Weinstein harassment survivors to get uS$19mil settlement

The Harvey Weinstein survivors who experienced sexual misconduct and harassment by the now-convicted rapist have been awarded a US$18.875mil (RM509mil) settlement, as part of a class-action lawsuit, aided by the New York Attorney General.

The payments, which still await approval by the bankruptcy and district courts, will resolve two lawsuits – one against Weinstein, Bob Weinstein and The Weinstein Company, which was filed in February 2018 by the office of the Attorney General, and a November 2017 class action lawsuit brought on behalf of the group of women who were sexually harassed and assaulted by the former movie mogul.

The settlement comes as Weinstein is serving his 23-year sentence in a New York prison, three months after he was sentenced and found guilty by a jury for the sexual assault of Miriam Haley, a former Project Runway production assistant, and rape in the third degree of former actress Jessica Mann.

None of the plaintiffs included in the settlement were part of Weinstein’s New York criminal trial, showing the far-reaching magnitude of Weinstein’s abuse.

Only six women were able to testify in the New York trial, but over 100 others have accused Weinstein of sexual harassment, assault and rape.

Louisette Geiss, Sarah Ann Thomas, Melissa Thompson, Melissa Sagemiller, Nannette May, Katherine Kendall, Caitlin Dulany, Larissa Gomes and a Jill Doe are the plaintiffs named in the settlement.

Should the payment be approved by the court, the settlement will create a victims’ fund allowing all the women abused by Weinstein, under certain circumstances, to make claims for damages confidentially.

“Harvey Weinstein and The Weinstein Company failed their female employees. After all the harassment, threats and discrimination, these survivors are finally receiving some justice,” said Attorney General Letitia James.

“For more than two years, my office has fought tirelessly in the pursuit of justice for the women whose lives were upended by Harvey Weinstein. This agreement is a win for every woman who has experienced sexual harassment, discrimination, intimidation or retaliation by her employer.

“I thank the brave women who came forward to share their stories with my office. I will forever carry their stories in my heart and never stop fighting for the right of every single person to be able to work harassment-free.” — Reuters