Director claims 2013 encounter with film publicist was consensual and that accusation came in retaliation for leaving the church
Oscar-winning director Paul Haggis will be allowed to argue that the Church of Scientology is behind a rape allegation against him, a judge in New York has ruled.
Haggis, who was separately accused over the summer of sexually assaulting a woman at an Italian film festival, will be permitted to argue that church members were involved in a previous rape allegation brought by film publicist Haleigh Breest dating back to 2013. That case, stemming from a civil lawsuit pursued by Breest, is set to go to trial next month.
Haggis has claimed that the encounter with Breest was consensual and that the allegation against him came in retaliation for his decision to leave Scientology and to become a vocal critic of it.
“Haggis is no ordinary defendant in a civil case,” his lawyers wrote in court filings seen by Variety. “He is the most public enemy of a notorious, nefarious, powerful and well-funded institution which is known to destroy its detractors.”
In court documents, Breest’s lawyers have sought to block that defense at trial, calling it a “speculative fantasy” and saying that neither Breest nor witnesses have any connection to the church. “Haggis has not produced one shred of evidence to support this bogus story,” they have said.
But on Friday, the judge presiding over the case, Sabrina Kraus, ruled Haggis would be permitted to raise the argument in...
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