Roman Polanski escapes American justice once again

The civil trial was scheduled to take place in August 2025 in Los Angeles. Accused of r a p e of a minor for acts that occurred in 1973, Roman Polanski, 91, has escaped American justice once again, after an agreement was reached between the two parties.

Alexander Rufus-Isaacs, the lawyer for the Franco-Polish director, announced that the case had been "settled during the summer after mutual satisfaction of the parties" and that the trial was "formally cancelled", reports AFP.

According to the complaint filed in June 2023, Roman Polanski allegedly took the plaintiff — then a teenager — to a Los Angeles restaurant in 1973, where he served her tequila before taking her to his home and abusing her. The victim sought compensation for damages.

The plaintiff, who has always wished to remain anonymous, has called on lawyer Gloria Allred (photo) to defend her, a figure in the #MeToo movement and representative of the victims of former producer Harvey Weinstein.

In March 2023, the famous lawyer spoke to the press about this case. "[The plaintiff] told him 'please don't do this.'" She claims that he "refused her requests," explained Gloria Allred. "She also claims that the defendant Polanski removed the plaintiff's clothing and then s e x u a l l y assaulted her, causing her immense physical and emotional suffering," she added.

Since the beginning of this case, Roman Polanski's defense has always "firmly refuted any accusation of r a p e."

During his career, the Oscar-winning director has been accused by a dozen women of sexual assault and rape, recalls the French publication Le Monde. Accusations that Roman Polanski has always denied.

The filmmaker's presence at the civil trial, initially scheduled for August 2025, remained uncertain. Roman Polanski is in fact considered a fugitive in the United States, and is the subject of an international arrest warrant issued by the American justice system.

In 1977, the director of 'Rosemary's Baby' (1968) was arrested and charged in Los Angeles with having "unlawful s e x u a l inter course" with Samantha Geimer, who was 13 at the time of the crime. After pleading guilty, he was sentenced to 90 days in jail, but was released after 42 days for good behavior. Sensitive to press criticism, the judge reversed course and wanted to reexamine the case.

To escape American justice, Roman Polanski then fled to France, where he was able to benefit from French legislation, refusing the extradition of its citizens.

Later, his victim, Samantha Geimer, publicly forgave him and repeatedly asked for the charges to be dropped, but the American justice system has always refused to close the case. According to the American media CBS, Roman Polanski paid her the sum of 500,000 dollars.

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