By Gwurld4026 
James Toback Ordered to Pay $1.68 Billion in Harassment Case
Director and screenwriter James Toback has been ordered by a New York jury to pay $1.68 billion in damages to 40 women who accused him of sexual abuse over a span of 35 years. The verdict includes $280 million in compensatory damages and $1.4 billion in punitive damages.
The lawsuit was filed in 2022 under New York’s Adult Survivors Act, which allows victims of sexual assault to pursue civil claims regardless of when the incidents occurred. The plaintiffs alleged that Toback used his position in the film industry to lure women under the pretense of casting opportunities, subsequently subjecting them to sexual abuse and coercion.
Toback, 80, denied the allegations, asserting that any sexual encounters were consensual. He represented himself during the proceedings but failed to attend pre-trial hearings, leading to a default judgment and the subsequent trial to determine damages.