James Toback Ordered to Pay $1.68B to 40 Abuse Victims

James Toback, a filmmaker accused of sexual assault by dozens of women, has been ordered to pay $1.68 billion in a New York court, marking the largest sex assault penalty in the state's history. The jury awarded $280 million in compensatory damages and $1.4 billion in punitive damages after 40 women testified about Toback's coercive and abusive behavior during a seven-day trial. Toback, who did not attend the trial and denied the allegations, had previously claimed that all sexual activity was consensual. This verdict, seen as a significant message to the entertainment industry about the ongoing impact of the #MeToo movement, was made possible by New York's Adult Survivors Act, which allowed survivors to pursue claims regardless of the statute of limitations. Victims expressed that the case was about achieving justice rather than financial compensation, highlighting the emotional healing they experienced through being heard. The lead counsel emphasized that the ruling underscores that such conduct will not be tolerated in any industry.