Court Denies Paul Haggis’ Motion to Dismiss Plaintiff’s Claim Under the “Victims of Gender-Motivated Violence Protection Act”

Manhattan Supreme Court Justice Robert Reed recently denied defendant Paul Haggis’ motion to dismiss plaintiff Haleigh Breest’s complaint, in which she alleges a single cause of action – for violation of the “Victims of Gender-Motivated Violence Protection Act” (VGMVPA), codified at § 8-901 et seq. of the New York City Administrative Code – based on an alleged sexual assault/rape committed against her by Mr. Haggis in 2013.[1]Mr. Haggis filed his own complaint against Ms. Breest, in which he inter alia accuses her of “extortion” and asserts a claim for intentional infliction of emotional distress. Unfortunately, the Order does not shed light on the court’s reasoning, but rather refers to its “decision on the record” and directs the movant to “obtain a copy of the transcript of the proceedings for ‘so ordering’ within 14 days of entry of this order.” That transcript, when it becomes obtainable, will (hopefully) be instructive as to how courts might interpret the VGMVPA in future cases.

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1 Mr. Haggis filed his own complaint against Ms. Breest, in which he inter alia accuses her of “extortion” and asserts a claim for intentional infliction of emotional distress.
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