Harvey Weinstein's Accuser Wins Big Against Disney, Miramax And Talent Agency CAA

The other defendants in Harvey Weinstein's sexual assault case are not escaping from the law.

The disgraced film producer, his brother Robert, Disney, Miramax, and the talent agency CAA were named in a bombshell lawsuit. Actress Julia Ormond filed her claims against them in October 2023, detailing Weinstein's alleged abuse.

The other defendants tried to have her negligence claims against them dismissed, arguing that her issues with Harvey Weinstein did not involve them. However, a judge recently held them accountable.

According to new reports, a recent hearing into the separate motions for dismissal filed by Disney, Miramax, and CAA ended in Ormond's favor. A New York judge sided with her and denied the media agencies' efforts to escape responsibility in her lawsuit.

The legal umpire determined the "Sabrina" actress had presented substantial evidence for her claims against the defendants to proceed in court. On that note, the judge denied the dismissal request, noting:

"[Julia] has adequately alleged that Weinstein used his position at Miramax, and his power to greenlight financing on her project per her film production agreement with Miramax, to facilitate his assault on her." 

"[Julia's] allegations as to Disney are all sufficient to state a claim for negligent supervision and retention, warranting denial of Disney's motion," the judge's order continued. In Touch shared the same verdict applied to CAA's dismissal request.

Thanks to the judge's order, Ormond can fight against Weinstein and the other defendants in court. Her case will move forward nearly a year after she filed her bombshell allegations in October 2023.

The 59-year-old actress claimed she met Weinstein in 1995 at a business dinner for a project. He allegedly refused to converse with her over dinner and insisted they discuss at the apartment Miramax provided Ormond.

She was given the residence as a part of a first-look deal with the studio; unfortunately, it became the venue of her alleged abuse. Ormond recalled Weinstein "stripped naked and forced her to perform oral sex on him."

Ormond believed Miramax, which Weinstein once owned, and its new owner, Disney, were partly responsible for the alleged incident. She accused them of negligence, stressing their failure to supervise the film producer properly.

She claimed Miramax and Disney were aware he was a danger to women, yet they failed to protect her. The same applied to her then-agents, Bryan Lourd and Kevin Huvane, who she accused of helping her alleged abuser.

The agents, now co-chairmen of CAA, allegedly advised her not to report the incident to authorities. They "suggested that if she reported Weinstein to the authorities, she would not be believed, and he would seriously damage her career."

"Still worse, not long after Weinstein's assault on Ormond and her reporting of the assault to them, CAA lost interest in representing her, and her career suffered dramatically," the actress's lawsuit claimed.

Following Ormond's lawsuit, the defendants expressed their innocence, with Weinstein's Rep vehemently denying her claims. He shared the embattled film producer's words in a statement, saying:

"Harvey Weinstein categorically denies the allegations made against him by Julia Ormond, and he is prepared to vehemently defend himself."

"This is yet another example of a complaint filed against Mr. Weinstein after the passing of decades, and he is confident that the evidence will not support Ms. Ormond's claims," the rep declared.

CAA's rep echoed similar sentiments of innocence in their statement, claiming they sympathized with the actress's alleged experience. "However, the claims that Ms. Ormond has levied against the agency are completely without merit," they concluded.

In April, The Blast reported that Weinstein's problems had increased with his estate on the decline following a retrial ruling. A New York court announced that his rape and criminal sexual assault convictions in the state would be retried.

Weinstein's net worth was reportedly around $300 million before he was sentenced to nearly two decades of jail time in 2018. However, experts noted the sum had dropped to about $25 million.

"Following Harvey Weinstein's rape, sexual misconduct, and assault charges, he no longer owns the empire he once did," Southern California financial expert Jack Cohen explained. He blamed this drop on legal fees, divorce settlement, and child support.

Harvey Weinstein will remain behind bars awaiting the retrial of his New York case.