Judge rejects US$18.9 million Harvey Weinstein sex abuse settlement with accusers
- A judge said the deal would be unfair to women who Weinstein sexually abused as it treated them no different from victims who had merely met him
- The disgraced movie producer is serving a 23-year prison term following his conviction at a trial in February
US District Judge Alvin Hellerstein in Manhattan said the preliminary settlement would be unfair to women who Weinstein raped or sexually abused, because it treated them no different from women who had merely met him.
He also criticised a plan to set aside money to help Weinstein and the board of his former studio pay defence costs.
“The idea that Harvey Weinstein could get a defence fund ahead of the plaintiffs is obnoxious,” Hellerstein said at a hearing.
A settlement would have resolved class-action litigation by Weinstein accusers, and New York Attorney General Letitia James’ lawsuit accusing Weinstein, his brother Bob Weinstein and their bankrupt Weinstein Co of maintaining a hostile work environment.
Elizabeth Fegan, a lawyer representing nine Weinstein accusers, had argued that “all of the women were in the zone of danger” created by Weinstein, justifying class-action treatment.