Click here to read the full article.
Oscar-winning screenwriter Paul Haggis was ordered Monday to pay an additional 2.5 million in damages in a rape lawsuit, bringing the total to 10 million for a woman who said he sexually assaulted her nearly a decade ago.
Jurors decided on the additional, punitive damages after hearing testimony about Haggis’ finances.
The same jury had already found that Haggis raped publicist Haleigh Breest and forced her to perform oral sex in his New York apartment on Jan. 31, 2013. He says they had a consensual encounter.
Breest brought a civil lawsuit. Haggis wasn’t criminally charged in the matter.
The jury sided with Breest last week, awarded her 7.5 million in compensatory damages for suffering and decided that she was also due punitive damages. Jurors returned to court Monday to work out the amount.
They got a quick course in movie financing as Haggis was questioned about his...
Oscar-winning screenwriter Paul Haggis was ordered Monday to pay an additional 2.5 million in damages in a rape lawsuit, bringing the total to 10 million for a woman who said he sexually assaulted her nearly a decade ago.
Jurors decided on the additional, punitive damages after hearing testimony about Haggis’ finances.
The same jury had already found that Haggis raped publicist Haleigh Breest and forced her to perform oral sex in his New York apartment on Jan. 31, 2013. He says they had a consensual encounter.
Breest brought a civil lawsuit. Haggis wasn’t criminally charged in the matter.
The jury sided with Breest last week, awarded her 7.5 million in compensatory damages for suffering and decided that she was also due punitive damages. Jurors returned to court Monday to work out the amount.
They got a quick course in movie financing as Haggis was questioned about his...
- 11/14/2022
- by Associated Press
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
A New York jury on Monday unanimously ordered Oscar-winning filmmaker Paul Haggis to pay 2.5 million in punitive damages after finding him liable for raping a film publicist.
A civil rape lawsuit was filed against the filmmaker by former film publicist Haleigh Breest, who alleges the filmmaker forced her to perform oral sex on him and then raped her after they attended a movie premiere in 2013. On Friday, the jury unanimously found Haggis liable on all three counts of rape and sexual abuse. They awarded the plaintiff at least 7.5 million in compensatory damages. That brings Haggis’s total damages to 10 million.
In the hallway outside of the court room, Haggis said he planned to appeal the verdict.
“I’ve spent all the money I have at my disposal,” he told reporters. “I’ve gutted my pension plan. I’ve lived on loans in order to pay for this case in a very naive belief in justice.
A civil rape lawsuit was filed against the filmmaker by former film publicist Haleigh Breest, who alleges the filmmaker forced her to perform oral sex on him and then raped her after they attended a movie premiere in 2013. On Friday, the jury unanimously found Haggis liable on all three counts of rape and sexual abuse. They awarded the plaintiff at least 7.5 million in compensatory damages. That brings Haggis’s total damages to 10 million.
In the hallway outside of the court room, Haggis said he planned to appeal the verdict.
“I’ve spent all the money I have at my disposal,” he told reporters. “I’ve gutted my pension plan. I’ve lived on loans in order to pay for this case in a very naive belief in justice.
- 11/14/2022
- by Antonio Ferme
- Variety Film + TV
A New York jury today found filmmaker Paul Haggis liable on all three counts of rape and sexual abuse in his treatment of Haleigh Breest, who left a party in Manhattan with him in 2013 and then sued the Crash Oscar winner in 2017 claiming he repeatedly forced sex on her in his apartment that night.
Related: Paul Haggis Sexual Assault Civil Trial: Deadline’s Complete Coverage
The unanimous jury of four men and two women — whose makeup changed on the first day of deliberations — deliberated for nearly six hours before awarding Breest 7.5 million in compensation. It also recommended punitive damages, the amount of which will be decided Monday.
Seated between his lawyers, Haggis looked straight ahead as the verdicts were read.
It was the latest judgment in a spate of cases growing out of a #MeToo movement that has called out powerful men in the entertainment industry as sexual abusers. The...
