Julia Ormond sues Weinstein saying he assaulted her; accuses CAA, Disney, Miramax of enabling

By Associated Press

NEW YORK: Julia Ormond, who starred in movies alongside the likes of Brad Pitt and Harrison Ford within the Nineties earlier than her highlight light, filed a lawsuit Wednesday accusing disgraced film producer Harvey Weinstein of sexually assaulting her in 1995 after which hindering her profession.

Ormond, who additionally accuses The Walt Disney Co., Miramax and her former brokers of figuring out Weinstein was an issue however doing nothing about it, filed the case in state Supreme Court in Manhattan below the Adult Survivors Act, a legislation handed final yr that enables a brief window for individuals who allege sexual assault to file previous the state’s regular deadlines.

In her lawsuit, Ormond says she was a star on the rise when she met Weinstein in 1994. She says she stored in contact with him to debate scripts and initiatives, and in 1995 entered right into a manufacturing settlement with Miramax, the place he was co-chairman. She accuses him of committing sexual battery in opposition to her in December 1995 after a enterprise assembly, after which retaliating in opposition to her and negatively affecting her profession after she confronted him weeks later.

Weinstein lawyer Imran Ansari mentioned his consumer “categorically denies the allegations made against him by Julia Ormond and he is prepared to vehemently defend himself.”

The British actress says she advised her U.S. brokers on the time, Creative Artists Agency, however obtained no assist and was suggested to not take any authorized motion or different steps. She accuses CAA, Disney and Miramax, saying that they knew Weinstein introduced a hazard to ladies however did nothing to cease him or to assist her.

According to the submitting, “none of those outstanding corporations warned Ormond that Weinstein had a historical past of assaulting ladies as a result of he was too vital, too highly effective, and made them an excessive amount of cash.”

CAA responded in a press release that the company “takes all allegations of sexual assault and abuse severely, and has compassion for Ms. Ormond.”

The assertion mentioned the company employed attorneys to research her claims when she first got here to them in March, and so they discovered solely “evidence of a dynamic and engaged relationship between CAA and Ms. Ormond, and the agency’s consistent efforts to support her career.”

“Ms. Ormond’s claims against CAA are baseless, and the agency will vigorously refute them in court,” the assertion mentioned.

The lawsuit marks the primary time Ormond has publicly accused Weinstein of sexual assault. The Associated Press typically would not title the alleged victims of sexual assault, however it’s on this case as a result of Ormond has spoken publicly about it, together with in an interview with Variety.

Weinstein, 71, was convicted of rape and sexual assault in New York in 2020 and is in jail within the state. Last yr, he additionally was convicted of one other rape in Los Angeles. He has appealed each convictions.

Dozens of girls have sued Weinstein, a lot of them actors, however few have named such a broad record of defendants as Ormond. Suing her personal former brokers is an particularly uncommon transfer.

Emails searching for remark had been additionally despatched to Disney and Miramax.

Ormond’s movies embrace “Legends of the Fall” with Pitt; “Sabrina” with Ford; and “First Knight” with Sean Connery and Richard Gere.

NEW YORK: Julia Ormond, who starred in movies alongside the likes of Brad Pitt and Harrison Ford within the Nineties earlier than her highlight light, filed a lawsuit Wednesday accusing disgraced film producer Harvey Weinstein of sexually assaulting her in 1995 after which hindering her profession.

Ormond, who additionally accuses The Walt Disney Co., Miramax and her former brokers of figuring out Weinstein was an issue however doing nothing about it, filed the case in state Supreme Court in Manhattan below the Adult Survivors Act, a legislation handed final yr that enables a brief window for individuals who allege sexual assault to file previous the state’s regular deadlines.

In her lawsuit, Ormond says she was a star on the rise when she met Weinstein in 1994. She says she stored in contact with him to debate scripts and initiatives, and in 1995 entered right into a manufacturing settlement with Miramax, the place he was co-chairman. She accuses him of committing sexual battery in opposition to her in December 1995 after a enterprise assembly, after which retaliating in opposition to her and negatively affecting her profession after she confronted him weeks later.googletag.cmd.push(perform() googletag.show(‘div-gpt-ad-8052921-2’); );

Weinstein lawyer Imran Ansari mentioned his consumer “categorically denies the allegations made against him by Julia Ormond and he is prepared to vehemently defend himself.”

The British actress says she advised her U.S. brokers on the time, Creative Artists Agency, however obtained no assist and was suggested to not take any authorized motion or different steps. She accuses CAA, Disney and Miramax, saying that they knew Weinstein introduced a hazard to ladies however did nothing to cease him or to assist her.

According to the submitting, “none of those outstanding corporations warned Ormond that Weinstein had a historical past of assaulting ladies as a result of he was too vital, too highly effective, and made them an excessive amount of cash.”

CAA responded in a press release that the company “takes all allegations of sexual assault and abuse severely, and has compassion for Ms. Ormond.”

The assertion mentioned the company employed attorneys to research her claims when she first got here to them in March, and so they discovered solely “evidence of a dynamic and engaged relationship between CAA and Ms. Ormond, and the agency’s consistent efforts to support her career.”

“Ms. Ormond’s claims against CAA are baseless, and the agency will vigorously refute them in court,” the assertion mentioned.

The lawsuit marks the primary time Ormond has publicly accused Weinstein of sexual assault. The Associated Press typically would not title the alleged victims of sexual assault, however it’s on this case as a result of Ormond has spoken publicly about it, together with in an interview with Variety.

Weinstein, 71, was convicted of rape and sexual assault in New York in 2020 and is in jail within the state. Last yr, he additionally was convicted of one other rape in Los Angeles. He has appealed each convictions.

Dozens of girls have sued Weinstein, a lot of them actors, however few have named such a broad record of defendants as Ormond. Suing her personal former brokers is an particularly uncommon transfer.

Emails searching for remark had been additionally despatched to Disney and Miramax.

Ormond’s movies embrace “Legends of the Fall” with Pitt; “Sabrina” with Ford; and “First Knight” with Sean Connery and Richard Gere.