Kevin Spacey has to stand trial in Great Britain for alleged sexual assault

LONDON – Oscar-winning U.S. actor Kevin Spacey on Tuesday overturned a London court ruling that effectively held him responsible for an alleged sexual assault on a Briton after his lawyers mistakenly failed to defend himself in a civil lawsuit.

Spacey is being sued in London’s High Court by a man, who cannot be identified for legal reasons, who claims he was sexually abused by the Hollywood star in 2008. The actor has denied the allegations.

In 2022, the 64-year-old was charged in Britain with nine sexual offenses against four men between 2004 and 2013, but was acquitted of all charges after a high-profile trial last year.

One of these four plaintiffs sued Spacey separately in a civil lawsuit in London’s High Court in 2022.

Earlier this year, a judge granted the man a “default judgment” – a judgment in his favor without a trial – after Spacey’s lawyers failed to file a timely defense in the lawsuit.

Adam Speker, a lawyer representing Spacey, said it was a “real mistake” by the actor’s legal team at renowned British law firm Carter-Ruck.

Speker argued that it would be unfair for the plaintiff to win his lawsuit against Spacey without a trial when he had been “disbelieved by a jury under oath.”

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 view, this error should not be blamed on the defendant.”

Tuesday’s ruling means the plaintiff’s case against Spacey will move to a full trial.

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