Roberto Orci, screenwriter of the “Star Trek” and “Transformers” franchises, was accused in a lawsuit Monday of repeatedly beating and sexually assaulting his wife.
Adele Heather Taylor, who has appeared in “The Blacklist”, “Hail, Caesar!” and other films, alleged in the lawsuit that Orsi was bipolar, alcoholic and prone to violent outbursts. She alleged he would call her a “slut”, “whore” and would drag her around the house and beat her, leaving bruises all over her body.
In May 2022, she alleges that Orsi chased her into a garden, pinned her to the ground and threatened to rape her. The following month, she alleges he sexually assaulted her in a garden and told her, “You look like you enjoy being raped.”
She also alleged that Orsi called the police when she tried to fight him off in April 2020 and he was arrested for domestic violence. She got him released on bail, according to the lawsuit.
The lawsuit says Taylor left Orsi after another assault in December 2022. In that incident, Taylor made an audio recording in which Orsi was threatening to beat her and throw her out the front door, and bragging that if she called the police, she would not be believed because he had already been arrested.
“You don't have anything but me, babe,” he said in the recording, according to the lawsuit. “I can do whatever I want.”
Following the incident, she filed a restraining order against him and filed for divorce. Orci's attorney, Daniel Paluch, denied the allegations.
“My client denies the allegations and looks forward to pursuing a trial in the proper forum, i.e. court,” he said via email.
Orsi sued Taylor in June, accusing him of repeatedly assaulting her. Among other things, she alleged Taylor shot her with a Taser and pepper-sprayed her.
Orci acknowledged in his lawsuit that he had long struggled with alcoholism, having been hospitalized several times and entered into rehab in recent years for related illnesses.
His lawsuit accused Taylor of taking advantage of his vulnerable position and tricking him into giving him money and property.
Taylor's countersuit came in response to Orsi's suit. In it, she said she and Orsi agreed to place most of their assets in a family trust that would be split 50-50. She alleged Orsi has since reneged on the agreement and refused to provide financial support.