Analysis: Weinstein and accusers reach $19M deal

Harvey Weinstein and his former studio’s board have reached a nearly $19 million settlement with dozens of his sexual misconduct accusers, New York state's attorney general and lawyers in a class-action lawsuit said Tuesday.

agreement was anunced by New York Attorney General Letitia James and Chicago attorney Elizabeth A. Fegan.

deal, if approved by judges in federal courts, would permit accusers to claim from $7,500 to $750,000 from $18.8 million settlement.

Angela Reddock-Wright, a legal expert on sexual harassment investigations told Associated Press deal will be final after court approval.

former Hollywood producer, Weinstein, was convicted earlier this year of rape and sexual assault against two women.

Accusations by dozens of women in 2017 destroyed his career and gave rise to #MeToo, global movement to hold powerful men accountable for ir sexual misconduct.

68-year-old former film producer was diagsed in March with coronavirus just days after he was moved to state’s maximum security Wende Correctional Facility near Buffalo to begin serving his 23-year prison sentence.

“This settlement is culmination of several years of hard work by survivors who t only initiated #MeToo movement around Weinstein, but also used ir platforms to seek justice for all of those who were afraid to come forward for fear of retaliation in Hollywood,” Fegan said.

Included in news release was a statement by plaintiff Caitlin Dulany, who said Weinstein isolated and assaulted her after y met in 1996 at Cannes Film Festival.

“When I came forward and shared my story about assault, I knew re wouldn’t be a straight path to justice,” Dulany said.

“Harvey avoided accountability for deces, leveraging his power to hide behind a web of deceit, and I was determined to join class action to ensure meaningful change for all survivors," she said. “I am proud that this settlement will help so many women who are long overdue for justice and relief.”

James said in a release that deal would resolve claims in a New York state lawsuit and in a class-action lawsuit that was pending in federal court.

“After all harassment, threats, and discrimination, se survivors are finally receiving some justice,” James said.

She called it “a win for every woman who has experienced sexual harassment, discrimination, intimidation, or retaliation by her employer."

Gerald Maatman, le counsel for Weinstein Companies, declined comment.

Messs seeking comment were left for Weinstein and individuals on his former studio's board.

Attorneys Douglas H. Wigdor and Kevin Mintzer, who represent some of Weinstein's accusers in lawsuits, said in a statement that proposed settlement was “a complete sellout of Weinstein survivors."

y called it “deeply unfair,” saying it does t require Weinstein to accept responsibility and doesn't require him to pay any money toward it.

y also said director defendants will receive millions of dollars to reimburse ir defense costs.

lawyers said deal would also harm women who do t join settlement because y would be unable to pursue large amounts of money from insurance companies which would receive protection from deal.

“We are completely astounded that Attorney General is taking a victory lap for this unfair and inequitable proposal, and on behalf of our clients, we will be vigorously objecting in court,” lawyers said.