“Going through this and being attacked, you see why victims don’t come forward. It doesn’t make it a very pleasant thing to stand up to.”
A man who has sued “X-Men” filmmaker, Bryan Singer, claiming he had raped him as a teenager, named three more Hollywood executives in lawsuits filed on Monday.
The plaintiff had alleged sexual abuse and rape and is seeking damages exceeding $10 million.
Michael Egan, 31, who was an aspiring teen actor in Los Angeles, said television executives Garth Ancier and David Neuman, and entertainment firm executive, Gary Goddard, were part of an underage sex ring in Hollywood.
According to him, the abuse took place in late 1999 and 2000.
A representative for Mr. Goddard said he was out of the country currently.
“Goddard will “review the complaint and respond appropriately.
“Based on what we understand the allegations to be, the complaint is without merit,” the representative said.
Mr. Ancier did not respond to calls and emails seeking comment, and Mr. Neuman could not immediately be reached.
In a news conference on Monday, Mr. Egan was accompanied by his mother, Bonnie Mound, and attorney, Jeff Herman.
He told reporters that he had faced a backlash since last week when he filed his lawsuit against Mr. Singer, whose “X-Men: Days of The Future Past” film will open in U.S. theatres next month.
“Going through this and being attacked, you see why victims don’t come forward. It doesn’t make it a very pleasant thing to stand up to,” Mr. Egan said.
He did urge other victims to come forward, saying, “We have people that can protect us now.”
In the lawsuits against each individual, Egan alleged that he was induced or coerced into sexual activity at “infamous and degenerate parties”.
He said that the parties were hosted by former entertainment business executive, Marc Collins-Rector, a registered sex offender.
Mr. Egan also alleged that the sexual abuse continued on trips to Hawaii, where he said he was inappropriately touched and made to consume alcohol and drugs, and forced into anal and oral sex.
The three civil lawsuits against Messrs Ancier, Goddard and Neuman were filed on Monday in federal court in Hawaii.
Each suit has four counts, including battery and assault, requesting both compensatory and punitive damages.
Mr. Herman said they will be asking for monetary damages over $10 million, which will be decided by a jury, if the case is admitted in court.
Egan’s mother cried throughout the half-hour news conference, saying she tried to help her son contact the FBI and Los Angeles police department 14 years ago, to report the abuses.
“It’s not about money. It’s about disarming these paedophiles that use their wealth and power to escape justice,” she said.
(Reuters/NAN)
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