ギリシャ富豪にセクハラ賠償金６３億円の支払い命令　米裁判所

【ロサンゼルスＡＦＰ＝時事】ギリシャの富豪で米飲料大手コカ・コーラのボトル詰め工場の相続人であるアルキ・デビッド被告（51）に、セクシュアルハラスメント（性的嫌がらせ）を受けたアシスタント女性に対する損害賠償金5800万ドル（約63億円）の支払いを米裁判所が命じた。女性の代理人が2日、明らかにした。セクハラに対する損害賠償額としては米史上最高額の一つに数えられるという。（写真は資料写真）
　デビッド被告はアシスタントのマヒム・カーンさんに対し、日常的に痴漢行為をしていた罪に問われていた。
　カーンさんの代理人が提出した証拠によると、デビッド被告は週に２、３回の頻度でカーンさんの首をつかみオーラルセックスのまね事をさせていたという。さらに代理人は陪審員に対し、デビッド被告がたびたびカーンさんの局部をまさぐっていたことや、あるときはカーンさんの胸を露出させたこともあったと明らかにした。
　カーンさんの代理人を務めるグロリア・アルレッド氏は、今回命じられた損害賠償額は、セクハラに対する懲罰的損害賠償としては米司法史上最高レベルだと述べた。
　カーンさんへのセクハラ行為を否定しているデビッド被告は、２日の裁判を欠席。同日、米メディアを通じて、司法制度は「崩壊」しており「非常事態にある」とコメントし、カーンさんと証人らがうそを述べていると非難した。
　デビッド被告は近年、本件以外にも多数のセクハラ裁判で訴えられている。
　今年に入ってデビッド被告は、セクハラ被害を訴えた女性２人に対し計１４００万ドル（約１５億円）超の賠償金を支払ったが、別の裁判は評決不能に終わった。デビッド被告の推定資産は２６億ドル（約２８００億円）に上る。【翻訳編集ＡＦＰＢＢＮｅｗｓ】
〔ＡＦＰ＝時事〕（2019/12/04-09:24）

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 US history, her attorney said Monday.
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, Khan said in a statement to AFP.
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.
Khan's lawyers presented evidence that, two to three times per week, David would grab her by the neck and simulate oral sex.
They also told jurors that David repeatedly groped Khan's private parts and on one occasion exposed her breasts.
David, who denies sexually harassing Khan, was not in court Monday.
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, 51, who was born in Nigeria and educated at British boarding school, has also faced a number of harassment cases in recent years.
Monday's ruling follows separate payouts this year to two other women totalling over $14 million in sexual harassment cases against David, as well as a third case ending in a mistrial.
David has also been sued by major US television networks, and battled a rival hologram firm over the technology used to project deceased rapper Tupac Shakur on stage during the Coachella festival in 2012.
In a 2017 interview with the Los Angeles Times, David said he deliberately cultivated a villainous image for himself to boost his brand and profile.
At a hearing last week, David was ordered to pay Khan more than $8 million.
A Los Angeles Superior Court jury deliberated for around an hour before awarding Khan the maximum requested $50 million punitive damages Monday, bringing the total owed to $58.25 million.
David is worth an estimated $2.6 billion.