One of the four Jane Does testifying in support of a publicist’s civil sexual assault lawsuit against Paul Haggis took the stand Monday, telling a similar story of how she was lured to his hotel room where the aggressive, unwanted sexual advances began almost immediately.
That testimony fits the pattern as told by Haleigh Breest, the former freelance events publicist who filed the lawsuit against Haggis in 2017, seeking unspecified damages. Breest said last week from the stand that Haggis pressured her after a premiere to come to his Manhattan apartment, where he kissed, groped and pestered her before ultimately forcing her into unwanted sex acts.
Haggis says the encounters were all consensual, denies wrongdoing and has suggested that his acrimonious split from Scientology has driven the church to frame him. Breest testified Friday that she has no connection to the church and is not being supported in any way by Scientology.
Three other women with similar stories were expected to testify to show a behavior pattern, including Monday’s Jane Doe witness. The woman said she met Haggis at a festival pub gathering, went to his room on the afterparty pretense, and was “immediately apprehensive” when it turned out to just be his empty room.
“I thought we were going to a party,” she testified, according to media reports. “I was caught off-guard.”
She says she was visibly stunned by his initial “polite kiss,” and apologized to him for giving “mixed signals.” That prompted Haggis to promise her he would “keep it professional,” but a short while later he kissed her again, saying: “You know why you’re here, and you know you want this.”
The woman says Haggis backed her into a wall, pinned her arms, tried to grab her jaw and kiss her – but she clenched her lips shut, pushed him off and managed to wiggle away and get out the door. She says Haggis pleaded with her to stay, followed her to the lobby and stood silently with her while she waited for a cab.
When the car arrived, she says Haggis grabbed her breasts from behind and tried to kiss her neck, then gave her a shove toward the waiting taxi. She said she “sprinted” to the car and began to cry as Haggis paid the driver in cash.
Breest took the stand for a second time Monday for cross-examination. Haggis’ defense attorney Priya Chaudhry showed jurors text messages that Breest sent to friends the day after the alleged attack, referencing the feminist revenge-fantasy film “The First Wives Club.” Breest wrote: “I just want to get even and not be the victim … As they said in first wives club Don’t get mad get everything.”