Hollywood Director To Pay $1.68 Billion To 40 Women In Sexual Assault Case

Over seven years after Hollywood filmmaker James Toback was accused of sexual abuse by dozens of women, a New York State jury ordered him to pay $1.68 billion to 40 of those survivors. According to an April 9 report in Deadline, the plaintiffs accused him of sexual assault, false imprisonment, coercion and psychological abuse spanning over 35 years. The jury awarded a total of $280 million in compensatory damages and $1.4 billion for punitive damages to the women.

Case in detail

Numerous women came forward to accuse Toback in the 2017 #MeToo movement. A lawsuit was filed under New York’s Adult Survivors Act 2022, which opened a one-year window allowing survivors of sexual abuse to file civil claims regardless of how long ago the abuse occurred. "It is about taking power back from the abusers," said Brad Beckworth, lead counsel for the plaintiffs.

“Today, a jury from the greater New York Community spoke very clearly and sent a message that reverberates far beyond this courtroom: no one is above accountability. The movement is not over. There is more work to do," Beckworth said, adding that the verdict is not only about justice for the women but also about sending a message to abusers and their enablers.

The plaintiffs include actress Mary Monaha, who helped launch the case. She said, "This is not just a verdict—it’s validation. For decades, I carried this trauma in silence, and today, a jury believed me. Believed us. That changes everything. This verdict is more than a number—it’s a declaration... We are not collateral damage in someone else’s power trip.”

About 38 women spoke up or sued Toback for sexual assault, according to the Los Angeles Times. Some of the accusers include Julianne Moore, Oscar-winning actress; Louise Post, guitarist and singer for rock band Veruca Salt; Starr Rinaldi, an aspiring actress; and Karen Sklaire Watson, New York drama teacher, actor and playwright.

Sklaire Watson said, "Today’s verdict makes this city safer for every woman who calls it home. We’re drawing a line in the sand: Predators cannot hide behind fame, money, or power. Not here. Not anymore.”

James Toback denied the allegations to The Times, claiming that for decades, it had been “biologically impossible” for him to engage in the behaviour described by the women in the story, saying he had diabetes and a heart condition that required medication.