An unnamed actress filed a proposed class-action lawsuit in federal court in Los Angeles Wednesday against disgraced producer Harvey Weinstein and his former film companies, alleging that he regularly employed the so-called “casting couch” throughout his career to facilitate the harassment and sexual assault of women.
Weinstein, who has been accused of assault or harassment by dozens of women, has previously apologized for his past behavior, but he has repeatedly denied taking part in any non-consensual sexual activity. He did so again Wednesday, through a spokesperson.
“Any allegations of non-consensual sex are unequivocally denied by Mr. Weinstein,” according to a statement released on his behalf. “Mr. Weinstein has further confirmed that there were never any acts of retaliation against any women for refusing his advances. Mr. Weinstein obviously can’t speak to anonymous allegations, but with respect to any women who have made allegations on the record, Mr. Weinstein believes that all of these relationships were consensual.”
In the latest lawsuit, filed in federal court in Los Angeles, an actress identified only as Jane Doe contends that she and “hundreds of other female actors like her found themselves with Weinstein on the casting couch in offices, in hotel rooms or at rooms at industry functions.”
The suit alleges that The Weinstein Company and Miramax — the two film companies co-founded by Weinstein — “facilitated and condoned” the producer’s behavior.
“Under the guise of meetings ostensibly to help further class members’ careers or hire them for roles, Weinstein isolated plaintiff and the class members in an attempt to engage in unwanted sexual conduct that took many forms: flashing, groping, fondling, battering, sexual assault, attempted rape and/or completed rape,” the complaint says.
The lawsuit, which seeks unspecified damages, comes a day after a complaint was filed in Los Angeles Superior Court against Weinstein by an unnamed actress who alleges that he sexually assaulted her.
The plaintiff, identified only as Jane Doe and represented by attorney Gloria Allred, is seeking unspecified damages on allegations of sexual battery, gender violence, assault, negligence and negligent retention.
The suit states that the actress met Weinstein in 2011 and had a meeting with him five years later at the Montage Beverly Hills hotel to discuss a role in the television series “Marco Polo.” The plaintiff alleges Weinstein held one of her wrists with one hand and masturbated with the other.
The actress says she met with Weinstein at the hotel again in 2016, where he gave her the impression she had won the “Marco Polo” role and said he wanted to celebrate. The plaintiff agreed, but during their meeting, Weinstein threw her onto a bed after leaving to change into a bathrobe, according to the suit.
“Weinstein then used his massive weight and strength to force himself on her,” the suit alleges. “Plaintiff finally broke free from his grasp and immediately left the bedroom and suite.”
–City News Service