The civil rights lawsuit against the company alleges that Harvey Weinstein harassed and abused women employed by the studio for years, as well as making verbal threats to kill staff members.
It accuses senior executives at the company, including Harvey Weinstein’s brother Robert, of failing to prevent the mistreatment of staff despite being presented with evidence.
New York Attorney General Eric Schneiderman is seeking an unspecified sum to cover damages, plus penalties, for victims of alleged abuse.
A lawyer for Harvey Weinstein has said a “fair investigation” will show that many of the allegations are without merit, while the company’s board of directors has said many of the allegations relating to the board are “inaccurate”.
The allegations against Harvey Weinstein first surfaced in October 2017, when the New York Times published a story detailing decades of allegations of harassment against the mogul.
Since then, more than 50 women, among them some of the biggest names in Hollywood, have accused Harvey Weinstein of assault, harassment, abuse and rape.
In the wake of the allegations, Harvey Weinstein was sacked by the board of his company.
He has admitted that his behavior has “caused a lot of pain” but has described many of the allegations against him as “patently false”.
Harvey Weinstein is under investigation by UK and US police, but no criminal charges have been brought.
The state of New York is suing The Weinstein Company, alleging that the studio failed to protect staff from Harvey Weinstein.
Harvey Weinstein, 65, is facing dozens of allegations of abuse, including rape, but denies non-consensual acts.
The lawsuit filed by New York prosecutors alleges Harvey Weinstein abused female employees and made verbal threats to kill staff members.
However, Harvey Weinstein’s lawyer said a “fair investigation” would show that many of the allegations were without merit.
The Weinstein Company’s board of directors said it was “disappointed” by the lawsuit.
On February 11, New York Attorney General Eric Schneiderman said that he had filed the suit against The Weinstein Company, as well as Harvey Weinstein and his brother Robert, who co-founded the studio.
Eric Schneiderman is seeking an unspecified sum to cover damages, plus penalties, for victims of alleged abuse by Harvey Weinstein.
The document alleges that Harvey Weinstein harassed and abused women employed by the studio for years.
It accuses senior executives at the company, including Robert Weinstein, of failing to prevent the mistreatment of staff despite being presented with evidence.
The suit casts doubt over the sale of The Weinstein Company, which has been battling bankruptcy and is in talks with investors.
Eric Schneiderman said his investigation was continuing, but he had brought the suit out of concern that a possible sale would leave alleged victims without adequate compensation, and could benefit “perpetrators or enablers”.
It is reported that businesswoman Maria Contreras-Sweet has led talks to buy the studio for $500 million.
However, after news of the suit emerged, negotiations are now said to be on hold.
According to Variety, investors baulked at the prospect of the lawsuit adding conditions to the sale.
In October 2017, The New York Times published a story detailing decades of allegations of harassment against Harvey Weinstein.
Since then more than 50 women, among them some of the biggest names in Hollywood, have accused him assault, harassment, abuse and rape.
In the wake of the allegations, Harvey Weinstein was sacked by the board of his company.
New York prosecutors are investigating the Weinstein Company following allegations of assault made against its co-founder, Harvey Weinstein.
The civil rights inquiry seeks to identify employees who have been subject to harassment.
According to prosecutors, company documents will be seized as part of the investigation. These include documents relating to complaints about harassment and how such complaints were handled.
The Weinstein Company, which is based in New York, has come under intense pressure over the scandal and fired Harvey Weinstein from its board earlier this month.
More than two dozen women, including Angelina Jolie, Gwyneth Paltrow and Rose McGowan, have made a number of accusations against the film producer.
Harvey Weinstein, whose films have received more than 300 Oscar nominations, has “unequivocally denied” any allegations of non-consensual sex.
Meanwhile, LAPD announced its first investigation involving Harvey Weinstein in California.
Elsewhere, in London, police say Harvey Weinstein is accused of assaulting three women in separate incidents in the late 1980s, 1992, 2010, 2011 and 2015.
Officers are looking into claims they were attacked in Westminster, Camden and west London.
No arrests have been made over any of the allegations, police say.
Meanwhile, Matt Damon said he became aware of Harvey Weinstein’s alleged harassment of Gwyneth Paltrow in 1999.
In an interview with ABC News, the actor said: “I knew the story about Gwyneth [Paltrow] from Ben [Affleck], because he was with her after Brad [Pitt], so I knew that story.”
In the same interview George Clooney, whose big-screen break was a Weinstein film, said it is “beyond infuriating” that “predator” Harvey Weinstein was “out silencing women”.
On October 23, at a film premiere in Los Angeles, George Clooney spoke about the need to believe women who speak out about assault.
“Maybe this is the watershed moment, where we believe women, where they feel safe that they can talk about what they’re experiencing,” he said.
George Clooney and Matt Damon join the list of Hollywood stars who have spoken out to condemn Harvey Weinstein.
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