Harvey Weinstein’s lawyers ask to pause civil suit due to ‘dramatic decline’ in health

Spokesmen for disgraced producer say he has not contracted Covid-19 but is being monitored

Harvey Weinstein enters New York City Criminal Court on 24 February 2020 in New York City (Scott Heins/Getty Images)

Harvey Weinstein’s lawyers have asked to pause a civil lawsuit against him citing a “dramatic decline” in his health.

Attorney Imran Ansari filed the request for a stay in the proceedings on Thursday in New York, according to The Hollywood Reporter. The filing also references criminal charges currently pending in Los Angeles against the former producer.

Spokesmen for Weinstein said on Thursday that he has not contracted Covid-19 while in prison, but is being monitored due to several health issues.

The update came following reports that Weinstein was running a high fever and was being tested for the illness.

Thursday’s request is related to a civil lawsuit filed in 2017 by a woman who alleges Weinstein sexually assaulted her while she was employed at his company, and threatened her job if she didn’t comply.

“Mr Weinstein’s health has had a dramatic decline this week, as heavily reported in the media,” the filing reads in part. “These health concerns make it practically impossible to conduct his deposition and impedes his fundamental right to participate in his defence.”

Ansari also asks for the civil lawsuit to be paused until the Los Angeles criminal charges are resolved.

Weinstein has maintained his innocence and denied all allegations of non-consensual sex.

The former movie producer was sentenced in March this year to 23 years in prison, after being found guilty in New York of a criminal sexual act and third-degree rape.

He now faces 11 sexual assault counts in California, involving five women, the Los Angeles County district attorney’s office said last month.