{"id":102184,"date":"2022-10-19T23:26:09","date_gmt":"2022-10-19T23:26:09","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/harchi90.com\/paul-haggis-sexual-assault-trial-begins-in-manhattan-new-york-amid-raft-of-hollywood-metoo-cases\/"},"modified":"2022-10-19T23:26:09","modified_gmt":"2022-10-19T23:26:09","slug":"paul-haggis-sexual-assault-trial-begins-in-manhattan-new-york-amid-raft-of-hollywood-metoo-cases","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/harchi90.com\/paul-haggis-sexual-assault-trial-begins-in-manhattan-new-york-amid-raft-of-hollywood-metoo-cases\/","title":{"rendered":"Paul Haggis Sexual Assault Trial Begins in Manhattan, New York Amid Raft of Hollywood #MeToo Cases"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Embattled Oscar-winning director Paul Haggis was painted by prosecutors as a serial predator who used his power to \u201cmanipulate\u201d vulnerable young women.<\/p>\n

Haggis’ sexual assault trial got underway at a New York City courthouse this morning. The filmmaker appeared in court alongside his defense attorneys in a black suit and gray tie as opening statements began shortly after 10 am<\/p>\n

Attorneys for Haleigh Breest, the former publicist suing Haggis for allegedly raping her in 2013, opened the trial by framing the Canadian film mogul as a \u201cpowerful\u201d and manipulative\u201d serial predator who \u201cdoesn’t stop when women say no.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cMr. Haggis used his storytelling skills and his fame to prey on, to manipulate, and to attack vulnerable young women in the film industry, \u201dBreest’s attorney Zoe Salzman told the court. \u201cOne of those women was Haleigh Breest.\u201d<\/p>\n

Haggis, 69, is accused of sexually assaulting Breest at his SoHo loft <\/strong>following a movie premiere in New York in 2013. She was 26 at the time. Breest sued Haggis in 2017 <\/strong>after the Million Dollar Baby<\/em> writer penned an op-ed in The Guardian<\/em> disavowing convicted rapper Harvey Weinstein. Four other women have also come forward alleging Haggis raped them after Breest filed her suit. <\/p>\n

Haggis has long maintained the incident <\/strong>involving Breest <\/strong>was consensual. His legal team is arguing that the court case is part of the Church of Scientology’s efforts to smear Haggis ‘name after he very publicly defected from the church in 2009 in a scathing letter to Scientology spokesman Tommy Davis.<\/p>\n

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Paul Haggis is seen in court.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/figcaption><\/div>\n

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Dorian Geiger<\/h4>\n<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/figure><\/div>\n

Haggis’ lead attorney Priya Chaudhry, who described the Church as a \u201cworld-famous criminal organization,\u201d moved quickly to call Breest’s credibility into question on Wednesday morning.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe don’t have to affirmatively prove that Scientology is behind this because we don’t have the burden of proof here,\u201d Chaudhry told the jury. \u201cBut as you will see, the circumstantial evidence of Scientology’s involvement here will be powerful.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cNonetheless, don’t let them turn this trial topsy turvy. Don’t let them suggest to you that if we can’t prove that Scientology is behind this, that Haleigh Breest should win. Haleigh Breest can only win if you believe her,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n

Following both teams’ opening statements, the first of four Jane Does who are accusing Haggis of rape tested.<\/p>\n

The woman, who was 28 at the time, and who hasn’t been identified by The Daily Beast, testified how she first met Haggis while working as a publicist on the set of CBS’ Canadian crime drama Due South<\/em> in 1996. She recalled in lurid detail how Haggis allegedly pushed her up against a wall and forcibly kissed her following a late-night meeting in her boss’ on-set office.<\/p>\n

\u201cHe grabbed me by the arm and started kissing me, which was very shocking,\u201d she said. \u201cI just couldn’t believe that it was happening. There’s no indication that I was in the position that I would reciprocate, like there was no reason for him to think this was acceptable. I just freeze. In hindsight, I wish I would have just run out of there, but I didn’t.\u201d<\/p>\n

The woman said when she resisted, Haggis became angry and threatened her career.<\/p>\n

\u201cDo you really want to keep working? Do you want to keep your job?\u201d Haggis allegedly asked her during the course of the suspected assault.<\/p>\n

