Harvey Weinstein case: this 19 million deal in which the ex-producer has an interest

Will victims of the Hollywood ogre receive $ 19 million in damages? The New York prosecutor announced Tuesday that several women victims of the sexual assaults of Harvey Weinstein, convicted in February of rape in particular, were going to share this amount in the context of a group action launched by the attorney general's office. New York in 2018 against former Hollywood star producer, his company, the studio The Weinstein company, and Weinstein's brother.

The complaint from at least six former employees said that Weinstein, 68, "asked for or forced unwanted sexual contact as consideration for keeping their jobs or advancing in their careers." “Harvey Weinstein and the Weinstein Company failed their employees. After all the harassment, threats, discrimination, and gender-based discrimination, some justice is being done for these survivors, "said prosecutor Letitia James in a statement, without specifying the number of people involved.

"A semblance of justice"

She was also pleased that the transaction freed the women from the nondisclosure agreements that prevented them from speaking publicly about Weinstein. "After all the harassment, threats and discrimination, these survivors are finally receiving some semblance of justice," she said on Twitter.

After all the harassment, threats, and discrimination, these survivors are finally receiving some semblance of justice. 

I thank them for bravely sharing their stories.

This agreement - which is therefore not a conviction - must still be approved by two courts, a federal court and a bankruptcy court.

Two lawyers for other complainants immediately criticized the proposal, saying it was "total betrayal". Kevin Mintzer found it "deeply unfair". Douglas Wigdor notably represents Tarale Wulff, a former waitress who, during the trial, testified to the rape which the former producer had subjected her to in her apartment in 2005.

A brake for other victims

The producer "accepts no responsibility for his actions" in this transaction and he will not have to pay any money out of his pocket, criticized the lawyer who also worried: if the agreement was approved, he would also end of a separate class action brought in 2017 on behalf of nine women. And it would prevent other potential victims from seeking compensation. In a joint statement, Mintzer and Wigdor announced that they would take legal action against the agreement.

The former film producer, convicted in February of rape and sexual assault on two women, was sentenced on March 11 to 23 years in prison after a high-profile trial in New York.

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VIDEO. Harvey Weinstein sentenced to 23 years in prison

Nearly one hundred women, including Angelina Jolie and Salma Hayek, have to date publicly accused Harvey Weinstein of harassment, sexual assault or rape. Most of the alleged facts are time-barred. He was, however, charged in April with a third sexual assault case in a case being put up by Los Angeles prosecutors.