THE FATBOY SHOW : James Toback Is Ordered to Pay $1.7 Billion in Sexual Assault Case.

A jury in New York awarded $1.7 billion in damages to 40 women who sued the former movie director and writer James Toback over allegations of sexual assault, lawyers for the plaintiffs said.

Mr. Toback, once a Hollywood fixture known for writing "Bugsy" and directing "The Pick-up Artist," had been defending himself against the lawsuit for a couple of years but more recently had stopped participating in the case. He has denied the allegations against him.

A judge entered a default judgment against him in January and a jury trial was held to determine how much money Mr. Toback would owe each plaintiff. On Wednesday, the jurors arrived at $42 million each, said Brad Beckworth, one of the lawyers who represents the women.

Mr. Toback, 80, has described himself in court papers as being "financially destitute," and it is unclear how much of the judgment he will be able to pay.

The women's allegations span from the late 1970s to the mid-2000s. Many of their accounts involve Mr. Toback approaching them in public, setting up meetings to discuss potential acting roles and then assaulting them at the meetings.

Source : The New York Times.