Weinstein Company’s lawyer talks about Harvey lawsuits, change of name of firm

THE Weinstein Company’s lawyer admits it is “not easy” to keep the company going in the wake of the Harvey Weinstein scandal.

Though the disgraced producer was fired from the company he cofounded in the wake of a New York Times expose that accused him of sexual misconduct and prompted dozens of other accusations of harassment, inappropriate behaviour and even allegations of rape, Bertram ‘Bert’ Fields (right) admitted they may have to consider changing the name of the firm to further distance themselves because it has become “toxic” to audiences.

Speaking at an event at Harvard Law School, he said: “It’s no secret that Harvey Weinstein committed very, very bad acts.

“I represent the company, not Harvey. We’re trying to keep the company alive and afloat.

“It’s not easy because the name has become toxic. If we change the name, is that going to make people want to see Weinstein movies? If we called it Pathfinder Films? I don’t know.”

And Bert admitted the company are anticipating being hit by a number of lawsuits in the wake of Weinstein’s alleged behaviour being exposed.

He said: “We have a first lawsuit from a woman who is suing the company for negligence in not restraining Harvey in doing the things that he did, which is unique. I think we’re going to get maybe 15, 20 of those lawsuits.” pig) hashtag to share tales of harassment.

Since it started, several prominent figures have been targeted in French assault claims, including a lawmaker in President Emmanuel Macron’s party, a judge on France’s equivalent of “America’s Got Talent” and renowned Oxford professor Tariq Ramadan, a leading lecturer in Islamic studies.

Franco-Polish filmmaker Roman Polanski, who is wanted in the US for the statutory rape of a 13-year-old in the 1970s, has also been hit with new abuse claims.

Swiss prosecutors are investigating new rape allegations against Polanski made by a Swiss woman - bringing to at least four

the number of people who have publicly accused him of assault.

Feminist groups plan protests on Monday outside a Paris-based film archive where he is scheduled to attend the launch of a retrospective of his work. — AFP