Women who were sexually abused by Hollywood producer Harvey Weinstein will be getting $19million in compensation, the New York attorney general’s office said on Tuesday.
“Harvey Weinstein and The Weinstein Company failed their female employees. After all the harassment, threats, and discrimination, their victims are finally receiving some justice,” New York Attorney General Letitia James said in a statement.
In 2018, a civil lawsuit was filed by the New York attorney general's office against Weinstein, Robert Weinstein and the Weinstein companies at large for “egregious violations of New York's civil rights, human rights, and business laws.” The victims will now be able to tell their stories without fear of retribution, prosecutors said.
The compensation however, still needs to be approved by the district court and the bankruptcy court that praise over The Winstein company’s bankruptcy case.
The attorney general said that the agreement is a win for every woman who has experienced sexual harassment, discrimination, intimidation, or retaliation by her employer.
Douglas H. Wigdor and Kevin Mintzer, attorneys for several of Harvey Weinstein's alleged victims, slammed the settlement, calling a sellout. They said that it doesn't account for much due to several reasons including that Weinsten doesn't not accept responsibility for his actions.
“We are completely astounded that the Attorney General is taking a victory lap for this unfair and inequitable proposal, and on behalf of our clients, we will be vigorously objecting in court,” they were quoted as saying in a CNN report.
Weinstein's civil attorney, Imran Ansari, said that Weinstein “remains intently focused in defending himself on all remaining legal matters, including the appeal of his criminal conviction, civil lawsuits, and the charges filed against him in LA.”
Weinstein is serving 23 years in prison in New York after being convicted of committing a criminal sex act in the first degree and rape in the third degree.
Weinstein was first accused of sexual misconduct by actress Alyssa Milano in 2018, which kicked off the #MeToo movement where several actresses including Salma Hayek and Angelina Jolie accused Weinstein of sexual misconduct.
A lengthy trial later, Weinstein was sentenced.
