good to know that our justice system faithfully addresses the problems of the wealthy without causing them undue distress.
I would like to have wiped that smirk off his face, but now, no one will.
21
This article is entirely about the civil case against Weinstein, not about the upcoming criminal case (which may result in jail time) at all.
Posters here seem to be confusing the two.
9
" Because the business is in bankruptcy proceedings,"
Ah yes, the good ole "bankruptcy ploy". The fraud in the WH has used this to his advantage six times.
I'm not an attorney (thank you!), but I fail to see how Weinstein is not PERSONALLY on the hook for damages for which he's personally responsible.
Some legal "system" we have.
One for the rich (protected status!), and one for the rest of us "little people" (Helmsley).
The "judge" in this case is abhorrently elitist. We are no longer a country of laws. Not at all.
12
Not having to admit wrongdoing is a crime against humanity.
12
After having maintained the entire time that this was about money and not justice, it saddens me to be proven correct. Because if this man doesn't have to admit fault publicly, if he's not required to pay out of his own pocket, then there is no justice for society.
So there will be nothing to keep wealthy man from continuing to exploit women. It's a sickening abuse of our court system.
19
Sure tells you how much the so-called justice system values women.
11
He's still going to jail.
This makes me want to scream!
6
Good for Ashley Judd!
3
The rich only pay money, never jail time. Weinstein is a slimy liar who abused his power by sexually intimidating and or assaulting many women. It’s way past time for men to grow up and treat women with respect!
9
Could any of Weinstein's victims realistically claim they weren't aware of what they faced when they chose to have a private interview with the man?
Did he sexually molest any of the hotel staff, young women who were cleaning his room? Did he ever accost those walking along the street, ply them with drugs of booze until they weren't able to resist his aggression?
Has anyone considered that those women who chose to perform sexual acts in X rated pornographic films are also victims, and that the producers and directors, and of course the male actors should face prosecution.
The most viewed TV program of the era, 30 Rock, had a scene where the star said, "I was propositioned six times by Harvey Weinstein, and refused (soto voce: four times!) This was part of the culture, understood by all sentient beings that he was one of the last remnants of a time now gone.
The constitution prohibition against ex post facto laws, applies in principle to his prosecution.
3
I sympathize with victims' dilemma, which the Weinstein team is exploiting without shame. Kudos to Ashley Judd. She is probably in a better financial position than most of the victims, and she is using that position toward a virtuous end.
4
When sociopaths are exposed, they always play the victim, hence the walkers, wheelchairs, neck braces, etc.
13
"...a deal that would not require the Hollywood producer to admit wrongdoing or pay anything to his accusers himself..."
Tell me there isn't a separate justice system for the rich.
120
@Next Conservatism Regardless of how it looks in this case, provisions like this are common in virtually all litigation. Additionally, where insurance is involved, the defendant typically pays nothing.
I hope he still gets prosecuted for his crimes. If not, another example of how the rich avoid punishment.
4
I find this settlement, that really leaves Harvey Weinstein off the hook to be reprehensible. If this is the best we can do for these women, we should all be ashamed. Will he ever pay for the lives and careers that he has destroyed.
8
He still faces criminal charges in 2020. This is civil, involving cases that are past the statue of limitations.
4
WHERE is the woman who will stand up to big money and save other women from possible similar fates from this wretched man, a man with no morals?
3
Another rich criminal able to buy his freedom and opt out of criminal proceedings!
What a sham is our justice system!
5
He faces criminal charges in 2020. This is for the civil side and cases past the statute of limitations.
1
this settlement sucks.
out of the $25 million, $12 goes to settle Weinstein's own legal bills? (that is nearly half, not a quarter as the NYT article states. which is it? please fix these 'facts').
meanwhile how many women's careers did he ruin?
how much trash did he push out into our culture?
7
Pays a fine but admits no guilt. Sounds familiar. Maybe Trump will offer him a position as an advisor. Maybe he will get an office next to Ivanka. Oops.
6
This is only news because he is famous. Unfortunately this is how the system works for us common folk. Having gone through this personally, my only shock is that the media doesn't know this is common. The only exception is when we are awarded settlements and the company files bk, we get nothing because the claims usually are not multi-million dollars for insurance to kick in. The system gives companies time to dismantle so at the end of the day they pay out nothing. Since most are not famous they are not "disgraced" allowing them just re-open under another name and/or go on to more lucrative careers while we the victims attempt to assemble some sort of life/career after the exhaustion and humiliation of a 3 year battle dragging their names through the mud. I encourage a deep dive into sexual harassment claims start-to-finish. That is where the story is! For every Harvey there are a thousand others out there still lurking and they always win in the end! Hashtags are great for awareness but honestly they only help the people in the spot light!
