New York Attorney General Eric Schneiderman has filed a lawsuit against the Weinstein Company, Harvey Weinstein and Robert Weinstein for alleged sexual abuse and misconduct.
Weinstein is one of Hollywood’s most influential personalities and is the co-founder of Miramax studio.
More than 70 women have accused him of sexual harassment, which also includes rape. The Press Release reads “The suit, filed today in New York County Supreme Court, includes new and extensive allegations about longtime company CEO Harvey Weinstein’s (“HW”) vicious and exploitative mistreatment of company employees.”
The lawsuit claims verbal threats to kill employees and sexual abuse towards female staff employed by the studio over several years. Four month investigation by the Office of the Attorney General (OAG) includes series of interviews with victims subject to Weinstein’s misconduct. There is also an all-round review of ‘company records and emails,’ as part of the investigation, according to the press release.
Schneiderman seeks a disclosed sum as compensation for the damages. In addition, a penalty for victims allegedly abused by Weinstein.
“As alleged in our complaint, The Weinstein Company repeatedly broke New York law by failing to protect its employees from pervasive sexual harassment, intimidation, and discrimination,” A.G. Schneiderman said, “Any sale of The Weinstein Company must ensure that victims will be compensated, employees will be protected going forward, and that neither perpetrators nor enablers will be unjustly enriched. Every New Yorker has a right to a workplace free of sexual harassment, intimidation, and fear.”