Polanski, who emigrated from Poland in the late 1960s, has long been a figure of considerable controversy worldwide. The actor and director has not admitted guilt, and neither he nor his lawyer has commented on the matter.
The woman, whose name has not been revealed, stated that when she was a teenager, Polanski took her to dinner at a restaurant in Los Angeles.
She claimed that despite her clearly articulated protests, Polanski assaulted her, causing her "suffering and immense physical and emotional pain." When she felt unwell after drinking tequila, he took her home and forced her into physical contact.
The civil lawsuit, in which she sought damages, was filed in June 2023, just before the expiration of California law that allowed for an extension of the statute of limitations for claims against alleged sexual offenders.
On Wednesday, a verdict was also reached in the case brought by British actress Charlotte Lewis against Polish director Roman Polanski, accusing him of rape when she was 16 and subsequently calling those allegations false.
The court of first instance ruled in favor of Polanski, stating that his comments in an interview did not constitute an abuse of free speech and did not address the issue of the alleged rape itself. The Appeals Court in Paris acquitted the director, but only in the civil aspect of the case.
Roman Polanski acquitted in the defamation case brought by actress Charlotte Lewis (photo: LOIC VENANCE/AFP/East News)
Source: IAR/PAP/X/@FRANCE24/@CNEWS
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