Steadfast Insurance Company, which covers Walt Disney Co., filed a complaint on Tuesday arguing that it “has no obligation to provide coverage” to disgraced former Hollywood producer Harvey Weinstein in his criminal prosecution by the New York District Attorney’s Office.
Steadfast issued Disney an employment practices policy and now Weinstein’s attorneys are seeking reimbursement through that policy, according to the suit.
Weinstein was charged last month with two counts of rape and another count of a criminal sexual act stemming from two incidents in 2004 and 2013. Weinstein has been accused of rape, sexual assault or harassment by more than 80 women.
The criminal sex act charge comes from a case involving aspiring actress Lucia Evans, who accused the Hollywood mogul of forcing her to perform oral sex on him during a meeting at his office in 2004.
The two rape charges stem from an unidentified accuser who accused Weinstein of keeping her against her will in a room at the DoubleTree Metropolitan hotel in midtown Manhattan in 2013.
Weinstein’s bail was set at $1 million cash after he was arrested in May, for which his lawyers are requesting reimbursement.
Steadfast is seeking declaration from the court that the criminal proceeding is not within the scope of coverage and doesn’t trigger the agreements of the insurance policy.
Pamela Chelin contributed to this reporting.