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Harvey Weinstein's lawyer has dismissed allegations made in a new lawsuit against the Hollywood film executive as "without merit", claiming there was "zero discrimination" at his film studios.
New York State's Attorney-General Eric Schneiderman has filed a lawsuit against Weinstein and his former company for allegedly failing to protect employees from the movie producer.
Mr Schneiderman said while the investigation into Weinstein was ongoing, court intervention was sought in light of the reported imminent sale of The Weinstein Company.
"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," Mr Schneiderman said.
Mr Schneiderman detailed a number of allegations made against Weinstein during the four-month investigation.
That included claims Weinstein touted his connection to powerful political figures and asserted he had contacts within the Secret Service that could take care of problems.
"Mr Weinstein told several employees throughout the relevant time period that, in substance, "I will kill you," "I will kill your family," and "You don't know what I can do," or words to that effect," the statement said.
Weinstein's drivers in both New York City and Los Angeles were allegedly required to keep condoms and erectile dysfunction injections in the car at all times, in order to provide them to Mr Weinstein as needed.
He allegedly employed one group of female employees, described by some witnesses as his "wing women", to accompany him to events and facilitate his sexual conquests.
Other employees including assistants and executives were also allegedly compelled to facilitate Weinstein's sexual activity.
On certain occasions when individuals did complain to human resources at The Weinstein Company, those complaints were allegedly not treated confidentially and investigated.
In one instance, an assistant's complaint about certain misconduct by Weinstein was allegedly forwarded via email to Weinstein himself.
In response Weinstein's attorney Ben Brafman released a statement saying many of the allegations against his client were "without merit."
"While Mr. Weinstein's behavior was not without fault, there certainly was no criminality, and at the end of the inquiry it will be clear that Harvey Weinstein promoted more women to key executive positions than any other industry leader and there was zero discrimination at either Miramax or TWC," Mr Brafman said.
The lawsuit has also been brought against Weinstein's brother Robert Weinstein.
The court papers allege company and co-owner Robert "are liable because they were aware of and acquiesced in repeated and persistent unlawful conduct by failing to investigate or stop it."
"Robert Weinstein, as co-owner, co-Chairman, and co-CEO, was responsible for maintaining a safe workplace, free of sexual harassment and other unlawful conduct," the statement said.
"Yet instead of doing so, he acquiesced in allowing Harvey Weinstein to create a hostile work environment and engage in sexual misconduct that was known to him, or which he was responsible for preventing."
Harvey Weinstein, co-founder of the Miramax studio, was one of Hollywood's most influential men before more than 70 women accused him of sexual misconduct, including rape.
He denies having non-consensual sex with anyone.
ABC/wires
Topics: sexual-offences, law-crime-and-justice, assault, united-states
First posted