WEINSTEIN REACHES $19MN DEAL WITH SEXUAL ABUSE ACCUSERS

NEWYORK: Harvey Weinstein and his former studio’s board have reached a nearly $19 million settlement with dozens of his sexual misconduct accusers, New York state’s attorney general and lawyers in a class-action lawsuit have said.

The agreement was announced by New York attorney general Letitia James and Chicago attorney Elizabeth A Fegan. The deal, if approved by judges in federal courts, would permit accusers to claim from $7,500 to $750,000 from the $18.8 million settlement.

The former Hollywood producer was convicted earlier this year of rape and sexual assault against two women. Accusations by dozens of women in 2017 destroyed his career and gave rise to #MeToo, the global movement to hold powerful men accountable for their sexual misconduct.

The 68-year-old former Holywood film producer was diagnosed in March with the coronavirus disease just days after he began serving his 23-year prison sentence.