Crispin Glover, the actor still most closely associated with playing George McFly in Back to the Future, is now at the center of a Los Angeles civil lawsuit that accuses him of battery, fraud, and several related claims. The complaint, filed by a woman identified in court papers only as Jane Doe, alleges she was lured from the United Kingdom, used as unpaid labor, and forced into a sexual relationship while living at Glover’s Los Angeles home. Glover’s representatives have denied the accusations and say he intends to fight the case in court.
What the complaint alleges
According to Entertainment Weekly, the lawsuit says Doe first connected with Glover on social media in 2015. They later met in person in 2023 in Dresden, Germany, where she alleges he showed her Nazi memorabilia from his collection. The filing describes Doe as a model from the United Kingdom who lives with autism spectrum disorder.
The complaint states that Glover persuaded Doe to relocate to Los Angeles in early 2024 with promises of housing and work. Once there, she allegedly became isolated and monitored, and was pressured into unpaid work and sexual relations while staying at his residence.
Alleged March 2024 incident and eviction
The suit describes an incident on March 2, 2024, when Doe says she left the property to attend a mosque. When she returned, she alleges she found herself locked out. According to the complaint, she tried to reenter the house to retrieve her pets, at which point Glover allegedly grabbed her neck and choked her, leaving a visible wound.
In a statement to the Los Angeles Times, Glover’s attorney said, “Mr. Glover denies these baseless allegations in the strongest possible terms,” adding that Glover plans to vigorously defend himself.
Claims, counsel and remedy sought
The complaint lists causes of action including battery, fraud, wrongful eviction, malicious prosecution and intentional infliction of emotional distress. It also alleges violations of California’s Tom Bane Civil Rights Act and seeks both compensatory and punitive damages, as well as a jury trial, according to Fox News.
Media reports state that Doe is represented by attorney Dev Das of Geragos & Geragos, and that both sides point to law-enforcement records to support their version of events. TMZ reported that Glover’s team claims he was the one assaulted and that he sought a restraining order against Doe, which was later dismissed.
Legal context: the Bane Act
The complaint invokes California’s Tom Bane Civil Rights Act, codified at Cal. Civil Code § 52.1. Under that statute, a person can bring a civil claim when someone uses threats, intimidation or coercion to interfere with their protected rights. The law allows for damages and other equitable relief if a plaintiff can show that their rights were interfered with by force or coercion.
The scope of that statute, and whether the facts alleged in Doe’s complaint fit within it, are likely to be central questions if the case moves into motion practice or eventually reaches a jury. Cal. Civ. Code § 52.1 sets out the statutory framework.
What happens next
The case is in its early stages in Los Angeles County Superior Court, and no trial date has been set. The plaintiff has requested a jury trial and is seeking damages, according to reporting by Fox News. In the coming weeks, the parties are expected to trade filings and motions as lawyers and the court sort through police records and the detailed allegations in the lawsuit.
Local angle
For Los Angeles readers, the filing is a reminder that civil cases involving well known residents rarely stay private for long once they hit the courthouse. Glover, 61, has built a decades long career that includes his breakout role in Back to the Future and a steady run of independent films. His filmography is listed on IMDb, and he has previously been involved in litigation over the commercial use of his likeness.
