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 actually win his lawsuit against Spacey without a trial if 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.

Kevin Spacey acquitted of all sexual assault charges: the British trial against the actor has been explained

The ruling comes a day after Britain’s Channel 4 aired a documentary featuring statements from several men who made allegations of inappropriate behavior by Spacey.

Spacey gave an interview to British broadcaster Dan Wootton ahead of the show in which he denied any illegal activity and said he would not allow himself to be “attacked for no reason without defending himself.”

“I take full responsibility for my past behavior and actions, but I cannot and will not take responsibility or apologize to anyone who has made up things about me or told exaggerated stories about me,” he said.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Kevin Spacey faces trial in UK over alleged sexual assault