A New York jury on Thursday discovered Oscar-winning Canadian filmmaker Paul Haggis responsible for raping a publicist in 2013, ordering him to pay her not less than $7.5 million in damages.
The jurors dominated in opposition to Haggis, who wrote and directed Crash, within the rape lawsuit following a two-week civil trial in Manhattan, US media reported.
The 69-year-old was accused in 2017 by movie publicist Haleigh Breest of abusing and raping her in 2013, when she was 26 years previous.
With the Me Too motion gaining floor, three extra girls subsequently accused Haggis — who additionally penned the screenplay for Million Greenback Child — of sexual assault.
Extra lately, Haggis was arrested in June in southern Italy on suspicion of aggravated sexual assault in a distinct case. He denied any wrongdoing and was quickly launched.
In her swimsuit, Breest mentioned that on the night of January 31, 2013, after a movie screening in Manhattan, the director insisted she have a drink at his house, although she most well-liked to go to a bar.
As soon as in his house, Haggis made a number of advances earlier than making her carry out oral intercourse after which raping her, she says.
In the course of the trial, the filmmaker’s attorneys recommended that Breest’s swimsuit was guided by the Church of Scientology, which Haggis left and has since criticised, in line with US media.
The plaintiff’s attorneys denied the accusation.
Haggis doesn’t face prison expenses within the case.
Identified for being one of many creators of the Walker Texas Ranger tv sequence, Haggis acquired an Oscar for finest image and finest authentic screenplay in 2006 for Crash.
He was moreover the screenwriter for Flags of Our Fathers and Letters from Iwo Jima, in addition to James Bond movies On line casino Royale and Quantum of Solace.
Million Greenback Child screenwriter Paul Haggis loses New York rape case
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