatory accusation [sic.] about Paige’s family."
The only claim was for assault related to the incident with the chair. Kwan reviewed the footage and found no reasonable way Hyland could legitimately fear being injured by her instructor.
"We are reviewing all options based upon the Court's ruling, including an appeal," Hyland's attorney Michael Shapiro tells The Hollywood Reporter. Miller was represented by Jordan Grotzinger, who declined to comment.
The Lifetime series, which premiered in 2011, centers on Miller’s interactions with the parents of her students in the Abby Lee Dance Company, which she founded and leads.
The lawsuit from Hyland isn't her family's first legal dispute with Miller. Kelly Hyland, the mother of Paige and Brooke, who also appears on the series, sued Miller in February 2014 related to an incident where Hyland was arrested for slapping Miller, allegedly because Miller tried to bite her.
She additionally claimed Miller defamed her by implying in media interviews she's an alcoholic and an unfit mother, and said Miller's "domineering and often bullying and insulting leadership style" constituted bullying and traumatized Paige into having panic attacks.
Kwan in November removed the claims of defamation and infliction of emotional distress, ruling the girls' mental state couldn't conclusively be connected to Miller's treatment. Hyland's other claims, including negligence and breaches of contract, still are part of the case.
July 16, 4:32 p.m. Updated with Hyland's attorney's comment on an appeal.
