Harvey Weinstein and Accusers Reach Tentative $25 Million Settlement

New York Times reports that more than 30 women who have accused the movie mogul of sexual misconduct would share the payout

Harvey Weinstein Arraigned On Rape And Criminal Sex Act Charges
Harvey Weinstein pictured in June 2018. (Drew Angerer / Getty Images)

Harvey Weinstein and the board of the bankrupt Weinstein Company have reached a tentative agreement with more than 30 actresses and women who have accused him of sexual misconduct, TheWrap has learned, in a deal that the New York Times has reported to be worth $25 million.

Weinstein would not be required to admit wrongdoing or pay his accusers with his own money, according to lawyers involved in the negotiations via the New York Times. The Times adds that the deal would end nearly every civil lawsuit related to accusations of misconduct dating back to 2017 brought against Weinstein and his former company.

More than 30 actresses who have accused the former movie mogul of claims of sexual harassment to rape would share the payout, and several lawyers who spoke to the Times say that the global legal settlement has preliminary approval from all major parties involved.

Representatives for Weinstein declined to comment or discuss the financials. Lawyers for Weinstein did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

The settlement would also require court approval, but if approved and signed off on by all parties, insurance companies representing the Weinstein Company would pay the sum. The payout to accusers would also be part of a $47 million settlement as part of the company’s other obligations, according to six lawyers who spoke to the Times.

Weinstein is still scheduled to appear in criminal court in New York City on Jan. 6, but this settlement pertains to the civil claims that include women from not just the U.S. but also Canada and the UK.

The Times also outlines the payouts that would be involved with the settlement. Roughly a quarter of the settlement package would go to cover Weinstein’s legal fees, as well as Bob Weinstein as well as former members of the board, which would insulate them against future liability from future claims. 18 of the victims would split $6.2 million, with no one person getting more than $500,000, while another $18.5 million would be set aside as part of a class-action case.

Douglas H. Wigdor and Kevin Mintzer, who represent Wedil David and a Jane Doe listed among the plaintiffs, said in a statement to TheWrap, “We reject the notion that this was the best settlement that could have been achieved on behalf of the victims. It is shameful that $12 million of the settlement is going to the lawyers for the directors who we alleged enabled Harvey Weinstein and it is even more outrageous that the proposed settlement will seek to bind non participating members by providing a release to the insurance companies and the directors of the Weinstein Company itself.”

They continued: “While we don’t begrudge victims who want to settle, we plan to vigorously object to any provision that tries to bind victims who want to proceed with holding Harvey Weinstein accountable for his actions which is exactly what we intend to do.”

The Times adds that David intends to walk away from the tentative deal. Wigdor’s firm Wigdor LLP also represents one of the Molineux witnesses who will be testifying at the criminal trial.

“This settlement is more than a math problem – it’s a symptom of a problematic, broken system that privileges powerful abusers at the expense of survivors,” Time’s Up Foundation’s CEO Rebecca Goldman said in a statement to TheWrap. “While this settlement is flawed, we know it represents the hard work of several survivors of Harvey Weinstein. We hope it brings them, and perhaps others, some small measure of justice and relief that is long overdue. Today and every day, TIME’S UP is in solidarity with the more than 80 survivors who bravely spoke out against Weinstein, catalyzing a worldwide reckoning for justice. With them, we will continue to fight until sexual harassment and assault at work are gone for good.”

Weinstein’s criminal case involves just two accusations from women, including one woman who says Weinstein raped her at Manhattan hotel room in 2013 and another who says he forced oral sex on her at his townhouse in 2006. Weinstein maintains that any sexual activity was consensual and that there was no wrongdoing. Many of the other women who have accused Weinstein of misconduct either declined to participate in the criminal trial or have cases that fall outside of the statute of limitations or are not considered criminal.

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