A New York jury has awarded $1.68 billion in damages to 40 women who accused writer and director James Toback of sexual misconduct over a lengthy period spanning 35 years. The verdict was announced on Wednesday and marks a significant moment in the ever-evolving narrative of sexual abuse cases, particularly in the wake of the #MeToo movement.
The decision is rooted in a lawsuit filed in Manhattan in 2022, following the enactment of a New York law that opened a one-year window for individuals to file civil lawsuits regarding sexual assault claims, regardless of when those incidents occurred. This verdict is one of the largest jury awards related to such claims in New York state history, according to plaintiff attorney Brad Beckworth from the law firm Nix Patterson LLP. He emphasized that the ruling aims to convey a critical message to influential figures who perpetrate such abuses.
Although court documentation detailing the verdict had not been made available by Wednesday evening, Beckworth noted that the jury awarded $280 million for compensatory damages and an impressive $1.4 billion in punitive damages. He remarked that this ruling symbolizes not just a quest for justice, but also a reclamation of power from abusers and their enablers.
The timeline of abuse accusations against Toback stretches from 1979 to 2014. Initially gaining traction in late 2017 as the #MeToo movement gained momentum, the allegations against Toback were first detailed by the Los Angeles Times. He was nominated for an Oscar for his work on the 1991 film “Bugsy” and has a lengthy career in Hollywood, which has included a plethora of acclaimed projects.
In 2018, prosecutors in Los Angeles stated that five cases against Toback could not proceed due to expired statutes of limitations. Consequently, the plaintiffs initiated legal action in New York shortly after the state’s Adult Survivors Act took effect. Their lawyers allege a troubling pattern of Toback luring young women under false pretenses, pretending to offer them roles in his movies, only to subject them to intimidation and coercion.
Mary Monahan, one of the leading plaintiffs, expressed that the jury’s decision serves as crucial validation for her and the other women involved. “For decades, I carried this trauma in silence, and today, a jury believed me. They believed us. That changes everything,” she stated, emphasizing the significance of the verdict as a declaration that they are not to be dismissed or doubted.
Toback, now 80, has consistently denied any wrongdoing, characterizing sexual encounters with the plaintiffs as consensual. He also contended that New York’s extension of the statute of limitations for sexual abuse cases infringed on his constitutional rights.
Attempts to reach Toback for comment through an email address associated with him remained unanswered. Earlier this year, a judge entered a default judgment against Toback after he failed to appear in court as ordered. This led to a trial that was held solely to determine the damages he would owe to the plaintiffs.
This ruling could mark a pivotal moment in the ongoing conversation about accountability in cases of sexual abuse and misconduct, particularly in the entertainment industry.
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