Movies

Jury awards $1.68 billion to 40 women in James Toback sexual misconduct lawsuit

BBG News

Four decades following an inquiry by The Times into sexual misconduct accusations against filmmaker James Toback, a New York court jury has granted $1.68 billion to 40 women, finding him accountable for a persistent pattern of sexual assault, unlawful confinement, manipulation, and psychological torment.

As a film enthusiast, I must share my thoughts on a recent legal blockbuster that’s been making waves. The courtroom drama ended with an astounding verdict: the jury awarded a staggering $280 million in compensatory damages and an additional $1.4 billion for punitive damages to the victorious plaintiffs. In simpler terms, they were handsomely compensated for their losses and then some, to serve as a powerful warning to those who dare to cross them in the future.

Mary Monahan, one of the plaintiffs, stated to The Times immediately following the verdict, “This will undoubtedly become his legacy.” She continued, “It won’t be known as ‘Bugsy.’ And that is incredibly validating. Our testimony was heard, and our story was believed by the jury.

During a recent interview, the lead counsel, Brad Beckworth, emphasized a clear message to the jury: the #MeToo movement remains ongoing and has unfortunately been underestimated. He urged the jury to uphold their stance, making it clear that such behavior is unacceptable in any industry or location, from New York to Hollywood to Washington D.C., and beyond.

1991 crime drama writer Oscar nominee Barry Levinson (known as Toback) didn’t show up during the seven-day trial at New York State’s Supreme Court. Last year, he attempted twice to dismiss the case altogether but was unsuccessful on his second attempt. Following this denial, Toback chose not to participate further and had no legal representation in the trial, leading to a partial verdict in favor of the plaintiffs by default.

The legal action initiated in December 2022 initially involved the Harvard Club of New York City, a private gathering place for Harvard University alumni where the complaint stated Toback had met several women. However, this social club later chose to withdraw from the lawsuit through an agreement.

Based on the 2017 investigation by The Times, the lawsuit asserted that, for several decades, Toback persistently manipulated women into attending meetings, which he presented as job interviews or auditions, but these soon escalated into sexual encounters.

Twenty women testified in person with another 20 testifying on prerecorded video.

I feel appreciated when I can discuss the matter, and it’s a relief because we’ve all felt ashamed about it. We usually don’t talk about it, not even with our family. But being listened to with compassion, and then receiving this award… It’s hard to describe how healing that experience is for me.

Monahan remarked, “This entire week has been incredibly intense. Listening to these women share their experiences made me realize, ‘I was neither deceived nor asking for this.’ This newfound understanding is truly transformative.

2022 saw the initiation of a legal action using New York’s Adult Survivor Act. This act offers a unique opportunity: for a year following its enactment, victims of past sexual abuse can bring forth civil lawsuits, irrespective of the time that has passed since the incident.

Attorney Ross Leonoudakis, a member of the trial team, stated, “The earliest abuse was testified to have occurred in 1979, while some plaintiffs were abused as recently as 2014. This means that the abuse spanned over four decades, denying many people the opportunity to seek justice before the Adult Survivors Act was enacted.

The Toback trial marks the second significant court case based on this law, coming after author E. Jean Carroll filed a lawsuit against Donald Trump in 2022. In 2023, a jury decided that Trump was responsible for sexually assaulting and slandering Carroll, awarding her $5 million in compensation. Other notable figures like comedian Bill Cosby, New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani, and musician Sean “Diddy” Combs have also faced legal action under this law.

In 2017, when The Times reached out to Toback, he refuted the accusations, stating he’d never encountered any of these women or, if they did meet briefly (for about five minutes), he couldn’t remember. Moreover, for the last 22 years, he argued that due to his health conditions – diabetes and a heart issue demanding medication – it was biologically implausible for him to have participated in the actions claimed by the women.

After The Times’ examination, approximately 400 women reached out to the media company with allegations of sexual misconduct against him in the subsequent months.

After the court’s decision on Wednesday, I, along with my fellow plaintiffs, will strive to retrieve some of the funds that were granted. However, it was not the main objective of our lawsuit to seek financial compensation, as Monahan pointed out.

It was satisfying beyond words to stand in a courtroom and declare, ‘James Toback should be imprisoned,'” she expressed. “I understand that the jury can’t make that decision, but expressing my feelings and being heard was incredibly empowering. Money wasn’t our motivation; we were driven by the pursuit of justice, and now, in some way, we have achieved it.

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2025-04-10 00:01

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