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Jury Awards $1.68 Billion to Women in James Toback Sexual Abuse Case
In a landmark decision underscoring the power of the #MeToo movement, a New York jury on Wednesday delivered a staggering $1.68 billion judgment to 40 women who accused film director James Toback of sexual assault and related offenses spanning over three decades. Attorneys for the plaintiffs announced the verdict, marking a significant victory in a case brought under New York’s Adult Survivors Act.
Landmark Verdict in Sexual Assault Lawsuit
The ruling originates from a lawsuit initiated in Manhattan in 2022, leveraging New York State’s special legislative window. This law temporarily suspended statutes of limitations, enabling individuals to pursue legal action for sexual assault claims irrespective of when the incidents occurred.
Attorney Brad Beckworth, representing the plaintiffs from Nix Patterson LLP, characterized the award as historically significant, noting it as one of the largest jury verdicts both since the rise of the #MeToo movement and in the history of New York State during an interview.
Message to Powerful Abusers
According to Beckworth, the plaintiffs believe the substantial financial penalty sends a clear message to influential figures who mistreat women. They hope it serves as a deterrent against future misconduct.
Official court documents detailing the comprehensive verdict were pending release as of Wednesday evening. Beckworth disclosed that the total sum comprises $280 million in compensatory damages and a further $1.4 billion in punitive damages allocated to the claimants.
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“This verdict embodies justice,” Beckworth affirmed in a released statement. “Crucially, it signifies reclaiming authority from abusers and their facilitators, restoring it to those they sought to control and silence.”
Decades of Abuse Allegations
Beckworth specified that the alleged abuse occurred between 1979 and 2014, a period coinciding with Toback’s prominent career in Hollywood.
Toback, recognized for his Oscar nomination for writing the 1991 film “Bugsy,” has maintained an extensive presence in the film industry for over 40 years.
#MeToo Movement and Legal Action
Public accusations against Toback concerning years of sexual misconduct surfaced in late 2017, coinciding with the growing momentum of the #MeToo movement. The initial reports of these allegations appeared in the Los Angeles Times.
Despite reviews of five cases in 2018, Los Angeles prosecutors declined to file criminal charges against Toback, citing expired statutes of limitations at the time.
Subsequently, plaintiffs initiated civil proceedings in New York shortly after the Adult Survivors Act took effect, providing a new avenue for legal recourse.
Pattern of Deception and Coercion
Legal representatives for the women detailed a pattern in Toback’s alleged behavior. They asserted he routinely targeted young women on New York streets, deceptively promising them roles in his film projects. He would then allegedly subject them to sexual acts, issue threats, and employ psychological manipulation.
Plaintiffs’ Reaction and Validation
Mary Monahan, a leading plaintiff in the litigation, described the jury’s decision as profound “validation” for herself and the other women impacted.
“For years, I silently bore this trauma, and today, a jury believed my account. Believed all of us. This is transformative,” she stated.
“This verdict transcends monetary value—it serves as a declaration. We are not dispensable. We are not fabricating stories. We are not merely collateral damage in someone’s assertion of power. The world is now aware of the reality we have always lived: his actions were genuine and harmful.”
Toback’s Denials and Legal Arguments
Toback, aged 80, who recently represented himself in court, has consistently denied any wrongdoing. In court filings, he asserted he “committed no sexual offense” and maintained that “any sexual encounter or contact between Plaintiffs and Defendant was consensual.”
Furthermore, he challenged the constitutionality of New York’s law that broadened the statute of limitations for sexual abuse cases, arguing it infringed upon his rights.
Default Judgment and Damages Trial
Attempts to solicit comments from Toback via an email address associated with him received no immediate response.
Earlier in January, the presiding judge issued a default judgment against Toback due to his failure to appear in court when mandated.
Consequently, a trial was scheduled last month exclusively to determine the financial damages Toback was obligated to pay to the affected women.