Paul Haggis has dropped a lawsuit he filed against a woman who accused him of sexual assault.

The Canadian director initially filed the lawsuit against publicist Haleigh Breest in late 2017 after she alleged that he sexually assaulted her. However, Haggis’ lawsuit was dismissed by a lower court judge last summer, after which he lodged an appeal.

That appeal was dropped on Wednesday (March 13) in a letter from Haggis’ legal representatives to the Supreme Court of the State of New York. “We write to notify the Court that Mr. Haggis hereby withdraws his Notice of Appeal dated September 13, 2018,” said the document.

In a statement issued to media, another of Haggis’ attorneys, Priya Chaudry, said his reasons for abandoning the appeal were financial and that he will continue to fight the lawsuit that Breest has brought against him. “To save his remaining resources, Mr. Haggis is not appealing his emotional distress claim — but he still fully disputes the accusations again him.  No court has yet ruled on the truth or falsity of those accusations,” said Chaudry.

Breest alleges Haggis raped her in January 2013 after a movie premiere in Manhattan where she was working as a publicist. Breest’s lawsuit against Haggis is ongoing. Three other women have since made separate allegations of sexual assault against Haggis.