James Toback Ordered to Pay $1.68 Billion for Sexual Assaults

NEW YORK, April 9, 2025 — A New York State jury has awarded $1.68 billion to 40 women who accused filmmaker James Toback of a longstanding pattern of sexual assault, false imprisonment, coercion, and psychological abuse. The ruling, following a weeklong trial in the Supreme Court of the State of New York, is considered one of the largest sex assault verdicts in state history.

The jury allocated $280 million for compensatory damages and $1.4 billion in punitive damages. Mary Monahan, one of the lead plaintiffs, expressed her relief outside the courtroom, stating, “This will be his legacy, absolutely. It won’t be ‘Bugsy.’ And that is immensely validating. A jury heard us and a jury believed us.”

During the trial, Toback, a director known for his work on the 1991 film “Bugsy,” was absent and did not present a defense. He had earlier sought to have the case dismissed. After the court denied his second motion to dismiss last year, Toback ceased participation, resulting in a partial default judgment in favor of the plaintiffs.

The lawsuit, initiated in December 2022, outlined decades of allegations based on interviews with numerous women. They described scenarios in which Toback allegedly lured them under the pretense of auditioning for roles, only to subject them to sexual advances. Lead counsel for the plaintiffs emphasized to the jury the need for a clear message: “the #MeToo movement is unfinished and in some ways forgotten already,” urging that such behavior would not be tolerated.

The plaintiffs were allowed to pursue their case under New York’s Adult Survivors Act, which temporarily removed the statute of limitations on sexual abuse claims. Attorney Ross Leonoudakis noted the case spanned four decades of abuse allegations, with some claims dating back to 1979.

Throughout the trial, 20 women testified in person, while another 20 provided video depositions. Marianne Hettinger, a plaintiff, described the experience as healing, stating, “You feel valued, being able to talk about it. We were all so ashamed. You just don’t talk about it, not even to your family.”

In post-verdict comments, Toback disputed the allegations, previously claiming any interactions were brief and consensual. He had asserted that health issues made his alleged behavior biologically impossible. After the long-awaited verdict, plaintiffs’ attorneys will begin to assess Toback’s financial standing to ensure the awarded damages can be collected.

Mary Monahan stressed the importance of justice over financial restitution, saying, “We simply wanted justice and now we have it.” Karen Sklaire Watson, another plaintiff, remarked, “This verdict makes New York safer for women. We’re drawing a line in the sand: predators cannot hide behind fame, money, or power, not here, not anymore.”

The outcome is viewed not only as a legal judgment but as a cultural reckoning, a significant step for survivors advocating against silence and stigma associated with sexual abuse.