Related: Paul Haggis Sexual Assault Civil Trial: Deadline’s Complete Coverage
The unanimous jury of four men and two women — whose makeup changed on the first day of deliberations — deliberated for nearly six hours before awarding Breest 7.5 million in compensation. It also recommended punitive damages, the amount of which will be decided Monday.
Seated between his lawyers, Haggis looked straight ahead as the verdicts were read.
It was the latest judgment in a spate of cases growing out of a #MeToo movement that has called out powerful men in the entertainment industry as sexual abusers. The...
- 11/10/2022
- by Sean Piccoli and Erik Pedersen
- Deadline Film + TV
Updated, 4:15 Pm: Paul Haggis coaxed Haleigh Breest into his apartment in New York after a party in 2013 with the intent of having sex with her whether she consented to it or not, and then he raped her even as she repeatedly said no, a lawyer for Breest told jurors Wednesday.
As the lawyer, Ilann Maazel, delivered the final closing arguments in the New York sexual assault civil trial, a text that Breest wrote to a friend the next day floated on a video monitor in front of the jury: “And I keep saying no.”
Related: Paul Haggis Sexual Assault Civil Trial: Deadline’s Complete Coverage
“Those are the five most important words in this case,” Maazel said.
After 15 days of evidence and arguments from both sides — read about the closing argument from Haggis’ lawyer below — the jury will start deliberating Thursday morning whether the Oscar-winning filmmaker committed rape and...
As the lawyer, Ilann Maazel, delivered the final closing arguments in the New York sexual assault civil trial, a text that Breest wrote to a friend the next day floated on a video monitor in front of the jury: “And I keep saying no.”
Related: Paul Haggis Sexual Assault Civil Trial: Deadline’s Complete Coverage
“Those are the five most important words in this case,” Maazel said.
After 15 days of evidence and arguments from both sides — read about the closing argument from Haggis’ lawyer below — the jury will start deliberating Thursday morning whether the Oscar-winning filmmaker committed rape and...
- 11/10/2022
- by Sean Piccoli
- Deadline Film + TV
Click here to read the full article.
Jury deliberations are due to start Thursday in a rape civil case against filmmaker Paul Haggis, tasking a six-person panel with sifting through dueling narratives about what happened between him and a publicist on a night in 2013.
In accuser Haleigh Breest’s telling, she reluctantly agreed to a drink at the Crash and Million Dollar Baby screenwriter’s apartment, then was subjected to unwelcome kisses, forced to perform oral sex and raped as she repeatedly refused.
“This is a horror film by Paul Haggis, and only you can end it,” one of her lawyers, Ilann Maazel, told the jury in a summation Wednesday.
By Haggis’ account, he’s fighting a false claim by a show-business publicist who took a shine to an Oscar winner, signaled interest for months and was a partner — by turns hesitant and eager — in a consensual encounter.
“This lawsuit has utterly destroyed him,...
Jury deliberations are due to start Thursday in a rape civil case against filmmaker Paul Haggis, tasking a six-person panel with sifting through dueling narratives about what happened between him and a publicist on a night in 2013.
In accuser Haleigh Breest’s telling, she reluctantly agreed to a drink at the Crash and Million Dollar Baby screenwriter’s apartment, then was subjected to unwelcome kisses, forced to perform oral sex and raped as she repeatedly refused.
“This is a horror film by Paul Haggis, and only you can end it,” one of her lawyers, Ilann Maazel, told the jury in a summation Wednesday.
By Haggis’ account, he’s fighting a false claim by a show-business publicist who took a shine to an Oscar winner, signaled interest for months and was a partner — by turns hesitant and eager — in a consensual encounter.
“This lawsuit has utterly destroyed him,...
- 11/9/2022
- by the Associated Press
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Jury deliberations will begin on Thursday after tense closing arguments in the New York civil rape trial of Paul Haggis, who has been accused of sexually assaulting a former film publicist nearly a decade ago.
It’s unclear how long it will take to reach a verdict, but since it’s a civil trial, the Oscar-winning filmmaker of “Million Dollar Baby” and “Crash” only faces potential monetary damages and not jail time.
