Greek billionaire Alkiviades “Alki” David was ordered to pay $58 million damages to a Hollywood assistant in one of the largest sexual harassment awards in the United States (US) history, her attorney said Monday.
Alki David, an heir to a Coca-Cola bottling fortune who has also battled recent lawsuits over his 3D hologram and online streaming businesses, was accused of routinely groping Mahim Khan.
The verdict was “a reminder to predators everywhere to not think they can get away with hurting others,” Mahim Khan said in a statement to.
It is the latest lawsuit targeting the owner of several media companies.
Jurors on Monday awarded $US50 million in punitive damages to Mahim Khan, a former production assistant who worked at his Los Angeles-based firms, attorney Gloria Allred said.
The same panel last week awarded $US8.25 million in compensatory damages.
Attorney Gloria Allred described it as one of the largest sexual harassment punitive damage awards in US legal history.
“In this ‘Me Too’ movement, women like Ms. Khan are no longer willing to suffer in silence,” she said.
They also told jurors that David repeatedly groped Khan.
David, who denies sexually harassing Khan, was not in court Monday.
David has disputed the reports of sexual misconduct, saying, “I never touched any of these women.”
David remained belligerent, defiant and disruptive throughout his multiple trials in Los Angeles County Superior Court, according to reports.
Earlier in the trial, he was stripped of his ability to represent himself after a series of outbursts against Khan and her attorneys.
He issued a statement to US media Monday in which he said the legal system is “broken” and in a state of emergency, and accused the plaintiff and witnesses of lying.
David, who was born in Nigeria and educated at British boarding school, has also faced a number of harassment cases in recent years.
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