May 24 (UPI) — Disgraced Hollywood producer Harvey Weinstein has reached an agreement worth $44 million to settle legal claims from women who’ve accused him of sexual misconduct, reports said Friday.
The Wall Street Journal, ABC News and The New York Times all reported the settlement.
“We now have an economic agreement in principle that is supported by the plaintiffs, the AG’s office, the defendants and all the insurers,” Weinstein attorney Adam Harris said in federal court Thursday.
More than 80 women have accused Weinstein. The agreement would pay $30 million to the plaintiffs and former employees of Weinstein’s production company — which declared bankruptcy a year ago, was bought by another owner and is now called Lantern Entertainment. The remaining $14 million will pay legal fees.
The money will come from insurance policies held by the Weinstein Company and not from Weinstein himself. The defendants in the case include members of the company’s board, some of whom were accused of facilitating misconduct.
The settlement also resolves a civil-rights lawsuit filed by the New York attorney general’s office that accuses Weinstein, his executives and board members of failing to protect them from a hostile work environment.
Weinstein, who produced award-winning films like “The King’s Speech,” “Silver Linings Playbook” and “Shakespeare in Love,” admitted to wrongdoing and sought counseling for his actions but denied any sex was non-consensual.
Weinstein still faces a criminal trial in New York City over sex assault accusations from two women. The trial is set to begin Sept. 9. Weinstein has pleaded not guilty.
