Harvey Weinstein and his ex-studio board reached a $ 19 million deal with dozens of women who accuse him of sexual abuse, in a new chapter in the “saga” trial that opened on the wave of the #MeToo movement. New York attorney general Letitia James and Chicago attorney Elizabeth A. Fegan have given notice of the agreement, which if approved by federal judges will cause her accusers to receive compensation ranging from $ 5,500 to $ 750,000. The agreement provides for the creation of a compensation fund of $ 18,875,000 that will be distributed not only among those who have suffered sexual abuse by the former producer, but also among the former employees of the Weinstein Company who “lived in a hostile working environment, they suffered sexual harassment and were discriminated against in the workplace, “as the New York Attorney General’s office pointed out. The deal will now have to be approved by the Big Apple District Court.
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In prison
The former Hollywood producer is already in prison in the US, convicted this year of rape and sexual assault on two women. The accusations made against Weinstein in 2017 by dozens of women plunged his career into mud and pushed #MeToo, the global movement committed to making powerful men answer for their incorrect sexual conduct. The 68-year-old was later diagnosed with coronavirus in March, shortly after moving to the maximum security prison Wende Correctional Facility to serve 23 years in prison.
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The #MeToo movement
“This deal is the culmination of several years of hard work by the survivors, who not only kicked off the #MeToo movement, but also used their platforms to seek justice for all those feared to report for fear of retaliation in Hollywood.” , said Fegan. The press release also contains a statement by Caitlin Dulany, who accused Weinstein of having isolated and sexually assaulted her in 1996 at the Cannes Film Festival. “Harvey has avoided having to answer for his actions for decades, relying on his power to hide behind a web of deception, and I was determined to join the class action to ensure significant change for all,” he said. “I am proud that this deal will help many women who have long deserved justice and relief,” he added.
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The agreement
Prosecutor James stressed that “after those harassment, threats, discrimination, these survivors finally receive justice,” it is “a victory for any woman who has experienced sexual harassment, discrimination, intimidation, or retaliation from her employer.” No comment instead from the director of the Weinstein Companies, Gerald Maatman. Discordant voices, however, come from the lawyers of some victims who accuse Weinstein: with the proposed agreement the survivors “sell off”, it is “deeply unfair”, said Douglas H. Wigdor and Kevin Mintzer. This, they explained, also because the ex mogul thanks to the agreement will not have to admit its responsibilities. “We are completely disconcerted by the fact that the attorney general considers this unjust and unjust proposal a victory, on behalf of our clients we will strongly oppose it in court”, added the lawyers.
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July 1, 2020 (change July 1, 2020 | 19:30)
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