Hollywood film industry is facing one of the most severe legal rulings in its history. American director and screenwriter James Toback has been ordered to pay $1.68 billion in damages to 40 women who accused him of sexual abuse, coercion, and other criminal misconduct spanning more than three decades.

Verdict was delivered Wednesday by a jury in New York, becoming one of the largest civil judgments ever issued in the United States, and one of the most significant since the rise of the #MeToo movement.

The trial stemmed from a lawsuit filed in 2022 under New York’s Adult Survivors Act, a law that temporarily allowed victims of sexual abuse to bring civil claims even if the alleged crimes occurred decades ago and were previously time-barred.

Under the ruling, plaintiffs were awarded $280 million in compensatory damages and $1.4 billion in punitive damages, a sum intended, according to attorneys, to send a strong message to powerful figures who exploit and silence vulnerable women.

“This verdict is about justice, but also about reclaiming power,” said lead attorney Brad Beckworth. “The jury made it clear that abuse and impunity will no longer be tolerated.”

The allegations against Toback gained public attention in 2017, when the Los Angeles Times published an investigation detailing accusations from 38 women. Over time, more than 200 women came forward, describing a consistent pattern of abuse.

High-profile actresses including Selma Blair, Rachel McAdams, and Julianne Moore publicly supported the accusers, amplifying the case’s impact across Hollywood and beyond. Many victims said Toback used his reputation to lure young aspiring actresses with false promises of film roles.

Toback’s Response

Toback, now 80, denied all allegations, claiming any encounters were consensual. He also argued that the law enabling the lawsuit violated his constitutional rights. Representing himself, he failed to appear at key hearings and did not attend the trial, resulting in a default judgment against him.

According to court testimony, the abuse occurred between 1979 and 2014, involving sexual assault, threats, psychological manipulation, and confinement. During the trial, 20 women testified in person, while 20 others provided video statements, many recounting experiences they had kept silent for years.

Mary Monahan, one of the lead plaintiffs, called the verdict transformative. “For decades, I carried this trauma in silence. Today, a jury believed us,” she said. “This verdict is not just a number—it’s a declaration of truth.”

Who Is James Toback

Born in New York in 1944, Toback was once a respected figure in American cinema. A Harvard graduate, he began his career as a screenwriter with The Gambler (1974) and later directed films such as Fingers, The Pick-up Artist, and Two Girls and a Guy.

His most acclaimed work, Bugsy (1991), earned him an Academy Award nomination.Today, his cinematic legacy is overshadowed by a ruling that reshapes accountability in Hollywood.