Harvey Weinstein Reaches $25 Million Settlement With Some Accusers
“This is the worst settlement I’ve seen in my entire career.”
Disgraced media mogul Harvey Weinstein reached a $25 million settlement with some of the women who accused him of sexual harassment, assault, and rape.
Other accusers have lashed out at the settlement.
At least 30 of the accusers have agreed to the settlement, but requires “court approval and a final signoff by all parties.”
The insurance companies representing the producer’s former studio, the Weinstein Company,” would pay the money. However:
More than $12 million — a quarter of the overall settlement package — would go toward some, but not all, legal costs for Mr. Weinstein; his brother, Bob; and other former members of their company’s board, the lawyers said. The board members would be insulated from future liability, and the alleged victims would drop their claims against Mr. Weinstein and other executives.
Several plaintiffs’ lawyers said Mr. Weinstein, who would avoid making a personal payout, had claimed that he might soon file for personal bankruptcy.
Some of the women would receive $500,000 each, but others “do not know how much they could get under the deal.
A few of the accusers explained why they agreed with the settlement:
Katherine Kendall, 50, an actress who accused Mr. Weinstein of luring her to what she thought would be a work discussion in 1993 and then chasing her around his New York apartment while he was nude, said she was disappointed by the terms but had agreed to them partly because she didn’t want to block fellow plaintiffs from getting whatever recompense they could. “I don’t love it, but I don’t know how to go after him,” she said in an interview. “I don’t know what I can really do.”
Genie Harrison, a sexual harassment lawyer representing Sandeep Rehal, a former Weinstein assistant who is part of the proposed settlement, said that holding out for more favorable terms might have left the alleged victims empty-handed. A combination of preliminary legal rulings against various plaintiffs, laws that protect boards against liability, and previous failed settlement efforts had put the women in a weaker bargaining position.
“I don’t think there’s a markedly better deal to be made,” Ms. Harrison said. “We have really, truly done the best we can under the circumstances, and it’s important for other victims to know this, come forward and be able to get the best level of compensation we were able to get.”
Lawyers representing other victims blasted the settlement because Weinstein’s attorneys would receive more money than the women:
“I think it’s an outrage,” said lawyer Thomas Giuffra of the proposed deal, which calls for a pool of $25 million to be set aside for Weinstein victims by insurers of the company that he ran with his brother Bob Weinstein.
“It’s a lousy number, it’s way too low,” said Giuffra, who called the overall design of the settlement “crazy.”
The lawyer represents producer Alexandra Canosa, who has said Weinstein raped and sexually abused her.
Douglas Wigdor, a lawyer for three Weinstein accusers said, “This is the worst settlement I’ve seen in my entire career.”
“It’s a complete disaster,” Wigdor added. “It leaves very little to the victims.”
Wigdor and Giuffra said “that if there is money left over from the victims’ settlement pool, it would go to business creditors of the company, as well as toward the directors’ and Weinsteins’ legal defense costs, leaving the brothers better off financially than they otherwise would be.”
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Comments
Saw him head into court with a cane a couple of weeks ago.
Yesterday he headed into court with a walker.
He’s a good student. The acting lessons are taking hold.
He learns from Hillary?
How many days before he announces he’s running in the DEM primary?
The real crime here is how long it’s taking to actually go to trial.
Make no mistake, it’s always been about the money. It’s play for pay in the beginning and pay for play on the back. Disgusting all the way around and they all deserve one another.
If it’s not reported at the time, it didn’t happen.
And, if you’re trying to get a role out of it, you’re not likely to report it at the time.
It seems like a good rule all around.
The current TV show “The Morning Show” is addressing some of these issues. A point which they brought up is how “seduction” is now considered “rape” and how one simply can’t change their mind as to what happened 12 years later.
Please excuse their sad faces while they stuff their pockets with “not enough” cash.
LoL. So Weinstein is buying his way out of legal trouble with a terrible settlement. And people are surprised and outraged? Hell, that’s just SOP for the rich, liberal elite. The “accusers” just need to shut-up and accept the deal. It’s not going to get any better than what has been offered. And could get a lot worse – as in you get nothing.
P.S. Not supporting Weinstein in any manner. He’s scum and got what he deserved. But in reality the ultra-rich will be able to always buy their way out of any trouble.
Last year, Vanity Fair magazine did a whole big spread on how to “rehabilitate” after being caught in major crimes.
You already mentioned their #1 tool.
MONEY MONEY MONEY given to the Fat Cat’s Foundations.
It’s all about money. Figures.
An altered Deal from Adult Swim
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=31HaTbWONmQ