Kevin Spacey Headed to Trial in U.K. Over Civil Sexual Assault Claim

Kevin Spacey‘s legal troubles are still rumbling on.

The actor is set to face a civil trial in the U.K. after being sued by a man who alleges Spacey sexually assaulted him.

The man — who has been granted anonymity by the court — claims he “suffered psychiatric damage and other financial loss” as a result of the alleged sexual assault, which he says took place in August 2008.

The trial date has not yet been confirmed but documents are set to be exchanged in early 2025.

The actor’s legal team was back in court on Tuesday morning to set aside a default judgment in favor of the claimant after Spacey’s solicitors failed to file his defence in time. Spacey did not attend.

Calling the solicitors’ error a “muck up,” Judge David Cook reluctantly agreed to set aside the judgment so “injustice is avoided.”

The civil claim, which was filed in July 2022, was paused until the outcome of the criminal trial. Last summer Spacey was cleared of wrongdoing in the criminal courts after a jury found him not guilty of nine charges, including sexual assault and indecent assault, following allegations by four men.

Spacey’s lawyers were required to file his defence following the conclusion of the criminal trial but failed to do so due to a “genuine error,” his barrister said in court.

Had the judge denied the application, the case would have proceeded to a damages hearing to quantify how much the claimant should be awarded.

Noting that the lawyers had made a “serious and significant” error, Master Cook said “in my view that error should not be visited upon the defendant.”

“The interests of justice require the allegations go forward to trial and the judgment in default be lifted.”