The case, which has stretched over three weeks, centers on allegations made by Haleigh Breest, a former film publicist. She filed a lawsuit in 2017 claiming the filmmaker forced her to perform oral sex on him and then raped her in his Soho apartment after a movie premiere in 2013. Breest was working as a freelancer at the event, which Haggis attended as a guest. Although he did not deny the encounter took place, Haggis testified that “none was non-consensual.
It’s unclear how long it will take to reach a verdict, but since it’s a civil trial, the Oscar-winning filmmaker of “Million Dollar Baby” and “Crash” only faces potential monetary damages and not jail time.
The case, which has stretched over three weeks, centers on allegations made by Haleigh Breest, a former film publicist. She filed a lawsuit in 2017 claiming the filmmaker forced her to perform oral sex on him and then raped her in his Soho apartment after a movie premiere in 2013. Breest was working as a freelancer at the event, which Haggis attended as a guest. Although he did not deny the encounter took place, Haggis testified that “none was non-consensual.
- 11/9/2022
- by Rebecca Rubin and Antonio Ferme
- Variety Film + TV
Update:
A New York civil jury of six people will begin deliberations Thursday in a publicist’s rape case against Paul Haggis, after both sides wrapped their widely divergent versions of what happened between the two following a 2013 film premiere in Manhattan.
“This is a horror film by Paul Haggis, and only you can end it,” plaintiff’s lawyer Ilann Maazel told the jurors, who were dismissed Wednesday before getting to work. Breest is seeking unspecified damages, and had testified that she took the matter to civil court to have more control over how it was presented.
Jurors must first determine whether Haggis is liable for battery; then it would determine what sort of monetary damages to award Breest. Her lawyer revisited testimony and depositions from four women who said Haggis either sexually assaulted them or aggressively attempted to; those women are not suing, but presented supporting evidence throughout 15 days of testimony.
A New York civil jury of six people will begin deliberations Thursday in a publicist’s rape case against Paul Haggis, after both sides wrapped their widely divergent versions of what happened between the two following a 2013 film premiere in Manhattan.
“This is a horror film by Paul Haggis, and only you can end it,” plaintiff’s lawyer Ilann Maazel told the jurors, who were dismissed Wednesday before getting to work. Breest is seeking unspecified damages, and had testified that she took the matter to civil court to have more control over how it was presented.
Jurors must first determine whether Haggis is liable for battery; then it would determine what sort of monetary damages to award Breest. Her lawyer revisited testimony and depositions from four women who said Haggis either sexually assaulted them or aggressively attempted to; those women are not suing, but presented supporting evidence throughout 15 days of testimony.
- 11/9/2022
- by Josh Dickey
- The Wrap
Click here to read the full article.
Paul Haggis choked up and wiped away tears while finishing his defense Friday from the witness stand against a civil trial rape claim by a publicist.
Haggis, 69, reached for tissues after his lawyer finished questioning him a final time following cross examination that began Thursday and stretched into Friday afternoon.
After three days of testimony, the winner of Oscars for Crash and Million Dollar Baby was emotional as he described himself as “a very flawed human being.”
He also said he made Crash, a 2004 film about Los Angeles individuals forced to confront racial issues when their vastly different lives cross one another, because he “couldn’t figure out how to be good.”
The remark by Haggis prompted his attorney, Priya Chaudhry, to ask if his self-criticism was a reference to sexually assaulting anyone.
“Oh, God no!” he answered.
Chaudhry’s questions came after...
Paul Haggis choked up and wiped away tears while finishing his defense Friday from the witness stand against a civil trial rape claim by a publicist.
Haggis, 69, reached for tissues after his lawyer finished questioning him a final time following cross examination that began Thursday and stretched into Friday afternoon.
After three days of testimony, the winner of Oscars for Crash and Million Dollar Baby was emotional as he described himself as “a very flawed human being.”
He also said he made Crash, a 2004 film about Los Angeles individuals forced to confront racial issues when their vastly different lives cross one another, because he “couldn’t figure out how to be good.”
The remark by Haggis prompted his attorney, Priya Chaudhry, to ask if his self-criticism was a reference to sexually assaulting anyone.
“Oh, God no!” he answered.
Chaudhry’s questions came after...
