 |
| Photo Credit: AP. |
Academy Award-winner Paul Haggis was Thursday ordered by a jury to pay $7.5 million to a woman in connection with a rape suit brought against him.
Haleigh
Breest accused the famous screen writer director of rapping her after Haggis
offered her a lift home and later invited her to his apartment for a drink. Breest
said at the time she was a publicist working on a film premiere where Haggis
was a VIP guest in 2013.
In October
Breest testified in court against Haggis best known for “Crash” and “Million
Dollar Baby,” narrating how Haggis tried to kiss her and then backed her into
his refrigerator.
“Are you scared of me?” he asked, Breest
recalled. Haggis then sexually assaulted and raped her, she alleged.
While Haggis
said he was “very disappointed” in the outcome, Breest was thankful the “jury
believed” her. Haggis vowed to continue the process of clearing his name.
Breest
contended that she suffered psychological and professional consequences as a
result of Haggis’ behavior. The jury also determined that punitive damages
should be awarded but no amount has been decided to that effect.
Haggis
maintained his innocence in the matter, contending that his encounter with
Breest was consensual. Haggis lawyer argued that Haggis could not have carried
out the alleged attack eight weeks after he underwent a spinal surgery.
The jury
also scrutinized emails and text messages sent by Breest to her friends after
the incident