A US judge on Tuesday rejected Harvey Weinstein’s proposed civil settlement deal worth $18.9 million. US District Judge Alvin Hellerstein in Manhattan said the preliminary settlement would be unfair to women who Weinstein raped or sexually abused.
“The idea that Harvey Weinstein could get a defense fund ahead of the plaintiffs is obnoxious,” Hellerstein said at a hearing, Reuters reported.
A settlement would have resolved class-action litigation by Weinstein accusers, and New York Attorney General Letitia James’ lawsuit accusing Weinstein, his brother Bob Weinstein and their bankrupt Weinstein Co of maintaining a hostile work environment.
Earlier, 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 Weinstein does 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.
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.
The conviction was seen as a long-overdue reckoning for Weinstein after years of whispers about his behaviour turned into a torrent of accusations in 2017 that destroyed his career and gave rise to #MeToo, the global movement to encourage women to come forward and hold powerful men accountable for their sexual misconduct.
