Court ruled out sexual harassment clause in actress Ashley Judd's lawsuit against Hollywood producer • Judd could sue Weinstein for libel

• The claim was rejected. Producer Harvey Weinstein

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The court ruled tonight (Thursday) the sexual harassment clause in the civil suit filed by actress Ashley Judd against Hollywood producer Harvey Weinstein. A Los Angeles federal judge dismissed the lawsuit, arguing that the relationship between the producer and the actress existed before the U.S. Sexual Harassment Act was amended, so the law does not apply to them.

According to the U.S., the Sexual Harassment Act was changed in the U.S. in 2018, and is now covering such relationships, but the judge ruled that the law cannot be applied retroactively, so he dismissed the lawsuit.

However, the judge allowed Judd to sue Weinstein for libel. The actress claims the producer began to slander her and prevented her casting for The Lord of the Rings movies in 1998, after rejecting his attempts to have sex with her.

In an interview with the NBC network, Judd will reiterate how Weinstein invited her to meet him in 1997, when she filmed a "Signed in Kiss" movie in his production. She said he invited her to breakfast, but when he came to his hotel room he asked her to massage him and watch him take a shower.

In an interview with The New York Times, Judd added details of what allegedly happened between her and Weinstein at that hotel 20 years ago. She said when she went to the hotel, Weinstein was waiting for her in a bathrobe and offered her a massage. "I thought to myself, how do I get out of the room as quickly as possible without burning the relationship with Harvey Weinstein?" She said. "I kept saying 'no' to him in all kinds of ways, and he always responded with another suggestion," Judd said, adding that she felt "trapped" and "panicked."

Weinstein is also facing a New York trial for rape and indecent acts. Other criminal investigations are also underway in California, London, Paris and Rome after more than 70 women accused him of sexual assault.

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