Julia Ormond Accuses Harvey Weinstein of Sexual Battery and Sues CAA in Landmark Lawsuit

Julia Ormond Accuses Harvey Weinstein of Sexual Battery and Sues CAA in Landmark Lawsuit

Edited by: TJVNews.com

In a significant development in the ongoing legal battle against Harvey Weinstein, 71, actress Julia Ormond has filed a lawsuit accusing the former film producer of sexual battery. As was reported by the New York Times, the lawsuit, filed in a New York court, alleges that Weinstein forcibly compelled Ormond to perform oral sex during a business meeting in 1995. In a groundbreaking move, Julia Ormond has also brought the Creative Artists Agency (CAA) into the lawsuit, claiming that the talent agency played a role in covering up and enabling Weinstein’s predatory behavior, the NYT report added.

Julia Ormond, known for her roles in films like “Legends of the Fall” and “Sabrina,” has come forward with a disturbing account of an encounter with Harvey Weinstein. According to her complaint, CAA had arranged a two-year production deal between Ormond and Miramax, which Weinstein co-founded. During a business dinner in 1995, Weinstein allegedly sexually assaulted her. As was reported by the NYT, the lawsuit states that Weinstein insisted on discussing a project of her interest only at an apartment provided by Miramax as part of her contract. It was during this meeting at the apartment that Weinstein is said to have stripped naked and forced Ms. Ormond into a non-consensual act of oral sex, as was noted in the NYT report.

After the traumatic incident, Ormond confided in her CAA agents, Bryan Lourd (now the CEO of CAA) and Kevin Huvane (now a co-chairman of the agency). Instead of supporting her, they allegedly discouraged her from reporting Weinstein to the authorities. The NYT report said that according to the complaint, they implied that she wouldn’t be believed, and her career would be severely harmed if she took legal action against Weinstein. Fearing the consequences, Ormond did not pursue legal action at that time.

However, Weinstein allegedly terminated her contract with Miramax following the incident. Furthermore, CAA is accused of transferring Ormond to a less experienced agent, effectively limiting her career potential, as was noted in the NYT report. The lawsuit claims that both Miramax and CAA failed to protect her from Weinstein’s predatory behavior.

“Harvey Weinstein categorically denies the allegations made against him by Julia Ormond, and he is prepared to vehemently defend himself,” Imran H. Ansari, a lawyer for Weinstein, said in a statement, as was reported in the NYT. Ansari added that the lawsuit was “yet another example of a complaint filed against Mr. Weinstein after the passing of decades.”

The inclusion of CAA in this lawsuit marks a significant development in the legal battle against Harvey Weinstein. The NYT report stated that Ormond’s lawsuit asserts that two senior agents from CAA informed her of the “going rate” for settlements paid to women who accused Weinstein of sex crimes. She claimed that the sum was $100,000. This lawsuit alleges that CAA was complicit in covering up Weinstein’s actions and played a role in facilitating his predatory behavior, the report said.

CAA has vehemently denied these allegations, describing them as “baseless” and stating that they will “vigorously refute them in court,” according to the NYT report. The agency further claimed that Ormond’s lawyer had approached them earlier in the year, seeking $15 million in exchange for her not making allegations against CAA public. The NYT report said that the CAA rejected this demand, and they argue that a subsequent review by attorney Loretta Lynch and her law firm, Paul Weiss, found no evidence to support Ormond’s claims.

In response to CAA’s statement, Douglas Wigdor, a lawyer representing Ormond, emphasized that CAA had hired Loretta Lynch to “defend” them, suggesting that this could have influenced the outcome of the review, according to the report. Wigdor stated, “It’s not surprising, therefore, that she found nothing to support our client’s claims.” He reiterated their commitment to exposing the truth.

In a statement, Ormond said her lawsuit was a “way to shed light on how powerful people and institutions like my talent agents at CAA, Miramax and Disney enabled and provided cover for Weinstein to assault me and countless others,” as was reported by the NYT.

Julia Ormond’s lawsuit not only accuses Weinstein of sexual battery but also shines a spotlight on the role of talent agencies in enabling and covering up the misconduct of powerful figures in the entertainment industry. If the lawsuit proceeds, it could set a precedent for holding agencies accountable for their actions in similar cases. This development adds to the broader conversation about accountability and responsibility within the industry.

Harvey Weinstein, who is currently serving a lengthy prison sentence following convictions in New York and Los Angeles, continues to deny all allegations against him. He maintains that all encounters were consensual and is appealing both convictions. The legal battle between Weinstein and his accusers, including Julia Ormond, is far from over, and this lawsuit brings another layer of complexity to an already high-profile case.