4
There seems to be, in this article and these comments, a bizarrely weak acceptance of this "deal" given the apocalyptic "me too" treatment of the failure of three uncorroborated sexual misconduct claims against a Supreme Court nominee.
Where are the wailing, the gnashing of teeth, the rending of garments, and the demands for "justice?" Apparently, the price of intersectional feminist "justice" is $500,000 a head. Policy makers, take note.
4
It is unfathomable to me that the Weinstein Company is the only party on the hook for the financial settlement. I’m sure there is an indemnification clause for Mr. Weinstein’s benefit, but certainly the type of conduct of which he is alleged to have committed (and it appears there is strong evidence that he did so) should have been carved out as not qualifying for indemnification. Loss of his reputation is not a sufficient penalty. Why does our society continue to tell women they don’t matter as much as men and that corporate executives who commit offenses will get off with a slap on the wrist while the rest of us are more severely punished for offenses involving less moral turpitude and less third party harm? It is time that we begin to punish bad behavior and ensure proportionality of the offense and the punishment. If morality alone is insufficient to motivate good and honorable conduct, and it seems that it is, then a real threat of severe punishment must exist to deter offensive and illegal conduct by future Harvey Weinsteins.
45
Chickenfeed. A few thousand dollars to each of the women who brought the case and had to relive the humiliation and anguish PLUS others who come forward. This is being treated as an annoyance case: pay them something so they go away and shut up.
5
@Ann Grant And this has nothing to do with the criminal charges that Weinstein is facing. Like Bill Cosby, he may well find himself in prison for many years.
2
Kudos to Ashley Judd. Her message to Weinstein "I'll see you in court."
11
He will know her name is the Lord...
2
The rich and white pay a fine and walk free. The poor and black get buried in prison for the rest of their lives. As John Mellencamp's song goes, "Ain't that America, for you and me, yeah, ain't that America...little pink houses."
6
@Me This settlement has nothing to do with the criminal charges that Weinstein is facing. Weinstein may well find himself in prison for many years.
This is just a way to get a civil settlement for the victims.
1
How is this justice? Bill Cosby is rotting in jail and Harvey Weinstein goes free, while the insurance companies foot the bill. I just don't get it.
4
He faces criminal charges in 2020. This is for the civil side and cases past the statute of limitations. Cosby paid out lots of civil judgments as well. Criminal and civil are two different ball games.
WHAT???!!!
“More than $12 million — a quarter of the overall settlement package — would go toward some, but not all, legal costs for Mr. Weinstein; his brother, Bob; and other former members of their company’s board,...”
6
It’s necessary to understand this is payout is money which the Board of Directors is relieved that its liability insurer has arranged to pay. This sort of policy coverage is for the company’s activities. It is called Directors’ and Officers’ insurance. This payout really is for the benefit of all the other folks adjacent to Harvey to avoid other civil litigation against them individually as they performed their roles at the company while Harvey did what he did. It is not to protect Harvey. The article does not explain how the world works. Harvey as a person with no authority or connection now to Weinstein Companies is just the object of disgrace and the bad actor ( pun intended ).
2
They’d still get to him, probably. He showed them so many ways in the movies.
Harvey makes investors richer and will be cutting movie deals in a couple years. No wealthy people care what he did or what he does as long as Harvey makes them more money. Ford motors determined Pinto victims lives were worth $250,000 back then. Inflation made lives go up, afterall, this is just assault and rape of women so no one that really matters cares.
3
Weinstein has not lost his Hollywood chops...or at least the smarmy parts. I saw video of him walking into a proceeding using a "walker". I've seen many people use walkers and either he has a terrible doctor and physical therapists or it's a prop to gain sympathy. It's not the right size nor does he walk as if he needs it. It didn't work to gain my sympathy at all. Nor do I believe that he's too disabled to be punished for his crimes.
7
I would bet Weinstein's "bankruptcy" won't mean he has to move into a one-BR apartment in the Bronx and stop eating at fancy restaurants. In fact, I would bet he'll keep a few mansions, a private jet and tons of cash hidden away in the Caymans.
The bankruptcy system is a joke.
72
@Election Inspector
He isn't in bankruptcy. Read the article.
4
@GMooG - er, I did read the article, which states:
"Several plaintiffs’ lawyers said Mr. Weinstein, who would avoid making a personal payout, had claimed that he might soon file for personal bankruptcy."
14
The point is bankruptcy would not absolve him of paying the claims by victims, other lenders, his ex-wife’s alimony or the guy he owes money to at the supper club or synagogue. It would leave the claims in the purview of a US Federal Bankruptcy Trustee to adjudicate. And if he tries to move money offshore or hide his assets, it would likely be detected and demanded back to US jurisdiction and inclusion in assets to pay out via bankruptcy. The movement now or already of sufficient money to remain exiled abroad and the flight risk, literally and figuratively, is much greater. If Israel or Switzerland would deny extradition back to US he might try to get there overnight.
