Kevin Spacey Accuser Drops Civil Lawsuit In Nantucket Case

NANTUCKET, MA — The man accusing Kevin Spacey of groping him at a Nantucket bar in July 2016 is dropping his civil lawsuit against the actor. Attorney Mitchell Garabedian, who represents Spacey's accuser, released a court filing Friday stating the suit is being voluntarily dismissed.

The lawsuit was filed on the man's behalf in Nantucket Superior Court eight days ago. The suit claimed Spacey's accuser has suffered, and will continue to suffer, "severe mental distress" and sought damages "in an amount to be determined by a jury."

Spacey still faces a felony indecent assault and battery charge, to which the actor has pleaded not guilty.

The case against Spacey began after former Boston TV anchor Heather Unruh publicly accused him of groping her then-18-year-old son at the Club Car restaurant in July 2016. Defense attorneys say texts between the man and his girlfriend show the man "continued to accept drinks" from Spacey after "boasting" that the actor had touched him, according to court documents cited by The Boston Globe.

In June, a judge granted the defense access to the accuser's phone after Spacey's lawyers argued exculpatory texts were deleted. Garabedian, who is representing Spacey's accuser, said neither the man nor his parents can find the phone and they are looking for backups.

A judge ruled the phone must be turned over by July 8.