Harvey Weinstein, ex-associates, accusers reach tentative $68.4 million settlement

Harvey Weinstein, his former associates and accusers have reached a tentative settlement in almost all civil cases.

Harvey Weinstein leaves Manhattan Criminal Court, using a walker, following a hearing. Picture: AFP

Harvey Weinstein, his former associates, insurers and accusers have reached a nearly $68.4 million ($US47 million) tentative settlement of almost all the civil cases pending against him, about $36.4 million ($US25 million) of which will compensate women who have accused the Hollywood producer of sexual misconduct, according to people familiar with the matter.

Under the terms of the agreement, Mr Weinstein and his former associates didn’t admit wrongdoing, the people said.

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The deal still needs to be approved by a bankruptcy judge and a judge overseeing a proposed class-action lawsuit. The bulk of the settlement money will be paid by insurance policies, including those held by his former studio, according to people familiar with the matter.

The deal resolves all but two of the civil sexual misconduct lawsuits and other legal claims filed against Mr Weinstein, the people said.

The tentative settlement won’t impact the criminal case brought by Manhattan prosecutors, which is set to go to trial on January 6. Mr Weinstein has pleaded not guilty and denied all allegations of nonconsensual sex.

The settlement is the culmination of more than a year of negotiations, which involved lawyers for Mr Weinstein, his former film studio, the New York Attorney-General’s office, insurers and alleged victims. The negotiations also included the former associates of Mr Weinstein who some women claimed had enabled Mr Weinstein’s alleged abuse.

Weinstein has reached a tentative settlement. Picture: Getty Images

It also resolves a suit filed by the New York Attorney-General that accused his former studio’s executives and board of failing to protect women from his alleged misconduct.

Under the terms of the deal, about $8.7 million ($US6 million) will go to women who have filed lawsuits and legal claims and their attorneys, the people said. An additional $27 million ($US18.6 million) will be set aside to create a settlement fund for additional alleged victims, including those covered by the Attorney-General’s suit, they said.

About $10.1 million ($US7 million) will go to some creditors of the film studio. About 17.4 million ($US12 million) will cover the costs of lawyers who defended Mr Weinstein’s former associates against the suits.

A spokeswoman for the New York Attorney-General and a spokesman for Mr Weinstein declined to comment. A lawyer representing the plaintiffs in the proposed class-action suit didn’t respond to a request for comment.

Of the total settlement, $1.4 million ($US1 million) will fund Mr Weinstein’s defence costs to fight the lawsuits against two alleged victims who aren’t participating in the settlement, the people said.

Lawyers for those women have portrayed the settlement as unfair. Douglas Wigdor, a lawyer for one of those women, said in a statement that he didn’t believe the deal was the best possible settlement. “It is shameful that $US12 million of the settlement is going to the lawyers for the directors who we alleged enabled Harvey Weinstein,” he said.

The Wall Street Journal