- 11/5/2022
- by the Associated Press
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Leah Remini, who like her friend Paul Haggis is a former Scientologist who left the church and became one of its most vocal critics, is expected to testify Monday on behalf of the “Crash” director fighting a civil lawsuit accusing him of rape.
Haggis’ lawyer Priya Chaudhry argued Friday that the defense should be allowed to call Remini as an 11th-hour witness to testify about “her personal experience with the various tactics used [by Scientology] to destroy her.”
Before the trial began, Haggis’ team won the right to argue that the church was somehow behind the suit brought by former events publicist Haleigh Breest, though they have yet to produce any evidence or testimony making that connection directly.
Also Read:
Paul Haggis Says Rape Accuser Haleigh Breest Giggled, Said She’s ‘Good at This’ Before Sex Encounter
Judge Sabrina Kraus heard Chaudry’s argument to bring Remini aboard as a last-minute material...
Haggis’ lawyer Priya Chaudhry argued Friday that the defense should be allowed to call Remini as an 11th-hour witness to testify about “her personal experience with the various tactics used [by Scientology] to destroy her.”
Before the trial began, Haggis’ team won the right to argue that the church was somehow behind the suit brought by former events publicist Haleigh Breest, though they have yet to produce any evidence or testimony making that connection directly.
Also Read:
Paul Haggis Says Rape Accuser Haleigh Breest Giggled, Said She’s ‘Good at This’ Before Sex Encounter
Judge Sabrina Kraus heard Chaudry’s argument to bring Remini aboard as a last-minute material...
- 11/4/2022
- by Josh Dickey
- The Wrap
Updated with more testimony, 4:33 Pm: Paul Haggis finished testifying Friday in his New York sexual assault civil trial, saying he is still the “deeply broken person” he called himself in a 2011 New Yorker article about his exit from the Church of Scientology, but not a rapist.
Related: Paul Haggis Sexual Assault Civil Trial: Deadline’s Complete Coverage
“Oh, God, no,” Haggis said when his lawyer, Priya Chaudhry, asked if being deeply broken included committing sexual assault. It was his last statement to jurors after three days on the stand disputing a claim by a New York woman, Haleigh Breest, that the Oscar-winning filmmaker behind Crash and Million Dollar Baby raped her in his Manhattan apartment in 2013. The two had been at a movie-screening after party for Side Effects where Haggis was a guest and Breest, a publicist, was working.
Haggis spent the trial’s 13th day defending the sex...
Related: Paul Haggis Sexual Assault Civil Trial: Deadline’s Complete Coverage
“Oh, God, no,” Haggis said when his lawyer, Priya Chaudhry, asked if being deeply broken included committing sexual assault. It was his last statement to jurors after three days on the stand disputing a claim by a New York woman, Haleigh Breest, that the Oscar-winning filmmaker behind Crash and Million Dollar Baby raped her in his Manhattan apartment in 2013. The two had been at a movie-screening after party for Side Effects where Haggis was a guest and Breest, a publicist, was working.
Haggis spent the trial’s 13th day defending the sex...
- 11/4/2022
- by Sean Piccoli
- Deadline Film + TV
Paul Haggis, the Oscar-winning director of “Crash,” declared himself to be “a broken person” in a New York civil court on Friday, while continuing to deny that he raped a film publicist at his Soho apartment in 2013.
“I’m a very flawed human being,” Haggis said, capping a three-day testimony in which he admitted to having between 20 to 25 extramarital affairs and struggling with a sense of self-worth, while also decrying efforts to paint him as a sexual predator.
Haggis is in court to defend himself in a civil rape lawsuit brought against him by a former film publicist Haleigh Breest, who alleges the filmmaker forced her to perform oral sex on him and then raped her after they attended a movie premiere.
Haggis argued that he had channeled his faults into his art. “It’s one of the reasons I wrote ‘Crash’ — because I couldn’t figure out how to be good,...
“I’m a very flawed human being,” Haggis said, capping a three-day testimony in which he admitted to having between 20 to 25 extramarital affairs and struggling with a sense of self-worth, while also decrying efforts to paint him as a sexual predator.
