Kevin Spacey Accuser Files Civil Lawsuit In Nantucket Case

NANTUCKET, MA — A civil lawsuit has been filed on behalf of the man accusing actor Kevin Spacey of groping him at a Nantucket bar in 2016. Attorney Mitchell Garabedian announced the lawsuit, which asks for a trial and seeks damages "in an amount to be determined by a jury."

The suit claims Spacey's accuser has suffered, and will continue to suffer, "severe mental distress." The lawsuit is separate from the 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.

Earlier this month, 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.