Paul Haggis, director of ‘Crash,’ ordered to pay $7.5 million to publicist who accused him of raping her in 2013, according to the AP
The jury ordered Haggis, 69, to pay Haleigh Breest, 36, at least $7.5 million in damages, the AP reported, noting that the jury also decided he would be responsible for paying additional punitive damages later on.
Ilann Maazel, an attorney representing Breest, said in a statement, “We are thankful and grateful for the jury’s verdict. Justice was done today. This is a great victory for Haleigh and for the entire #MeToo movement.”Haggis is known for having written the films “Million Dollar Baby” and “Crash,” the latter of which won him two Academy Awards in 2006 for best picture and best original screenplay.
“Recognizing that Mr. Haggis was a powerful member of the Hollywood elite who could influence her career, and faced with his persistence, Ms. Breest ultimately relented and went with Mr. Haggis to his Mercer Street residence,” reads an amended complaint filed in New York County Supreme Court in July 2018.
The complaint alleges that Breest was “shocked, confused, and extremely fearful” as Haggis forcibly kissed her at his residence and forced her to perform oral sex. According to Breest, he raped her afterward.
Canada Latest News, Canada Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
‘Crash’ director Paul Haggis loses rape suit, owes $7.5M in damages to victim Haleigh BreestOscar-winning director Paul Haggis was found liable Thursday for raping a female publicist nearly a decade ago, and must pay her $7.5 million in damages.
Read more »
Paul Haggis Found Liable On All Counts In New York Rape Civil TrialA New York jury today found filmmaker Paul Haggis liable on all three counts of rape and sexual abuse in his treatment of Haleigh Breest, who left a party in Manhattan with him in 2013 and then sue…
Read more »
Paul Haggis Found Liable on All Counts in Civil Rape TrialPaul Haggis lost his civil rape trial after a New York jury found the Oscar-winning director liable for charges that he sexually assaulted a former film publicist after a movie premiere nearly a decade ago.
Read more »
Deliberations in Paul Haggis rape lawsuit set to startJurors are expected to start deliberating Thursday in a rape lawsuit against filmmaker Paul Haggis
Read more »
Jury Deliberations in Paul Haggis Rape Lawsuit Set to StartAttorneys delivered closing arguments about the 2013 encounter ahead of jury deliberations, which begin Thursday.
Read more »
Paul Haggis Rape Trial: Jury Deliberations to Begin After Tense Closing ArgumentsPaul Haggis' attorney Priya Chaudhry tried to combat former film publicist Haleigh Breest's claims that the filmmaker raped her: “What she does is create publicity…She wants to be famous. She wants to be Monica Lewinsky.”
Read more »