\u201cThat terrified me,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n

The woman said Haggis later raped her on the floor. She noted that Haggis was the \u201cmost important person\u201d on the television show.<\/p>\n

\u201cHe was very creepy,\u201d she said of Haggis’ demeanor. \u201cIt was like an attack mode is what it felt like to me.\u201d<\/p>\n

Last month, Judge Sabrina Kraus ruled Haggis could argue that the Church of Scientology was behind bankrolling the case against him. Breest’s team had previously filed a motion requesting the court disallow Haggis from presenting the defense, arguing it constituted nothing more than \u201cspeculative fantasy.\u201d Breest herself has said she has no association with the Church of Scientology.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe jury is entitled to be informed of any possible motivation Plaintiff may have and about The Church’s efforts to discredit Haggis,\u201d Kraus wrote in court documents obtained by The Daily Beast. \u201cHaggis should have the opportunity to present evidence that will show that The Church was, in fact, seeking to embroil Haggis in ruinous, false regarding women prior to Breest’s here.\u201d<\/p>\n

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Paul Haggis, winner of Best Picture and Best Original Screenplay Oscars for Crash.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/figcaption><\/div>\n

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Toni Anne Barson Archive<\/h4>\n<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/figure><\/div>\n

Breest’s attorneys, meanwhile, previously scoffed at the suggestion their client was somehow actively embroiled in a conspiracy on behalf of the church to ruin Haggis. Attorney Ilann M. Maazel described Haggis’ strategy as a sham defense designed to distract the jury.<\/p>\n

\u201cThere is no Scientology defense\u2014it’s a cynical manipulative baseless conspiracy theory,\u201d Maazel told The Daily Beast during a telephone interview. \u201cI think it will be clear by the end of trial. [It\u2019s] a sideshow. It has nothing to do with anything. We’re going to be focused on evidence and Haggis’ conduct and the jury is going to hear from a number of women who will testify under oath about Paul Haggis.\u201d<\/p>\n

Breest’s psychotherapist, Catherine Baker-Pitts, also tested Wednesday afternoon telling the Breest first disclosed the sexual assault during a June 2017 counseling session, months before filing her argument against Haggis. She said Breest had initially framed the Breest as involving a \u201cperson in the film industry,\u201d before later Haggis as her assailant.<\/p>\n

Baker-Pitts tested that Breest’s account of Haggis alleged rape at the Hollywood screenwriter was \u201cclear\u201d and \u201cdetailed.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cShe never wavered that the rape had happened \u2014 it was just a fact,\u201d Baker-Pitts told the court.<\/p>\n

The private psychotherapist, who treated Breest between June 2017 and July 2019, stated she’d completed approximately 65 counseling sessions with Breest. Baker-Pitts spoke of the lasting trauma Breest endured, which she attributed to the alleged sexual assault involving Haggis.<\/p>\n

Breest, she said, lived in a state of \u201cchronic stress\u201d and was perpetually \u201con-edge\u201d following her encounter with Haggis. Breest, who lost her publicist job in 2017 after bringing forth the job turned to Haggis, later alcohol to quell her anxiety issues and help her sleep, Baker-Pitts tested. She she \u201cdreaded\u201d leaving her home, and particularly avoided New York’s SoHo neighborhood, out of fear she may run into Haggis.<\/p>\n

Baker-Pitts said Breest, who became prone to self-neglect, isolated herself from family and social circles, which she described as a \u201ctotal detachment.\u201d She ultimately diagnosed Breest with anxiety order.<\/p>\n

\u201cShe has a long road ahead,\u201d Pitts-Baker said.<\/p>\n

As court adjourned for the day, Haggis declined to speak with reporters.<\/p>\n

\u201cI’m not going to give any comments, thank you,\u201d Haggis told the Daily Beast as he exited the courtroom.<\/p>\n

In June, Haggis was arrested and placed under house arrest in Italy while attending the Allora Film Festival for separate of sexual assault involving a British woman, who claimed she was raped \u201cfor days\u201d by the Canadian filmmaker.<\/p>\n

\u201cI think it will be powerful testimony,\u201d Maazel added. \u201cI’m eager for the jury to hear the evidence after all these years\u2026 I’m looking forward to the case starting and at the end of the day it’s going to be in the hands of the jury.\u201d<\/p>\n

