The Oscar-winning Canadian filmmaker Paul Haggis was found Thursday by a New York civil court as responsible for the rape of an advertising agent in 2013 to whom he must pay 7.5 million dollars.
Director of Shock and screenwriter of million dollar Baby Y Royal Casino69, was tried by a civil jury of the New York Supreme Court, after a trial for responsibility began on October 19.
He appeared in New York solely for the facts denounced by Haleigh Brest, which the filmmaker has always denied. He is not being prosecuted for these rape charges.
During the civil trial, the filmmaker’s lawyers suggested Wednesday that Haleigh Brest’s complaint had been guided by the Church of Scientology, with which Paul Haggis had broken and has since criticized. A thesis swept by the plaintiff’s lawyers.
Events dating from 2013
In her complaint, Haleigh Breest said that on the night of January 31, 2013, after a screening of the film in Manhattan, the director had insisted that she come to his house for a drink, when she said that she preferred to go out to a bar. .
Once in her apartment, Paul Haggis had made many advances to her before forcing her to perform oral sex on him and then raping her again.
“I am grateful that I had the opportunity to go to court to seek justice and establish accountability, and that the jury chose to follow the facts and believe me,” plaintiff Haleigh Brest rejoiced in a statement.
Known for being one of the creators of the series. Texas Ranger WalkerPaul Haggis received the Oscars for Best Picture and Best Original Screenplay in 2006 for Shock.
Source: BFM TV