5
One question regarding the settlement agreement: are the payments conditioned on the women agreeing not to testify against Weinstein in any criminal or civil proceeding? If so, the agreements may be unenforceable. As in the Cosby prosecution, a court hearing the criminal charges pending against Weinstein may deem admissible evidence of similar offenses committed against other women, even if they gave rise to claims now settled.
17
@Victor James
The criminal case is a different ball game, one run by the government. A civil agreement cannot supercede a criminal court subpoena.
5
None of us can know what we would do if we were in this situation, faced with this kind of settlement offer, and also if we are trying to take into account the other people with the same or similar complaints. That said: I really hope this doesn't go through. I hope they can resist the money. The "no admission of guilt" term that goes with this is awful, and will mean that anyone who can afford to will still get away with this next time. Personally, I'd go all the way to the end with the battle...but I'm not someone who's been legally fighting for a long time, and I can't say what the financial needs of the complainants are. But...I hate this a lot.
53
@CML It sounds like bribery to me.
2
@CML In this country, you get all the "justice" you can pay for (or get someone else to pay for!).
5
It’s outrageous that more than 12 million of the settlement will go back to the hands of the board of directors, including Bob Weinstein.
Over the years, they have aided and allowed Harvey Weinstein’s misconduct towards women. Why should they be getting any compensation when they have failed to prevent such damaging behaviours?
88
@Eileen Tan You are correct.
Not just outrageous, I'd say, unconscionable.
No judge should sign off on this.
12
Only a greedy, corrupt lawyer would let a client accept this — no admission of guilt or personal financial outlay for HW?
Money from insurers is not justice. Don't let your lawyer convince you otherwise.
Personal accountability is the only justice.
Take zero dollars in exchange for an admission of guilt.
47
Apparently the lawyers on both sides get millions, which seems to be what is most important.
5
The idea that money could ever compensate for sexual assault is disgusting in the first place.
3
There truly are two types of justice in America. He admits NO wrongdoing? How does that work?? This is an obscenity.
If he were a black man, we would have thrown away the key without question. This is wrong.
I wonder, which PR team is working on his comeback...?
3
Any homeowner who has filed a claim discovers the long list of EXCEPTIONS that their insurance company has.
How is it that Harvey's pervasive repulsive predatory behavior is INCLUDED in the insurance policy?
Some policy.......
6
Justice is really hard. There is a price to be paid to get justice. So you balance that cost with whatever you might be able to get compensation for. I am sure these women would like to see Harvey punished to the full extent of the law, but the cost to them and their own future may be better off getting some compensation, whether it comes from the perpetrator, Harvey Weinstein, or some other place.
13
Funny how all of a sudden Harvey needs a walker. And he's paying nothing out of pocket for his sins. He should be wearing a pair of ice skates instead.
6
He should be wearing a pair of handcuffs instead.
3
All via insurance companies without any personal liability? Seriously? Still a deal maker apparently.......
2
What is largely unnoticed in the Weinstein or the Michigan State University Larry Nassar cases is the tremendous amount of money lawyers for both sides will be making when these cases become resolved.
The usual 33% profit margin will no doubt rule, even though none of them had to prepare for trial.
The legal bill is spread throughout the costs of entertainment and, in MSU's case, the tuition for students.
What happened to the victims in all of these cases was reprehensible, but it should not be a means of wealth for the legal community.
6
Many comments to this article, and the authors' tone, proceed from fundamental ignorance of how civil litigation against corporations & their executives works. Why castigate these women for taking a monetary settlement? Even if the case went all the way to trial and they prevailed, the damages awarded would be monetary damages because this is a civil case, not a criminal one. Second, the fact that an insurance company is paying the settlement rather than the corporation, or the board of directors, including Weinstein & his brother, happens every day in civil litigation. Most corporations maintain "errors and omissions" insurance that shields individual corporate officers and directors from personal liability from lawsuits brought against them in their corporate capacity. Third, the fact that the corporation is already in bankruptcy means that these women would be fighting with other creditors for "pennies on the dollar" -- rather usual in bankruptcy. Fourth, if Weinstein files personal bankruptcy as threatened, they would have no recompense at all as the corporate bankruptcy would be discharged, he would offer less than this, and many of the women are unable to pursue criminal action because of the statute of limitations. That they get some money to assist them to rebuild their lives, get counseling, or do whatever gives them peace of mind is better than getting nothing. Finally, the insurance company isn't offering a settlement because they think he's innocent.
