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Haggis maintains that their one-night stand was consensual.
Haggis spent 16 days under house arrest in Italy until the case wasdismissed.
What allegation is at the center of the trial?
An alleged sexual assault that happened in 2013.
Breest was 26 at the time and was working for the PR firm in charge of the event.
Haggis was close to 60 and one of the events celebrity guests.
The two had met several times previously at various film-industry events in the city.
What happened at Haggiss Soho apartment in 2013?
Breest took the stand October 19 to detail her account.
Breest said that, once inside the apartment, Haggis began making unwanted sexual advances.
She said she felt trapped because the only way out of Haggiss penthouse apartment was via a private elevator.
She alleges Haggis brought her to a guest bedroom, where she said she was assaulted.
He told her her liked anal sex.
Then, he raped her.
Haggis requested he be allowed to present evidence.
He subsequently filed a lawsuit against Breest for intentional infliction of emotional distress.
Why is this a civil case?
Under the law, victims are not required to have filed or pursued any prior criminal complaint.
(New York State passed a subsequent amendment to the law in May called theAdult Survivors Act.)
Who else is expected to testify?
Haggis maintained that the womens claims were part of a coordinated press campaign against him.
His legal team argued unsuccessfully to preclude their testimony.
Both sides say the impact of the lawsuit has been devastating.
He said producers have repeatedly told him they would not work with him until he clears his name.
Haggis said he has exhausted his savings and borrowed substantial funds to pay his legal fees.
What role, if any, does Scientology play in this case?
Kraus ruled in pretrial papers that Haggis was allowed to present the jury with his theory.
When asked for comment about the case, the Church of Scientology denied any involvement.
