Roman Polanski, a French-Polish film director responsible for movies like Rosemary’s Baby and The Pianist, is currently hiding out in Europe. He has refused to return to the United States because he fears arrest — and rightfully so. The award-winning director faces multiple allegations of heinous crimes: sexual abuse of a child.
The most recent claim comes from a woman who filed a civil lawsuit against Polanski alleging he raped her when she was a minor. The woman asserts that Polanski’s assault occurred in 1973. Polanski was served with this latest lawsuit while in Paris, where he is facing allegations of defamation by a British actor. The actor alleges defamation after the director called her a liar when she came forward with similar allegations of sexual assault.
Polanski has had similar past brushes with the law. In 1977, he settled with Los Angeles prosecutors after a 13-year-old-girl accused him of rape. Shortly after he agreed to the prosecutor’s terms, he fled to Europe fearing the judge would reject the deal. He faces multiple orders to appear in court but has yet to return to the United States. Thus far, Polish courts have rejected U.S. efforts to extradite Polanski.
Can Polanski Be Held Accountable in the United States?
While efforts to extradite Polanski to the United States for criminal charges have not been successful, victims of his sexual assault may still have a path to justice. The law does not require defendants be present for civil matters. As such, Polanski’s victims can hold him accountable through civil lawsuits even if he does not return to the United States.
How Long Do Victims of Sexual Assault Have to File Claims?
Victims of sexual assault may be concerned about whether their abuse may have happened to long ago to bring suit. The law often has deadlines that guide when victims can file a claim. These deadlines, known in the legal world as the statute of limitations, are strict. A failure to file within the deadline can mean the victim loses their ability to move forward with a case.
Thankfully, this is not always true. In this most recent example involving Polanski, the assault occurred in 1973, more than fifty years ago, and yet it can still proceed. That is because, in California, lawmakers recently passed the Child Victims Act which extends the statute of limitations for victims in this situation. Each state has its own rules, and many allow for such an extension, especially for those who survive sexual assault as a child.
Those suffering child sexual assault have options and may be able to hold their abusers accountable. Victims should seek legal counsel from professionals with experience in these matters to see if they may have timely claims.