A famed Canadian director’s billfold just got significantly lighter. Paul Haggis has been plagued by allegations of misconduct over the past few years. In 2022, a New York judge found the Oscar-winning director and filmmaker liable for rape against his accuser Haleigh Breest.
The former publicist accused the Crash director of raping her and forcing her to perform oral sex after a movie premiere in 2013. Her lawsuit against him occurred in 2017 at the height of the #MeToo movement.
Paul Haggis has paid his accuser an almost-$2 million settlement
In the end Paul is paying significantly less than originally. When Paul was found liable for rape, he was ordered to pay $7.5 million plus an additional $2.5 million in punitive damages. In March 2023, a Manhattan judge ruled that an extra $2.8 million was to be paid to the victim. That amounted to a total cost of $12.8 million. Paul pleaded with the court, claiming that it would bankrupt him.
In the end, Haleigh got just under $2 million in the case. Paul’s attorney said afterwards that he and Haleigh had “agreed to a post-trial resolution to avoid further protracted litigation.” Paul has maintained his innocence in the matter.
Court records indicate that an amended payment of $1,963,361 US plus was filed last Thursday. Both lawyers signed off on it on Friday, with the documents stating, “the judgment has been deemed fully paid.”
Paul had previously filed a countersuit against Haleigh, claiming her intention was to bankrupt him. That case was later dropped. In 2022, Paul was arrested in Italy over sexual assault allegations. Those charges were dropped later that year. Paul currently resides in Italy.
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