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Oscar-winning screenwriter Paul Haggis has been ordered to pay an extra $2.5m (£2.1m) in damages in a rape lawsuit, bringing the total to $10m (£8.5m) for a woman who claims he almost sexually assaulted her ten years ago.
While lawyers for the plaintiff, Haleigh Breest, said the verdict was fair, Mr Haggis insisted he was falsely accused and financially ruined fighting the civil case.
“I cannot stand such a lie. I will die to clear my name,” he said as he left court.
Ms Brest, a publicist, said Mr Haggis raped her on January 31, 2013 and forced her to perform oral sex at his New York apartment.
He said they met by choice.
The jury sided with Ms Brest last week, awarding her $7.5m (£6.4m) in damages and deciding she should also receive punitive damages.
Jurors returned to court on Monday to hear evidence about Mr Haggis’ finances and decide how much more he will have to pay.
They got a quick lesson in film financing, as Mr Haggis was asked about his earnings from Oscar-winning best picture winners Crash and Million Dollar Baby, as well as James Bond films Casino Royale and Quantum Of Solace.
Explaining the intricacies of screenwriting compensation, he estimates he has earned as much as $25m (£21m) over his 40-year TV and film career – before tax, fees for agents and other representatives and The assets of the two people were divided by the ex-wife.
The 69-year-old filmmaker said during his trial that he had suffered various financial losses over the years — including the destruction of a poorly insured home in the 1994 Northridge earthquake — but Ms Brister’s lawsuit Let him go bankrupt.
He said his legal bills ran up to $2.6m (£2.2m) while his career suddenly dried up.
“I’ve spent all the money at my disposal. I’ve gutted my pension plan, I’m living off loans, and I’ve naively believed in justice to pay for this case,” he said outside court.
Ms Breest’s lawyers questioned Mr Haggis’ claims about bankruptcy.
“Everything that Paul Haggis said is not credible,” said attorney Ilan Mazel.
After the verdict, he said the jury “did the right thing”.
Jurors left the courtroom without comment.
Ms Brister, 36, said she suffered professional and psychological harm after she accepted an invitation to drink at his flat after the film’s premiere.
She declined to comment on Monday.
In a statement after Thursday’s preliminary verdict, she said she was pleased “to have the opportunity to seek justice and accountability in court – the jury chose to follow the facts – and trust me”.
She sued for unspecified damages.
Mr Haggis has not been criminally charged in the matter.
The AP generally does not identify people who claim they have been sexually assaulted unless they come forward publicly, as Ms. Brest did.
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