Film producer Harvey Weinstein has to deal with another lawsuit. Among other things, Kaja Sokola accuses him of forcing her to massage his penis as a 16-year-old, as reported, among other things, by the "New York Times". Sokola has sued him for the abuse of minors.
According to the report, the allegations were made anonymously for the first time last year in a class action lawsuit. At the time, Weinstein's lawyers rejected the allegations as "obviously unfounded". They did not comment on the new lawsuit on media request.
It was recently announced that Weinstein has reached an agreement with dozens of the applicants. It provides for a total payment of $ 25 million. Weinstein is not obliged to admit wrongdoing and would not have to pay anything, but insurance from his former film studio.
"In my own name"
The agreement was neither fair nor fair, Kaja Sokola said in a statement released by her lawyer. "That's why I'm filing my own lawsuit today, in my own name." Sokola demands an unspecified amount of damages.
Sokola said she had moved to New York at the age of 16 to work as a model and become an actress. In her 23-page lawsuit, Weinstein was introduced to her in September 2002. The film producer invited her to dinner, but instead brought her to his home.
SHAUN MADER / Patrick McMullan / Getty Images
Kaja Sokola at an exhibition in New York in 2014: fighting tears
Weinstein had told her that if she wanted to be an actress, she would also have to feel naked and do everything the director asked for. He asked her to take off her blouse and open her pants. Weinstein touched her between the legs and forced her to massage his penis. She fought with tears and shouted that she didn't want to touch him. Weinstein had locked the door, shouted at her and told her to calm down.
The New York Times reports that Sokola should have filed the lawsuit before the age of 23. This deadline was canceled for one year due to a change in the state laws in August. Sokola is one of the few alleged victims of Weinstein who could also make claims against Walt Disney. The group was the owner of Weinstein's film company at the time of the alleged assault in 2002.
Dozens of women accuse the 67-year-old Weinstein of sexual assault. A trial against him began in New York in January. He is charged with rape in 2013 and forced oral sex in 2006.
Weinstein was once a celebrated producer of films such as "Pulp Fiction" and "Shakespeare in Love". He has always rejected the allegations against him. The scandal had led to the global # MeToo campaign against sexual assault.