Actor Kevin Spacey cleared in 1986 sex assault case by New York court

A jury found that Anthony Rapp, who was seeking damages for ‘emotional anguish’, failed to prove that the two-time Oscar winner had ‘touched a sexual or intimate body part’

A New York court on October 20 dismissed a $40 million sexual misconduct lawsuit brought against Kevin Spacey by an actor who claimed the Hollywood star targeted him when he was 14.

A jury found that Anthony Rapp, who was seeking damages for "emotional anguish," failed to prove that the two-time Oscar winner had "touched a sexual or intimate body part," leading Judge Lewis Kaplan to dismiss the civil case.

After deliberating for about an hour "the jury found the defendant not liable," according to the U.S. district court for the Southern District of New York.

The 63-year-old star of The Usual Suspects and House of Cards was seen leaving court soon after the verdict was announced, without addressing reporters.

His lawyer said in a statement that "Mr. Spacey is grateful to live in a country where the citizens have a right to trial by impartial jurors who make their decision based on evidence and not rumor or social media."

Mr. Rapp "told his truth in court," said his attorney Peter Saghir in a statement to AFP.

"While we respect the jury's verdict, nothing changes what happened to him," he added.