Breest will testify Thursday, according to her lawyers.<\/p>\n

\u201cThis is a #MeToo case\u2014accountability here is really important,\u201d Maazel said. \u201cIt can be very difficult for women to stand up for themselves and speak out in cases like this. But I’m proud of Haleigh. I admire her and I think what she’s doing is hard.\u201d<\/p>\n

Roughly 20 witnesses are expected to testify on Haggis’ behalf\u2014including possible former prominent Scientologists\u2014however, exactly who remains shrouded in mystery. <\/p>\n

The defense revealed on Wednesday, however, that celebrity Scientology whistleblower Mike Rinder will testify on Haggis’ behalf.<\/p>\n

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Mike Rinder (L) and actress Leah Remini (R).<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/figcaption><\/div>\n

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Paul Archuleta<\/h4>\n<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/figure><\/div>\n

Rinder co-hosted A&E’s series Leah Remini: Scientology and the Aftermath<\/em> Alongside fellow ex-Scientologist Leah Remini, who has also previously come out in support of Haggis’ assertion that the church could be responsible for manufacturing the sexual assault case against him.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe expect the next ‘revelations’ about Paul Haggis in this campaign to destroy him to be based on information culled from his Scientology files in the form of more ‘anonymous’ accusers, hiding behind a lawyer who will never have to disclose who is paying their bill,\u201d Remini and Rinder previously said in a statement.<\/p>\n

Haggis’ case is playing out as actor Danny Masterson, another prominent celebrity Scientologist, faces trial in Los Angeles on three criminal rape charges. Masterson’s accusers filed a separate civil suit arguing that the Church intimidated and stalked them after the encounters were reported to law enforcement. Former film mogul Harvey Weinstein is fighting his own rape charges down the hall from Masterson this week.<\/p>\n

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Danny Masterson is arraigned on rape charges on September 18, 2020 in Los Angeles.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/figcaption><\/div>\n

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LUCY NICHOLSON<\/h4>\n<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/figure><\/div>\n

The Church of Scientology has denied Haggis’ against the church in the civil suit. They denied Breest was ever a member of the controversial religion.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe Church has nothing to do with the claims against Haggis nor does it have any relation to the attorneys behind the case of the accusers,\u201d Karin Pouw, a spokesperson for the Church, told The Daily Beast in a statement. \u201cThe Church has nothing to do with the claims against Haggis nor does it have any relation to his accusers.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Embattled Oscar-winning director Paul Haggis was painted by prosecutors as a serial predator who used his power to \u201cmanipulate\u201d vulnerable young women. Haggis’ sexual assault trial got underway at a New York City courthouse this morning. The filmmaker appeared in court alongside his defense attorneys in a black suit and gray tie as opening statements …<\/p>\n

