Disgraced director Roman Polanski sues Oscars academy over being expelled for sexual misconduct
- Polanski wants court to compel Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences to reinstate his membership
- Lawsuit claims organisation did not give him sufficient notice of expulsion or allow him to argue case in person during appeal
Roman Polanski asked a judge on Friday to restore his membership in the organisation that bestows the Academy Awards nearly a year after he was expelled from it for sexual misconduct.
Lawyers for the 85-year-old fugitive director petitioned Los Angeles Superior Court to compel the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences to make him a member in good standing again.
In May, the academy made the rare move of expelling Polanski and Bill Cosby, months after ending the membership of disgraced movie mogul Harvey Weinstein.
Polanski appealed the decision, and in January the academy rejected his appeal.
Friday’s five-page filing states that by not giving Polanski sufficient notice of his expulsion, and not letting him or his lawyer argue his case in person during the appeal, the academy “failed to comply with its own rules, policies and regulations”.