Joseph Gatt, known for his role in 'Game of Thrones,' has filed a $40 million lawsuit against Los Angeles District Attorney George Gascón, the City of Los Angeles, L.A. County, and others. This comes after Gatt was arrested in April 2022 on charges of online sexually explicit communication with a minor across state lines, which were later dismissed in February.
The lawsuit alleges a botched criminal investigation that led to the intentional destruction of Gatt's career and reputation. Gatt claims he was arrested based on fabricated evidence from a then-16-year-old fan, referred to as 'Jane Doe,' whom he had never met.
The documents state that Gatt's interactions with Jane Doe on Instagram were appropriate and typical of celebrity-fan exchanges. However, Jane Doe allegedly manufactured fake sexual conversations on Snapchat and reported them to authorities in Washington state.
The lawsuit accuses the defendants of failing to verify the authenticity of the evidence before Gatt's arrest. It also claims that Deputy District Attorney Angela Brunson had personal biases against Gatt due to their differing political beliefs.
As a result of the arrest and subsequent publicity, Gatt lost professional opportunities, faced death threats, and had to sell his high-performance car to cover legal expenses. The lawsuit seeks to recover damages for the violation of Gatt's constitutional rights and the harm caused to his reputation and mental well-being.
Representatives for the L.A. District Attorney's Office and the LAPD have not yet responded to requests for comment. Gatt's attorney has stated that the charges against his client were based on fabricated evidence.
