The Weinstein Co. is seeking to depose the group that is trying to buy the studio and pledging to support Harvey Weinstein accusers, according to new legal documents obtained by TheWrap.
The filing in bankruptcy court in Delaware comes after Broadway producer Howard Kagan’s Inclusion Media increased his bid for TWC to $325 million earlier on Wednesday.
On Tuesday, it was announced that the majority of The Weinstein Co.’s bankrupt assets will go to its original bidder, the Dallas-based Lantern Capital Partners.
However, Kagan’s new offer includes a $15 million breakup fee for Lantern Capital and a provision to give 5 percent of the equity in the new company to Harvey Weinstein’s accusers. After taking those factors into account, Inclusion Media’s bid matches Lantern’s.
Armenta Law Firm and Hagens Berman are representing many of Harvey Weinstein’s accusers.
Beth Fagan of Hagens Berman, who is a class action counsel to the plaintiffs, responded to the filing from TWC in a statement to TheWrap saying: “The 11th hour move on the unsecured creditors and the victims — to scare them into withholding support for the only bidder who has pledged to do right by the victims — should be seen for what it is: one more attempt by the Weinsteins to silence women.
“Time’s up. Victims will not be silenced — but they also will not allow the brothers to evade the proper channels of the courts overseeing the class and individual assault claims,” she continued.