Haggis is in court to defend himself in a civil rape lawsuit brought against him by a former film publicist Haleigh Breest, who alleges the filmmaker forced her to perform oral sex on him and then raped her after they attended a movie premiere.
Haggis argued that he had channeled his faults into his art. “It’s one of the reasons I wrote ‘Crash’ — because I couldn’t figure out how to be good,...
- 11/4/2022
- by Antonio Ferme and Brent Lang
- Variety Film + TV
Updated with more testimony, 5:09 Pm: Back on the witness stand Thursday, Paul Haggis denied sexually assaulting any of the four Jane Does who have testified in support of Haleigh Breest, the New York woman who is suing the Oscar-winning filmmaker and former Church of Scientology member for allegedly raping her in 2013.
On the stand for a second day, Haggis finished his direct testimony in the sexual assault civil trial by saying these “terrible false allegations” had left him both “scared” and “humiliated.”
“I’m scared because I don’t know why women or anyone would lie about things like this, make up or twist the truth,” Haggis said more than seven hours into questioning by his lawyer, Priya Chaudhry. “I don’t know.”
In a halting voice, he said, “To see my daughters sitting in the courtroom right now, my son and my family, I’m humiliated by these false allegations.
On the stand for a second day, Haggis finished his direct testimony in the sexual assault civil trial by saying these “terrible false allegations” had left him both “scared” and “humiliated.”
“I’m scared because I don’t know why women or anyone would lie about things like this, make up or twist the truth,” Haggis said more than seven hours into questioning by his lawyer, Priya Chaudhry. “I don’t know.”
In a halting voice, he said, “To see my daughters sitting in the courtroom right now, my son and my family, I’m humiliated by these false allegations.
- 11/4/2022
- by Sean Piccoli
- Deadline Film + TV
Updated with more details: Paul Haggis took the witness stand today in his Manhattan trial for sexual assault, and the Oscar-winning Crash filmmaker and former Church of Scientology member’s first words when asked by his lawyer Priya Chaudhry how it felt to be testifying were: “I’m incredibly nervous, of course, and I’m very happy. Because for five years I’ve been unable to clear my name.”
Prosecution lawyer Ilann Maazel immediately objected, arguing that Haggis statement was irrelevant, but was overruled by Judge Sabrina Kraus.
Later on Wednesday, Haggis began telling jurors his version of what happened the night he brought a movie publicist, Haleigh Breest, to his apartment in Manhattan — a visit in January 2013 that Breest says turned into a rape and led to her lawsuit against the filmmaker in New York civil court.
Almost immediately, their accounts diverged.
After tearful testimony and occasional name-dropping about his family life,...
Prosecution lawyer Ilann Maazel immediately objected, arguing that Haggis statement was irrelevant, but was overruled by Judge Sabrina Kraus.
Later on Wednesday, Haggis began telling jurors his version of what happened the night he brought a movie publicist, Haleigh Breest, to his apartment in Manhattan — a visit in January 2013 that Breest says turned into a rape and led to her lawsuit against the filmmaker in New York civil court.
Almost immediately, their accounts diverged.
After tearful testimony and occasional name-dropping about his family life,...
- 11/3/2022
- by Sean Piccoli
- Deadline Film + TV
Paul Haggis Takes the Stand, Does Not Address Rape Allegations in Day of Scientology-Heavy Testimony
Paul Haggis testified Monday on his own behalf – the first time he’s spoken to the New York civil jury that will weigh whether to compensate a former events publicist who says the “Crash” director raped her in 2013 – and he barely got his first words out before an objection.
Asked by his own lawyer how he felt taking the stand, Haggis said: “I’m incredibly nervous, of course, and I’m very happy. Because for five years I’ve been unable to clear my name.”
Ilann Maazel, who is representing plaintiff Haleigh Breest, objected – but Judge Sabrina Kraus overruled her and the statement was allowed to stand, according to Deadline.
Also Read:
Paul Haggis Accuser Says Director Tricked Her Into a ‘Date,’ Relentlessly ‘Shadowed’ Her Until She Screamed for Help
Haggis did not immediately discuss the allegations brought against him by former events publicist Haleigh Breest, who first filed the...
