Oscar-winning American actor Kevin Spacey saw a London court ruling that found him liable for sexually assaulting a British man overturned on Tuesday after the actor’s lawyers mistakenly failed to present his case in a civil case.
Spacey was sued in London’s High Court by a man who cannot be named for legal reasons, claiming he was sexually assaulted by the Hollywood star in 2008. The actor has denied the allegations.
In 2022, Spacey, 64, was charged in the United Kingdom with nine sexual offenses against four men between 2004 and 2013, but was cleared of all charges following a high-profile trial last year. One of these four plaintiffs sued Spacey separately in a civil case at the High Court in London in 2022.
Earlier this year, a judge ruled in favor of the plaintiff “in absentia” — without a trial — after Spacey’s lawyers failed to file a lawsuit in time.
Adam Spaker is one of the attorneys representing Spacey and Whom Owned by a major British law firm Carter-Rugg said it was a “genuine mistake” by the actor’s legal team. The speaker argued that it would be unfair for the plaintiff to win her case against Spacey without a trial, who was “discredited under the oath of a jury”.
Judge Jeremy Cook ruled in Spacey’s favor and overturned the default judgment against the actor. “The defendant’s attorneys made a mistake,” Cook said. “In my opinion, the defendant should not be punished for this error.”
Tuesday’s decision, a day after Britain’s Channel 4 aired a documentary with testimony from several people alleging inappropriate behavior by Spacey, means the plaintiff’s case against the actor will go to a new trial.
Spacey gave an interview to British radio host Don Wootton before it aired on Channel 4, in which he denied any illegal activity and said he was “not going to allow himself to be attacked without foundation or defense”.
“I take full responsibility for my past behavior and actions, but I cannot take responsibility or apologize to anyone who did things. Or Exaggerated stories About me,” he said.
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