By Aaron Miller-
Legal troubles are mounting for renowned filmmaker Roman Polanski,(pictured) already on trial in France for disputing sexual assault claims, now confronts an upcoming trial in the United States concerning allegations of raping a minor dating back to 1973.
The lawsuit was filed by an unidentified plaintiff last year in Los Angeles Superior Court, but was not allowed to disclose Polanski as the defendant. Gloria Allred, who represents the woman, said that the court recently permitted her to file an amended complaint naming Polanski.
The trial is scheduled to commence on August 4, 2025, as revealed by plaintiff’s lawyer Gloria Allred during a press conference today.
Accompanied by Jane Doe, whose identity has been previously abbreviated in 2017, Allred disclosed that the 90-year-old Polanski was served papers at his residence in Paris by a process server.
The Los Angeles Superior Court assigned the trial date on March 8, stated Allred.
Polanski, a long-time fugitive from American justice, is unlikely to appear in the Los Angeles court.
However, Allred asserted that they intend to depose him, although she left open the possibility of a settlement before the trial.
The lawsuit, initially filed last May and amended in June, alleges that Polanski provided alcohol to Jane Doe before sexually assaulting her in his Los Angeles home in 1973. Doe claims that despite her pleas, Polanski raped her, resulting in significant physical and emotional distress over the past five decades.
Polanski’s lawyer, Alexander Rufus-Isaacs, denied the allegations and emphasized Polanski’s insistence on addressing the matter in court. Polanski, who won the Best Director Oscar in 2003 for
The Pianist has been in self-imposed exile in Europe since fleeing the U.S. over 40 years ago after being convicted of raping Samantha Geimer, then 13 years old. Geimer reached a settlement with Polanski years later, expressing her desire for the matter to be left alone.
Despite his French citizenship and support from prominent figures in the entertainment industry, Polanski faces multiple accusations of sexual assault.
Various women, including German actress Renate Langer and American artist Marianne Barnard, have accused him of assault during the 1970s when they were minors.
Charlotte Lewis accused Polanski of assaulting her in 1983, prompting the ongoing trial in Paris after Polanski dismissed her claims as false.
Polanski has denied all allegations except for the incident involving Samantha Geimer.