Asked by his own lawyer how he felt taking the stand, Haggis said: “I’m incredibly nervous, of course, and I’m very happy. Because for five years I’ve been unable to clear my name.”
Ilann Maazel, who is representing plaintiff Haleigh Breest, objected – but Judge Sabrina Kraus overruled her and the statement was allowed to stand, according to Deadline.
Also Read:
Paul Haggis Accuser Says Director Tricked Her Into a ‘Date,’ Relentlessly ‘Shadowed’ Her Until She Screamed for Help
Haggis did not immediately discuss the allegations brought against him by former events publicist Haleigh Breest, who first filed the...
- 11/2/2022
- by Josh Dickey
- The Wrap
The defense in the Paul Haggis rape trial had a busy Monday, calling several witnesses including the filmmaker’s adult daughter, a personal friend who said she once rejected Haggis’ advance without incident, a memory expert who previously testified in Harvey Weinstein’s New York trail and a former Scientologist who testified that church officials once ordered her to dig up dirt on the Oscar-winning “Crash” director.
The jury heard nearly two weeks of plaintiffs’ testimony in the civil trial being brought by Haleigh Breest, a former freelance events publicist who said Haggis pressured her to go to his Manhattan apartment after a 2013 movie premiere and raped her. Though the judge explained to the jury that both parties agree that Breest is not a Scientologist, and she testified that she was not being supported by the church in any way, Haggis’ team has continued to present its Scientology defense.
On Friday,...
The jury heard nearly two weeks of plaintiffs’ testimony in the civil trial being brought by Haleigh Breest, a former freelance events publicist who said Haggis pressured her to go to his Manhattan apartment after a 2013 movie premiere and raped her. Though the judge explained to the jury that both parties agree that Breest is not a Scientologist, and she testified that she was not being supported by the church in any way, Haggis’ team has continued to present its Scientology defense.
On Friday,...
- 11/1/2022
- by Josh Dickey
- The Wrap
Updated with afternoon session: The oldest daughter of filmmaker Paul Haggis said Monday there is “circumstantial” evidence of a Church of Scientology plot against her father, who is facing a rape accusation in New York civil court, after he walked away from the religious organization and became a vocal Scientology critic.
But Alissa Haggis, who quit the church as a teenager and came out as gay years before her father left Scientology, testified on cross-examination that she doesn’t know of any such plot. “There’s no way I could know that directly,” she said, repeating a refrain of the Haggis defense.
A former high-ranking Scientology official, Mike Rinder, testified on Friday that “nobody would have any knowledge of that” because Scientology uses subterfuge so effectively to attack and undermine its critics.
Another ex-Scientologist and Haggis friend, Shawna Lee Brakefield, said she feared the lawsuit was the church retaliating against him.
But Alissa Haggis, who quit the church as a teenager and came out as gay years before her father left Scientology, testified on cross-examination that she doesn’t know of any such plot. “There’s no way I could know that directly,” she said, repeating a refrain of the Haggis defense.
A former high-ranking Scientology official, Mike Rinder, testified on Friday that “nobody would have any knowledge of that” because Scientology uses subterfuge so effectively to attack and undermine its critics.
Another ex-Scientologist and Haggis friend, Shawna Lee Brakefield, said she feared the lawsuit was the church retaliating against him.
- 11/1/2022
- by Sean Piccoli
- Deadline Film + TV
Scientology returned to the spotlight on Monday in the Paul Haggis civil rape trial. Its reemergence in the conversation comes as a surprise since both sides seemingly agreed last week there’s “no evidence” to suggest the person suing the Oscar-winning director for rape is tied to the controversial church.
Defense attorneys for Haggis called on former Scientologist Shawna Brakefield, who testified via video to jurors on Monday in a lower Manhattan courtroom. “Anybody who speaks publicly against the church is just a target for being destroyed,” she said. “I’ve seen it happen.”
Haleigh Breest — a former film publicist who is suing Haggis for claims the the filmmaker forced her to perform oral sex on him and then raped her in his Soho apartment in 2013 after a movie premiere — maintains she has no connection to the Church of Scientology. But the defense team for Haggis has repeatedly argued that...
