One of the main allegations against Bryan Singer is set to be settled out of court after the director agreed to pay $150,000 (around €133,000) to resolve allegations that he raped a 17-year-old boy in 2003.
In December 2017, Cesar Sanchez-Guzman filed a lawsuit alleging the director sexually assaulted him at a yacht party in Seattle. The move came shortly after Mr Singer was fired from his role as manager of Bohemian Rhapsody. Mr. Singer has denied the allegations.
In a filing Wednesday, a bankruptcy trustee recommended the court approve a $150,000 settlement with Mr. Singer. Mr Sanchez-Guzman filed for bankruptcy in 2014 and the case was dismissed. The bankruptcy trustee reopened the case in 2018, on the grounds that Mr. Sanchez-Guzman’s claim against Singer was not among his assets and that any proceeds should be available to his creditors.
In a statement, Mr Singer’s lawyer, Andrew Brettler, said the director maintains his innocence. He said: ‘The debtor filed a claim against Mr Singer which he had no basis or legal right to file. Mr. Singer denied even knowing the individual, let alone having allegedly interacted with him over 15 years ago.
“The decision to settle the matter with the trustee in bankruptcy was purely commercial, as the legal costs would far exceed the amount sought by the trustee to repay creditors who owed money when the debtor filed for bankruptcy.”
Creditors would seek $61,000 under the agreement, most of which represents student loan debt. The extra funds will be used to pay for the administration of the case. Mr. Sanchez-Guzman will finish with the rest.
If the settlement is approved, Mr. Sanchez-Guzman’s lawsuit will be dismissed with prejudice. Bohemian Rhapsody, Freddie Mercury’s Oscar-winning biopic, earned Mr Singer at least $40 million. – Guardian
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