Court Verdict: James Toback Hit with $1.68 Billion Judgment in Landmark Sexual Assault Case Involving 40 Women

Aurora Skye6 days agoLast Updated: 10 April 2025

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Director James Toback, one of the first Hollywood figures accused in the #MeToo movement, has been ordered to pay $1.68 billion to 40 women for sexual assault and various forms of abuse.

A New York jury awarded the women $280 million in compensatory damages and $1.4 billion in punitive damages on Wednesday, aimed at punishing Toback for his malicious actions.

Toback, known for directing films such as Black and White (1999) and Two Girls and a Guy (1998), as well as being nominated for an Oscar for his writing on Warren Beatty’s Bugsy (1991), did not mount a defense during the trial and was unrepresented by a lawyer. In January, the court issued a default judgment due to Toback’s failure to appear.

When allegations of widespread sexual harassment first emerged in a report from The Los Angeles Times, where over 30 women came forward, Toback denied meeting most of the accusers. He stated it was “biologically impossible” for him to have engaged in the alleged behavior, citing diabetes and a heart condition that required medication.

Brad Beckworth, a lawyer representing the plaintiffs, remarked that the verdict is “about justice” and “taking power back from the abusers.” He emphasized, “Several years ago, when the #MeToo movement began, many of us thought we had moved past the point where men in positions of power would prey on women and try to steal their dignity and honor in exchange for career advancement. We now realize that the movement didn’t go far enough. There are still many people in this country who abuse their power, and countless others who choose to ignore it.”

The lawsuit, which was filed in 2022, accused Toback of exploiting his influence in the entertainment industry to entice young women into meetings under the guise of discussing potential movie roles. He allegedly coerced them into sexual acts, including undressing or masturbating in front of him, claiming it was “part of the job,” as outlined in the complaint.

When some women attempted to leave, Toback allegedly trapped them. The lawsuit detailed instances where he “rubbed his genitals against them and ejaculated on them without their consent.” It further alleged that Toback “would forcibly touch and/or penetrate his victims’ genitals with his hands and/or mouth against their will.”

Toback reportedly told the women that he had mob connections and threatened to ruin their careers if they reported the assaults. The alleged misconduct spanned four decades, occurring from at least 1979 to 2014.

The lawsuit was filed under New York’s Adult Survivors Act, which temporarily lifted the time constraints on claims involving sexual offenses for a year. Numerous high-profile individuals in Hollywood have also faced lawsuits under this law, including Sean “Diddy” Combs, Bill Cosby, and Jimmy Iovine.

It remains uncertain whether the punitive damages awarded will hold. While New York does not impose a cap, there is typically a maximum limit on how much the punitive damages can exceed the compensatory damages.

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