Paul Haggis, once a powerful and celebrated Hollywood writer and director, has closed a deeply damaging chapter of his life by agreeing to pay about 2 million dollars to settle a civil rape lawsuit in New York. The settlement follows a 2022 jury verdict that found Haggis liable for raping a woman less than half his age after a film premiere in 2013. The plaintiff, a former publicist early in her career, testified that what began as a professional interaction ended with forced, non consensual sex in Haggis apartment. A jury believed her.
The payment does not erase that verdict. It simply allows Haggis to avoid further legal exposure and public scrutiny. Critics see the settlement as another example of a wealthy, influential man using money to limit consequences after a civil court concluded he had committed sexual violence. The age gap and power imbalance at the center of the case have been impossible to ignore. Haggis was a famous filmmaker at the height of his influence. She was a young professional with far less power and far more to lose.
The New York case was not the only time a woman accused Haggis of rape. In Italy, another woman came forward with a similar allegation related to an encounter in 2013. That criminal case was dismissed in 2025, with an Italian court finding insufficient proof of non consensual sex. Supporters of survivors have noted that the Italian justice system differs sharply from the US system in terms of procedure, evidentiary standards, and transparency. Unlike the New York civil trial, the Italian proceedings did not involve a public jury weighing testimony in open court, and the dismissal does not contradict the civil verdict reached in the United States.
Throughout these cases Haggis has been publicly supported by close friends, including actress Leah Remini, who testified on his behalf, and blogger Tony Ortega, who repeatedly defended him in commentary. Their loyalty has drawn criticism from those who believe that centering Haggis reputation and grievances has come at the expense of the women who said they were harmed. To many observers, the presence of vocal defenders only underscored how power and personal alliances can shape public narratives around sexual assault.
Haggis continues to deny wrongdoing, but the record is clear on one point. A New York jury found that he raped a much younger woman, and he is now paying millions of dollars to put that finding behind him. For many, that outcome feels less like justice and more like a reminder of how limited accountability can be when fame and money are involved.
Sources:
https://variety.com/2026/film/news/paul-haggis-rape-accuser-2-million-1236627708/
https://www.washingtonpost.com/arts-entertainment/2022/11/10/paul-haggis-liable-rape-lawsuit/
