A New York jury awarded $1.68 billion in damages to 40 women who accused writer and director James Toback of sexual abuse over 35 years. The lawsuit was filed in 2022 after New York allowed a one-year window for sexual assault claims. The verdict, one of the largest since #MeToo, included $280 million in compensatory damages and $1.4 billion in punitive damages. Toback, nominated for an Oscar, has denied the allegations. The abuse allegedly took place between 1979 and 2014. Los Angeles prosecutors declined to bring charges in 2018 due to statutes of limitations. The plaintiffs, represented by lawyer Brad Beckworth, claimed Toback lured women promising film roles only to subject them to abuse. Lead plaintiff Mary Monahan called the jury award validation for the women. Toback, 80, has denied committing any sexual offenses and argued against New York’s statute of limitations extension. He represented himself and failed to appear in court, resulting in a default judgment. This verdict is seen as a message to powerful individuals who abuse their position, aiming to empower victims and hold abusers accountable.
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