James Toback Ordered to Pay $1.68 Billion in Landmark Sexual Abuse Verdict

A New York jury awarded damages to 40 women under the Adult Survivors Act, marking one of the largest judgments in state history.

The $1.68 billion award includes $280 million in compensatory damages and $1.4 billion in punitive damages to 40 women who accused Toback of decades-long sexual misconduct.
The lawsuit was filed under New York's Adult Survivors Act, which allows survivors to pursue civil claims regardless of when the abuse occurred.
Toback, 80, did not attend the trial, leading to a default judgment after his failed attempts to dismiss the case.
The plaintiffs, who testified about abuse spanning from 1979 to 2014, described the verdict as a powerful validation of their experiences.
Attorneys emphasized the decision as a message to Hollywood and beyond that abuse of power will not be tolerated.