Breaking: Kevin Spacey Found Not Liable in Sex Abuse Case
(CNN) — [Breaking news update, published at 4:12 p.m. ET]In a victory for Kevin Spacey, a New York jury has found him not liable for battery on allegations he picked up actor Anthony Rapp and briefly laid on top of him in a bed after a party in 1986.[Original story, published at 2:50 p.m.
ET]Closing arguments are underway in the civil sexual misconduct trial against Kevin Spacey, stemming from allegations made by actor Anthony Rapp.Best known for his role in "Star Trek: Discovery," Rapp claims that in 1986, Spacey, then 26, invited Rapp, then 14, to his Manhattan home where he picked Rapp up, laid him down on his bed, grabbed his buttocks and pressed his groin into Rapp's body without his consent.He is suing Spacey for battery.Judge Lewis Kaplan dismissed Rapp's claim of assault before the trial started and dismissed his claim of intentional infliction of emotional distress after Rapp's attorneys rested his case, leaving the jury to decide only the battery claim.
Under New York law, battery is touching another person, without their consent, in a way that a reasonable person would find offensive.In his closing argument, Rapp's attorney Richard Steigman suggested Spacey twisted his testimony at trial to suit his defense, pointing to Spacey's 2017 apology to Rapp when he first came forward."Don't listen to what I said in real time.
I'm defending a lawsuit now. Listen to me now. I've got it straightened out," Steigman said, mocking Spacey's attempt to convince the jury he was coerced by publicists to give the statement he testified he now regrets.Steigman called Spacey's testimony rehearsed in comparison to the raw testimony given by his client."When you're rehearsed, and a world class actor and you're following the script.
