Filmmaker James Toback Ordered to Pay USD 1.7 Billion in Assault Lawsuit Filed by 40 Women; Details Inside

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In a groundbreaking decision, director James Toback is ordered to pay approximately 1.68 billion USD in a civil lawsuit following allegations of sexual misconduct spanning over 40 years. Toback has been charged with inappropriate behavior.

Over the course of his career, a 80-year-old film director has faced numerous accusations, particularly during the peak of the #MeToo movement, concerning misuse of power. Following a seven-day trial, Variety reports that the jury determined compensation damages totaling $280 million and punitive damages amounting to an astounding $1.4 billion.

Lawyer Brad Beckworth, acting on behalf of the plaintiffs, commented, “I believe this jury made a strong statement. Our aim was to amplify their message far and wide, so that those in influential roles understand that we will not accept misusing power to harm women.

In all the proceedings, Toback was nowhere to be found. Earlier, he declared the accusations baseless and asserted that any sexual encounters were consensual. Yet, when he skipped the pretrial hearings, the court granted a default verdict.

During the trial, twenty women appeared in court to speak directly, while another twenty testified using video links. They recounted how Toback used promises of acting roles to isolate them in various locations like his house, studio, or public venues, and then assaulted them thereafter.

The group of plaintiffs, consisting of individuals in their 40s, 50s, and 70s, initially filed a lawsuit against the Harvard Club in New York City, claiming that they had been subjected to Toback’s misconduct for decades within their proximity. However, this lawsuit was dismissed in 2024.

In the words of lead plaintiff Mary Monahan, the verdict served as a public validation of the survivors’ ordeals, effectively ending years marked by silence and disregard. Monahan expressed, “For decades, I bore this trauma in solitude, but today, a jury vouched for me. Believe us. This changes everything. The verdict is more than just a figure—it’s a proclamation. We are not discardable. We are not fabricators.

She stated, “We’re not casualties of someone else’s power struggle. It’s clear to the world that what he did was indeed genuine, and our actions—standing firm, voicing our opinions—were just.

In the year 2017, film director James Toback faced allegations of sexual misconduct, with notable works under his belt including The Pick-up Artist and Two Girls and a Guy.

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2025-04-10 15:37