James Toback was mandated to pay $1.68 billion after his sexual assault case in New York.
On Wednesday, the director—who was one of the initial figures named during the start of the #MeToo movement in 2017—was charged with abusing his power over several decades in a lawsuit filed by 40 women. The court ruled that Toback was guilty of sexual assault, false imprisonment, coercion, and causing psychological harm.
Brad Beckworth, the lead counsel for the plaintiffs, stated, “This ruling isn’t just about achieving justice; it’s primarily about reclaiming authority from perpetrators—and their accomplices—from those they sought to dominate and quiet.” He added, “A few years back, during the inception of the #MeToo movement, many believed that society had moved beyond instances where powerful men exploited women, robbing them of their self-respect and integrity as part of career advancement schemes. Unfortunately, our understanding has evolved: the movement did not cover all bases. We continue to face numerous individuals abusing their influence within our nation—alongside countless others who choose to ignore such misconduct.”
Beckworth went on: “Today, a jury from the larger New York Community made their stance abundantly clear and delivered a message with resonance well beyond these walls of the courthouse: nobody stands above responsibility. The journey isn’t concluded; there remains much labor ahead.”
A panel consisting of six jurors granted a sum of $280 million in compensatory damages along with $1.4 billion intended as punitive damages to the claimants. The winning legal representatives think this ruling might set a record as the largest sexual abuse settlement ever documented in the annals of New York State litigation.
“This isn’t merely a ruling—it’s confirmation,” stated Mary Monahan, one of the principal plaintiffs. “For years, I harbored this pain alone, but today, a jury validated my experience. They acknowledged ours. Everything has shifted because of this decision. It’s about more than just figures; it’s a statement. We aren’t expendable. We aren’t deceivers. We aren’t incidental casualties in another person’s quest for control. Now, the world recognizes what we’ve long understood: his actions were genuine. Our act of rising against him—by speaking truth to power—is justified.”
Toback authored the screenplay for the 1991 movie \”Bugsy\” and took on writing and directing roles in movies such as \”Tyson,\” \”The Pick-Up Artist,\” and \”Two Guys and a Girl.\”
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James Toback Mandated to Pay $1.7 Billion in Sexual Assault Ruling After Lawsuit Initiated by 40 Women
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