X-Men director faces second abuse claim

Director Bryan Singer arrives at the 2014 Elton John AIDS Foundation Oscar Party in West Hollywood, California on March 2, 2014. Photo: Gus Ruelas

Director Bryan Singer arrives at the 2014 Elton John AIDS Foundation Oscar Party in West Hollywood, California on March 2, 2014. Photo: Gus Ruelas

Published Jul 4, 2014

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London - Bryan Singer has asked for a sexual abuse lawsuit against him to be dismissed.

The 'X-Men: Days of Future Past' director's attorneys filed a motion in Los Angeles federal court on Thursday to drop allegations by an anonymous British actor - identified only as John Doe No. 117 - who claims Bryan abused him as a teenager.

Singer's lawyer Marty Singer insists there is no legal basis for the lawsuit and says it was filed improperly. The filmmaker is also seeking $300,000 from the plaintiff to cover the costs of his legal fees, which are said to be "exorbitant".

The unidentified British actor's lawyer Jeffrey Herman filed a lawsuit in May against both Singer, 48, and entertainment industry executive Gary Goddard, who filed a similar motion to dismiss in June.

The actor accuses the producers of abusing him in a London hotel when he was 17 years old.

The legal case is the second to hit the Hollywood director after budding actor Michael F. Egan filed a similar lawsuit against him earlier this year.

Egan, 31, alleged he was forced to perform sex acts on the filmmaker at a Californian house party in the late 1990s after being plied with drugs and alcohol.

Singer strenuously denied any wrongdoing and believes the allegations are a concerted effort to derail the box office gross of his recently released 'X-Men' blockbuster.

He previously said: "The allegations against me are outrageous, vicious and completely false." - BANG Showbiz

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