Yahoo News Kevin Spacey assault accuser dies before civil suit trial
Note: The following article contains discussion of sexual misconduct allegations that some readers may find upsetting.
An anonymous man accusing former House of Cards actor Kevin Spacey of sexual assault has died before the civil trial could take place.
It was Spacey's own attorneys who filed court documents on Wednesday (September 18) declaring that they'd been notified of the passing by the representatives for the plaintiff, according to The Hollywood Reporter.
The two sides had only recently agreed on terms of how to proceed on a potential 7 to 11-day trial, after Spacey's legal team unsuccessfully fought to have John Doe's actual identity disclosed.
The anonymous man alleges that he was forced to touch the actor's genitals when he was working as a masseuse two years earlier at a private Malibu residence. Spacey denies the accusations.
While it will now be considerably more difficult for John Doe's heirs to continue the suit with the accuser's anonymity intact, his lawyer Genie Harrison said in a statement that his family isn't giving up yet.
"Mr Doe's family must now open his estate at the same time as planning a funeral and processing their grief," Harrison explained.
"Mr Doe was a dignified, kind, middle-aged man traumatised by Spacey's alleged sexually depraved attack. As a result of this case, other victims from around the world have reached out to our firm. Mr Doe believed their harrowing stories, and in his final months he looked forward to standing up for all of them. His fight for justice is still very much alive."
A criminal investigation into Spacey's conduct over groping allegations in Massachusetts was recently dropped when the plaintiff in that case stopped cooperating with police. The accuser later dropped civil action as well.
Rape Crisis England and Wales works towards the elimination of all forms of sexual violence and sexual misconduct. If you’ve been affected by the issues raised in this story, you can access more information on their website or by calling the National Rape Crisis Helpline on 0808 802 9999. Rape Crisis Scotland’s helpline number is 08088 01 03 02.
Readers in the US are encouraged to contact RAINN, or the National Sexual Assault Hotline on 800-656-4673.
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