Defense attorneys for Haggis called on former Scientologist Shawna Brakefield, who testified via video to jurors on Monday in a lower Manhattan courtroom. “Anybody who speaks publicly against the church is just a target for being destroyed,” she said. “I’ve seen it happen.”
Haleigh Breest — a former film publicist who is suing Haggis for claims the the filmmaker forced her to perform oral sex on him and then raped her in his Soho apartment in 2013 after a movie premiere — maintains she has no connection to the Church of Scientology. But the defense team for Haggis has repeatedly argued that...
- 10/31/2022
- by Antonio Ferme and Rebecca Rubin
- Variety Film + TV
A former high-ranking official in the Church of Scientology said Friday that the organization never forgets its enemies “until they are destroyed,” and he said that filmmaker Paul Haggis, who quit Scientology, remains one of its biggest targets.
Mike Rinder, an Australian who was Scientology’s top enforcer and who co-hosted the Emmy-winning docuseries Leah Remini: Scientology and the Aftermath, was was the first witness for the defense in the New York sexual civil assault trial of Haggis.
Related Story Paul Haggis Trial: Psychologist Who Testified In Kevin Spacey Case Says Accuser Suffers From Ptsd; Plaintiff Rests Case Related Story Paul Haggis Trial: Accuser's Friend Recalls "Dire" Tone Of Her Calls After Alleged Assault – Update Related Story Jane Doe Testimony Recounting "Violent" 2008 Encounter With Paul Haggis Played In Court; Accuser Wraps Testimony In Sexual Assault Civil Trial – Update
The Oscar-winning screenwriter of Crash and a major figure in a 2015 documentary exposé about Scientology,...
Mike Rinder, an Australian who was Scientology’s top enforcer and who co-hosted the Emmy-winning docuseries Leah Remini: Scientology and the Aftermath, was was the first witness for the defense in the New York sexual civil assault trial of Haggis.
Related Story Paul Haggis Trial: Psychologist Who Testified In Kevin Spacey Case Says Accuser Suffers From Ptsd; Plaintiff Rests Case Related Story Paul Haggis Trial: Accuser's Friend Recalls "Dire" Tone Of Her Calls After Alleged Assault – Update Related Story Jane Doe Testimony Recounting "Violent" 2008 Encounter With Paul Haggis Played In Court; Accuser Wraps Testimony In Sexual Assault Civil Trial – Update
The Oscar-winning screenwriter of Crash and a major figure in a 2015 documentary exposé about Scientology,...
- 10/29/2022
- by Sean Piccoli
- Deadline Film + TV
The two sides in the Paul Haggis civil rape trial haven’t agreed on much over the past week and a half, but they did reach an important consensus on Friday.
Judge Sabrina Kraus said that the Oscar winner’s lawyers and the legal team of his accuser Haleigh Breest say that there is “no evidence” supporting the allegation that Breest is connected to the Church of Scientology. Haggis, the writer of “Million Dollar Baby” and the filmmaker behind “Crash,” was a member of the church for 35 years, before leaving the organization in 2009 over its support of a California ballot initiative banning same-sex marriage. He has since spoken out publicly against its practices, most notably in an 2011 profile in the New Yorker.
Breest, a former freelance publicist for the Cinema Society, alleges that Haggis forced her to perform oral sex on him and then raped her in his Soho apartment in 2013 after a movie premiere.
Judge Sabrina Kraus said that the Oscar winner’s lawyers and the legal team of his accuser Haleigh Breest say that there is “no evidence” supporting the allegation that Breest is connected to the Church of Scientology. Haggis, the writer of “Million Dollar Baby” and the filmmaker behind “Crash,” was a member of the church for 35 years, before leaving the organization in 2009 over its support of a California ballot initiative banning same-sex marriage. He has since spoken out publicly against its practices, most notably in an 2011 profile in the New Yorker.
Breest, a former freelance publicist for the Cinema Society, alleges that Haggis forced her to perform oral sex on him and then raped her in his Soho apartment in 2013 after a movie premiere.
- 10/28/2022
- by Antonio Ferme and Brent Lang
- Variety Film + TV
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