Major film studio Relativity Media forged #metoo memo accusing co-president of sexual harassment, judge finds

An arbitration judge found that the seven accounts of sexual harassment by unnamed women were fabricated

Adam Field (L) and Ryan Kavanaugh (R) of Relativity Media (Getty Images)

A former executive of Hollywood studio Relativity Media has been awarded $8.44 million after an arbitration judge found that a memo alleging seven accounts of sexual harassment was fabricated by another executive.

The memo claimed that a handful of women had complained to the studio's HR department about Adam Fields, a veteran producer who was co-president of the now-defunct studio. However, Relativity’s own head of HR, Carol Genis, denied ever seeing or writing the memo and testified against the studio and CEO Ryan Kavanaugh.

According to new records reported by Deadline after Relativity filed for bankruptcy earlier this year, a forensic audit was conducted on the computer the memo was found on. The audit found that the user “kav, kav” had generated the document.

The memo was brought to court after Fields filed a complaint against Relativity and Kavanaugh, claiming that his firing two years ago was a breach of contract. Fields' contract was initially terminated for violating a confidentiality agreement, without any mention of sexual assault.

However, records show that Kavanaugh claims to have discovered a memo two weeks before the initial hearing. Whereas other members of Relativity had been unable to find any complaint, Kavanaugh located a hidden folder – purportedly created by Genis – containing the document. The folder was found in Genis’s private folders.

Fields claims to have known the memo, which features seven accusations of sexual harassment from unnamed women, was fake. During a one day hearing, Fields' attorneys were able to show the memo was fabricated.

Reports indicate that Relativity attempted to prevent Genis – no longer an employee of the studio – from testifying. Fellow HR manager Terri McAlpine also said on record that she was not aware of any sexual harassment complaints against Fields.

The arbitration case's judge ruled: “Finding that a party falsified a document is disturbing and disappointing, and the arbitrator does so reluctantly. However the evidence compels that result.

"Relativity’s counsel struggled to connect the dots in a way that could explain its client’s conduct, but their valiant effort could not overcome the metadata, the contrast in credibility and the absurdity of Relativity’s about-face and withdrawal of the memorandum.”

A spokesperson for Kavanaugh has since issued a statement to The Hollywood Reporter, calling the newly filed documents "skewed and inaccurate."

"This is nothing more than a desperate attempt by Adam Fields who lost against Mr. Kavanaugh 100 percent," the spokesperson said. "Relativity would have appealed had Mr. Fields won anything of value, he won on a sole count of breach of contract and Relativity decided it was not worth an appeal as he will not even receive $100,000, let alone the absurd $8 million quoted.”

Questioned about Genis, Kavanaugh's spokesperson responded: "She was and continues to work directly with Mr. Fields behind the scenes in an attempt to collect money from Relativity for herself."

Relativity, best known for producing such movies as Step Brothers, The Pursuit of Happiness, and The Social Network, has filed for bankruptcy, the latest documents – made public on the 29 May – showing that the judge sided with Fields and awarded him $8.44 million.

Fields' attorneys claim in their filing that: “It is clear that Relativity and Mr. Kavanaugh tried to exploit the current #MeToo moviement to destory Mr. Fields' reputation with false and fabricated accusations.”

The spokesperson for Kavanaugh responded: "This arbitration was not about Adam's sexual harassment or predatory behaviour. To attempt to mute the accounts of multiple women, which took a lot of courage and with a lot to lose by sharing their own independent accounts of what can only be described as horrific and predator-like behaviour by Adam Fields against them, by inferring this arbitration was in any way related to those accusations is truly sick and just wrong."