Accuser's lawyers in Singer abuse lawsuit want out

HONOLULU (KABC) -- Two lawyers representing a former child model who accused Hollywood creative executives of ongoing sexual abuse are working to remove themselves from the case.

Michael Egan III accused director Bryan Singer and other Hollywood executives of sexual abuse. Egan's lawyers, Jeff Herman and Mark Gallagher, filed a motion to withdraw as counsel for him. They said on Tuesday that they do not talk to Egan now except through a new lawyer.

Singer has previously denied the accusations against him.

Egan previously dropped three similar Hawaii lawsuits against other Hollywood figures.

One of the accused men, Garth Ancier, filed a malicious-prosecution lawsuit against Egan. Singer has filed to have the case dismissed.

Egan, 31, accuses Singer of sexually abusing him during trips to Hawaii in 1999 when Egan was 17. Singer denies the allegations.

Singer, director of the "X-Men" series of movies, has maintained he was never in Hawaii during the time the alleged abuse occurred there. He said he was in Toronto working on the first "X-Men" movie there during the time of the alleged abuse.

Gallagher and Herman said their relationship with Egan "has broken down completely and cannot be repaired." The lawyers said they could not give a full explanation except under seal.

Herman announced in April that lawsuits were filed against Singer, Garth Ancier, Gary Goddard and David Neuman. They were accused of being in a sex ring in which Singer is alleged to have taken part.

Egan claims Singer raped him numerous times starting when he was 15 years old, continuing until he was 17. Egan says that he contacted the LAPD and the FBI in 1999 when the alleged abuse took place.

Egan says he was an aspiring child actor when he was invited to house parties in Encino, hosted by one of Singer's business associates, Marc Collins-Rector, now a registered sex offender.

Herman filed the civil lawsuit against Singer in Hawaii because that state has temporarily suspended the statute of limitations when it comes to child sex abuse cases. Egan said recent trauma therapy has inspired him to take action against Singer.

Egan is seeking more than $75,000 on each of four accusations against Singer: intentional infliction of emotional distress, battery, assault and invasion of privacy.

Singer's attorney Martin Singer (no relation) says his client has credit card receipts, phone records, and other evidence that shows his client was not even in Hawaii when some of the abuse is alleged to have occurred. He says he can also prove the director was working on a movie in Toronto at the time.

Martin Singer, said in a statement that Egan's lawyers were willing to settle the case for a low amount, demonstrating a "lack of confidence in their chances for success." The amount was not specified.

The lawyer shuffle in Egan's case against Singer comes as the court is scheduled to consider a motion from Singer to dismiss the case Sept. 9. Lawyers for Singer asked Tuesday to keep the hearing as scheduled.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.