Harvey Weinstein’s biggest epic may have been the creation of the #Metoo series, which continues to rumble through the world, including the legal world, and may come in at a $44 million cost.
The producer who faces multiple claims of sexual harassment and worse may be settling the disputes at a cost of $44 million, according to reports
Weinstein’s prolific abuse of women has reportedly involved 75 women, although he has denied harassing or abusing them. He is to stand trial in June on criminal charges, including rape, and involving two women.
But his lawyer, Adam Harris, has told a judge in New York that there has been “an economic agreement in principle” reached.
“We now have an economic agreement in principal that is supported by the plaintiffs, the (New York attorney general’s) office, the defendants and all of the insurers that, if approved, would provide significant compensation to victims, creditors and the estate and allow the parties to avoid years of costly, time consuming and uncertain litigation on all sides,” Adam Harris, a lawyer for studio co-founder Bob Weinstein, told the judge.
He said however that there was still “a lot of work here to do.”
More than 15 lawsuits have been filed accusing Harvey Weinstein or his former company of misconduct. The proposed settlement would cover many of the lawsuits, which include a class action accusing the film company of operating like an organized crime group by concealing widespread sexual harassment.
The proposed settlement would also resolve a civil suit by the New York attorney general alleging that Harvey Weinstein’s media company, in enabling his mistreatment of women, violated labor laws.
Harris said the settlement was complex due to the number of claims, and insurance companies, involved.
“We’re dealing with potential claims here that go back . more than 25 years,” he told Associated Press, sayng that the nature of the allegations had also made for “a highly charged environment, with very strong feelings on all sides.”
