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Hollywood Execs Accused of Sex Abuse Refute Allegations

Apr 22, 2014  •  Post A Comment

Three Hollywood insiders who are targeted by lawsuits accusing them of sexual abuse have responded to the allegations, with all three men denying that the accusations have any merit, according to The Hollywood Reporter.

"TV executive Garth Ancier, former Disney TV president David Neuman and Broadway producer Gary Goddard, all of whom were sued Monday for forcible child sexual abuse by Michael Egan, have denied the allegations — Neuman in a series of tweets, and Ancier and Goddard through their lawyers," the story reports.

Egan last week filed a similar suit against director Bryan Singer. "Singer’s lawyer has denied those allegations and said he has documents and witnesses to prove that Singer was not in Hawaii at the times the alleged abuse occurred. In contrast, Egan’s lawyer, Jeff Herman, says he has witnesses who will place Singer in Hawaii at those times," THR reports.

The report adds: "All four lawsuits allege wrongful conduct in 1999 in Hawaii and Los Angeles, when Egan was 17 — above the age of consent in Hawaii (16) but below it in California (18). Regardless of the age of consent, the suits also allege the use of force. The suit against Goddard includes an allegation of abuse in California when Egan was 'approximately 15 years old.'"

All of the suits were filed in Hawaii, the report notes. Herman, the plaintiff's attorney, announced the three latest lawsuits at a press conference Monday, THR notes, adding: "Herman declined to say whether any of his witnesses had actually seen any of the four defendants having sex with Egan."

Ancier's lawyer, Louise Ann Fernandez of Jeffer, Mangels, Butler & Mitchell, said: “All of the allegations made by the plaintiff against Garth Ancier are demonstrably untrue, and we are confident the courts will agree when the evidence is presented. As just one of many examples, Mr. Ancier has never even visited the estate in Hawaii where the plaintiff claims to have encountered him. Mr. Ancier is grateful to his friends, family and colleagues for their support.”

Goddard’s lawyer, Alan Grodin of Weintraub Tobin, said in an email: “Gary is in China right now and we will have a proper statement in due course but needless to say this is without merit."

In a series of tweets, Neuman said: “Hey everyone: obviously I have to be talking to and through lawyers, but I just want everyone to know right now that the disgusting allegations made against me are COMPLETELY FALSE. Also very shocking in that they don’t just stretch the truth, they are whole-cloth lies with zero basis in reality or truth. Sickening, and very evil, for anyone to lie like that, let alone in a legal document. Stay tuned; I will set the record straight. And thank you to the many friends who have reached out to me with messages of faith and support. I deeply appreciate it.”

bryan singer.pngBryan Singer

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