Paul Haggis Sexual Assault Trial Begins in Manhattan, New York Amid Raft of Hollywood #MeToo Cases<\/span> Read More »<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"site-sidebar-layout":"default","site-content-layout":"default","ast-global-header-display":"","ast-main-header-display":"","ast-hfb-above-header-display":"","ast-hfb-below-header-display":"","ast-hfb-mobile-header-display":"","site-post-title":"","ast-breadcrumbs-content":"","ast-featured-img":"","footer-sml-layout":"","theme-transparent-header-meta":"","adv-header-id-meta":"","stick-header-meta":"","header-above-stick-meta":"","header-main-stick-meta":"","header-below-stick-meta":"","spay_email":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_is_tweetstorm":false,"jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true},"categories":[5],"tags":[32460,1758,32094,1815],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":102097,"url":"https:\/\/harchi90.com\/paul-haggis-rape-trial-scientology-hollywood-power-at-center-of-case\/","url_meta":{"origin":102184,"position":0},"title":"Paul Haggis Rape Trial: Scientology, Hollywood Power at Center of Case","date":"October 19, 2022","format":false,"excerpt":"Opening statements began on Wednesday in a civil trial against Oscar-winning filmmaker Paul Haggis, who has been accused of raping a publicist nearly a decade ago. Haleigh Breest, who filed a lawsuit against Haggis in 2017, alleges that the screenwriter and director forced her to perform oral sex and then\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Entertainment"","img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":102219,"url":"https:\/\/harchi90.com\/in-a-metoo-moment-hollywood-figures-face-season-of-trials\/","url_meta":{"origin":102184,"position":1},"title":"In a #MeToo moment, Hollywood figures face season of trials","date":"October 20, 2022","format":false,"excerpt":"NEW YORK (AP) \u2014 The #MeToo movement is having another moment in the spotlight as high-profile sexual assault trials play out in courtrooms from coast to coast.five years later against movie mogul Harvey Weinstein triggered a wave of sexual misconduct claims in Hollywood and beyond, he and \u201cThat '70s Show\u201d\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Entertainment"","img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":104464,"url":"https:\/\/harchi90.com\/paul-haggis-accuser-faces-cross-examination-in-new-york-civil-trial-deadline\/","url_meta":{"origin":102184,"position":2},"title":"Paul Haggis Accuser Faces Cross-Examination In New York Civil Trial \u2013 Deadline","date":"October 22, 2022","format":false,"excerpt":"UPDATED: Almost five hours into a cross examination Friday that went second by second, and sometimes foot by foot, through the confines of Paul Haggis' apartment where Haleigh Breest said she was raped by the writer-director in 2013, she became visibly upset enough that the judge, Sabrina Kraus, called a\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Entertainment"","img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":104340,"url":"https:\/\/harchi90.com\/paul-haggis-rape-accuser-grilled-about-sex-life-alcohol\/","url_meta":{"origin":102184,"position":3},"title":"Paul Haggis’ rape accuser grilled about sex life, alcohol","date":"October 22, 2022","format":false,"excerpt":"A rape accuser of Oscar-winning director Paul Haggis was grilled Friday by his lawyers on the witness stand about her sex life and drug and alcohol use. One-time publicist Haleigh Breest is testing for the second day in Manhattan Supreme Court in her civil case against the 69-year-old \u201cCrash\u201d director,\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Entertainment"","img":{"alt_text":"Haleigh Breest on the witness stand in Manhattan Supreme Court","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2022\/10\/102122Haggis6BS.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":103395,"url":"https:\/\/harchi90.com\/paul-haggis-rape-accuser-testifies-i-was-like-a-trapped-animal-deadline\/","url_meta":{"origin":102184,"position":4},"title":"Paul Haggis Rape Accuser Testifies, \u201cI Was Like A Trapped Animal\u201d \u2013 Deadline","date":"October 21, 2022","format":false,"excerpt":"The sexual assault civil trial of Oscar-winning Crash writer-producer Paul Haggis continued today in Manhattan, with accuser Haleigh Breest back on the witness stand. The veteran publicist continued to describe a night in 2013 \u2014 she was in her mid-30s and he was in his late 50s \u2014 when Haggis\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Entertainment"","img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":103099,"url":"https:\/\/harchi90.com\/accuser-testified-she-felt-like-trapped-animal-when-allegedly-raped-by-paul-haggis\/","url_meta":{"origin":102184,"position":5},"title":"Accuser testified she felt like ‘trapped animal’ when allegedly raped by Paul Haggis","date":"October 20, 2022","format":false,"excerpt":"A one-time publicist described for a Manhattan jury Thursday how she felt like \u201ca trapped animal\u201d when Oscar-winning director Paul Haggis allegedly raped her in his Soho apartment. Haleigh Breest, who is suing Haggis over the alleged 2013 encounter,delivered graphic testimony in Manhattan Supreme Court, telling jurors she wished she\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Entertainment"","img":{"alt_text":"Director Paul Haggis arrives at the Manhattan Supreme Court.","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2022\/10\/Paul-Haggis-28.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]}],"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/img.thedailybeast.com\/image\/upload\/c_crop,d_placeholder_euli9k,h_1670,w_2971,x_0,y_637\/dpr_2.0\/c_limit,w_740\/fl_lossy,q_auto\/v1666187112\/GettyImages-1149703819_cptomd","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/harchi90.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/102184"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/harchi90.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/harchi90.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/harchi90.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/harchi90.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=102184"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/harchi90.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/102184\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/harchi90.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=102184"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/harchi90.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=102184"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/harchi90.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=102184"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}