Harvey Weinstein Victims Awarded $19 Million Settlement

Harvey Weinstein

Harvey Weinstein Victims Awarded $19 Million Settlement

Aside from watching their famous perpetrator being sentenced to prison, victims of film producer/convicted rapist Harvey Weinstein are now being rewarded monetarily. The office of New York Attorney General Letitia James recently announced a multi-million dollar settlement in which victims of Harvey Weinstein will be compensated for the physical, emotional, and professional abuse they suffered at the hands of the 68-year-old. How much will the payday be worth? Nearly $19 million. Attorney General Letitia James released the following statement:

“Harvey Weinstein and The Weinstein Company failed their female employees. After all the harassment, threats, and discrimination, their victims are finally receiving some justice.”

She continued:

“This agreement is a win for every woman who has experienced sexual harassment, discrimination, intimidation, or retaliation by her employer.”

The settlement is the fruit of the labor of a civil rights lawsuit filed by the Attorney General’s office in 2018. The plan hoisted an $18,875,000 victims’ compensation fund which will be distributed among the victims of Harvey Weinstein. They will also be released from the holds of non-disclosure and other confidentiality agreements – meaning they can tell their stories without fear of retaliation. According to the AG’s office, the money will be given to:

“…women who experienced a hostile work environment, sexual harassment, and gender-based discrimination while working at The Weinstein Company, as well as sexual abuse by Harvey Weinstein…[for suffering the abuse of] egregious violations of New York’s civil rights, human rights, and business laws.”

However, attorneys for several of Harvey Weinstein’s victims – Douglas H. Wigdor and Kevin Mintzer – don’t agree with the settlement. They feel that the payment is, essentially, hush money. Their statement read:

“The proposed settlement is a complete sellout of the Weinstein survivors and we are surprised that the Attorney General could somehow boast about a proposal that fails on so many different levels…We are completely astounded that the 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.”

Harvey Weinstein is currently serving 23 years in a New York prison for criminal sex acts in the first degree and rape in the third degree. He still faces charges of forcible rape, sexual penetration by use of force, and sexual battery in Los Angeles.

What do you think about the settlement? Let us know in the comments.