Michael Egan Attorneys Apologize, Pay Hollywood Executives for ‘Untrue’ Sex Abuse Claims

The former lawyers for Michael Egan, who accused several Hollywood figures of shocking sex abuse last year, have issued apologies to two of the accused, Garth Ancier and David A. Neuman, and paid a seven-figure settlement to both.

“I sincerely apologize for bringing lawsuits against you on behalf of my former client Michael Egan,” Jeff Herman wrote in letter to Ancier and Neuman, as obtained by theWrap.

The apologies and settlement bring to a close shocking allegations of sexual misconduct against well-known Hollywood executives, which the executives from the start rejected as wholesale lies. Garth Ancier is a former president of NBC, and Neuman is a former Disney executive.

Herman added:

“As you know, I withdrew from representing Mr. Egan two months after filing the complaints. Based on what I know now, I believe that I participated in making what I now know to be untrue and proveably false allegations against you. Had I known what I learned after filing the lawsuits, I would never have filed these claims against you. I deeply regret the pain, suffering and damage the lawsuit and publicity have caused you, and your family, friends and colleagues. I sincerely regret my role in this matter and for the harm that I caused. I have resolved this matter with compensation to you. I am hopeful that you can recover fully.”

In a separate statement, attorney Mark Gallagher wrote: “I sincerely apologize to Mr. David Neuman for my part in bringing a lawsuit against him on behalf of my former client Michael Egan.  Unfortunately, I now do not believe that the allegations in the lawsuit were true and accurate, I deeply regret the unjustified pain, suffering and significant damage the lawsuit and publicity has caused Mr. Neuman and his family, friends, and colleagues.” Gallagher is based in Hawaii where the lawsuits were filed.

Neuman issued a statement thanking his attorneys, Patty Glaser and Andy Baum.

“I would like to thank my family, friends, and colleagues for their steadfast support through this,” Neuman wrote. “You have been amazing. You knew that these charges were all lies, and your support was unwavering. I thank you all with all of my heart.”

Egan made headlines last April after alleging that “X-Men” director Bryan Singer, Ancier, Neuman and Broadway producer Gary Goddard had sexually abused him. All four denied the claims, and holes in Egan’s story quickly became apparent. The lawsuits against the executives were dropped but Ancier and Neuman brought malicious prosecution cases against the attorneys.

Singer and Goddard were not included in the apology.

Egan, who was a teenage model and aspiring actor, claimed that the abuse began when he was 15. In a news conference held on April 17 at the Four Seasons Hotel in Beverly Hills, Egan said, “I am a survivor of childhood sexual abuse… No one at a young age ever deserves to go through the horrific junk that I went through as a kid.” Attorney Herman, who sat by his side, went on to say that he had been investigating the case for six months, adding, “Hollywood’s got a problem.”

But the story quickly began to unravel. Adding to Egan’s troubles, in December, he was indicted on federal wire fraud charges. According to the FBI, he “engaged in a fraudulent investment scheme by inducing his victims to enter into various fictitious business and investment contracts” from August 2007 to February 2012.