Harvey Weinstein survivors awarded £15m settlement to create compensation fund

Producer was sentenced to 23 years in prison in February after being found guilty of sexual assault and rape

Harvey Weinstein’s victims have been awarded a £15.2m ($18.8m) settlement for their experiences of sexual assault and harassment.

Following Weinstein’s conviction for sexual assault and rape in February, two class-action lawsuits against the producer have been resolved with the help of the New York Attorney General.

The payments, which must be approved by the bankruptcy court, will see over £15m paid out from the lawsuits, one of which was filed against Weinstein and Bob Weinstein in February 2018 as part an investigation into the working culture at The Weinstein Company.

A separate lawsuit was brought in November 2017 on behalf of a group of women who claimed to have been sexually harassed and halted by the producer.

Speaking about the settlement, Attorney General Letitia James said: “Harvey Weinstein and The Weinstein Company failed their female employees. After all the harassment, threats, and discrimination, these survivors are finally receiving some justice.”

The payment will be used to create a victims’ fund from which women abused by Weinstein – both personally and at The Weinstein Company – can confidentially claim for damages.

As part of the agreement, survivors will also be released from any NDAs signed in relation to Weinstein.

None of the plaintiffs in the lawsuit had been involved in Weinstein’s criminal trial, when the disgraced movie mogul was sentenced to 23 years in jail for sexual assault and third-degree rape.

Six women testified in the trial, which took place in New York this year, while more than 100 have accused Weinstein of sexual harassment and assault.

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As well as his current conviction in New York, Weinstein is facing additional sexual assault charges in Los Angeles.