A jury in New York simply awarded $1.68 billion to 40 girls who accused director James Toback of sexual assault, psychological abuse, false imprisonment and coercion.

The cash breaks down like this … $280 million in compensatory damages and $1.4 billion in punitive damages.

Toback was sued in December 2022 by dozens of ladies who claimed he coerced them into conferences they believed have been auditions of job interviews … just for the conferences to allegedly flip sexual.

The director was beforehand accused by over 30 girls in October 2017 of decades-long sexual harassment … and the allegations have been related in nature to the accusations in opposition to Harvey Weinstein.

The lawsuit went to trial this month however Toback didn’t seem in court docket. He reportedly tried to have the case dismissed final 12 months however after a decide denied his request he stepped again and was not represented on the New York jury trial. His absence resulted in a partial default judgment.

When the allegations first surfaced, Toback denied them … claiming he both by no means met the ladies or solely had transient encounters with them. He additionally instructed the Los Angeles Instances he was medically incapable of such alleged habits, citing diabetes and a coronary heart situation.