14
@Angela
"Fourth, if Weinstein files personal bankruptcy as threatened, they would have no recompense at all as the corporate bankruptcy would be discharged, he would offer less than this..."
No, that's wrong. Bankruptcy doesn't mean creditors get nothing. It just means that they don't get paid until the court rules on the validity and amount of their claims, and until a court approves a plan that treats similarly-situated creditors, ie, all of his victims, equally.
Weinstein is rumored to have at least a hundred million in equity value in assets. In bankruptcy, all of his creditors would have recourse to those assets, and Weinstein would not get keep anything until all the creditors were paid in full.
1
In a just world, the settlement would include a substantial amount of Weinstein’s own money.
And make no mistake ... the cadre of lawyers representing Weinstein will be paid first, and handsomely, for their service. The more dastardly the deeds, the more expensive the defense.
5
The lawyers get half, the victims get taken advantage of--again! And Harvey Weinstein skates off into the sunset no worse the wear. His legal bills are covered, no settlement Monet comes out of his pocket.
Where is the justice? How is he being made to pay for all the damage he's caused? Where's the punishment? His criminal trial is due to start in 2020. He'll most likely figure out some way to skate away from that, as well.
He's a disgusting slug of a person who has never been made to pay a price of any kind for the damage he has caused, while his victims have lost their careers and had their names and reputations dragged through the mud.
8
This development sends the message that as a (alleged) sexual predator you can get away with depraved behaviour toward anyone, without ever admitting guilt. Plus I suppose any deal would come with compulsory gagging orders. Buying an alleged victims silence.
5
Harvey proposed!
The victims accepted
I’m not surprised
It was expected
We live in a world
Where, if you have
Enough money
You can pretty much
Get away with anything
Pretty funny
Don’t you think?
Actually
It stinks
3
Isn't capitalism great.
4
"...a deal that would not require the Hollywood producer to admit wrongdoing or pay anything to his accusers himself..."
Yep another 'deal'...
1
just a modern sophisticated form of blood money. we have to introspect if this is true justice
2
The law is the law. And "it ain't over till the fat lady sings".
1
My first thought after reading the headline is, they really just wanted the money. What a world we live in. We deserve to go extinct.
2
read the article. This is how civil litigation works. All the time. They plaintiffs sue for recompense for their losses ie monetary damages for lost jobs, job opportunities, financial downturns as a result of others actions. Pain and suffering resulting from his actions and their losses for themselves and their families, medical bills, with corporate insurance for Weinstein's now bankrupt company paying the judgement. They didnt settle because he is innocent, but to contain losses, and he's not pleading innocent. Should the judgement have been bigger given the wealth of the company and the likely number of plaintiffs, yes, who knows what the limits of the insurance policy was? Meanwhile the criminal trial approaches.....
2
@@irish
Thanks for your reply. I never thought he wasn’t guilty. From what I’ve read in previous articles, this guy was a gatekeeper for the industry. Lots of women knew what he was doing. It was an open secret. To me,
It seems like some of the people involved recognized sex was the price they had to pay for access to the jobs and career they wanted.
I hope justice is served, whatever that means.
People may be surprised to learn that insurance companies fund the lion's share of civil-litigation based settlements and that the policy includes the cost (attorneys fees & costs) of the lawyer for the defendant(s). Every legit business in this country has a liability policy and Weinstein Co. is no different. I litigate these cases every day, so the process makes perfect sense to me. What I do not understand, however, is how the proposed settlement will result in the dismissal of all claims against Weinstein personally. The claimants/creditors are pursuing claims in Bankruptcy as is required, but those claims are against Weinstien Co. - assumably, the suits/claims are predicated on theory that Weinstein was acting on behalf of the company when he sexually abused and assaulted these poor women and that, as a result, the comany is vicariously liable. Setting aside any coverage issues (I want to see the coverage counsel's opinion that says there is coverage for these claims...) the resolution of the claims against the company would not automatically result in the dismissal of the claim against Weinstein individually. There is something going on here (pre-trial ruling or a pending motion for declaratory relief) that we don't know about that is influencing the decision to resolve the case on the terms as presented as Weinstein clearly has millions of his own money that he could contributed to a settlement.
5
Some say a civil suit is all about the money. It's not. A finding of wrongdoing may be worth MUCH more to a victim than a pile of dollars. Get the judgment! You'll be happier in the end!
2
"Equal Justice Under Law."
These simple, lofty words, engraved on the front of the United States Supreme Court building in Washington, D.C., actually have no meaning in real life, as amply demonstrated by the Harvey Weinstein settlement. Now these words are just one of innumerable lies we tell ourselves as a nation so that we can all go on pretending that we still live in a functioning democracy.
"Go back to sleep, darling. Everything is fine. It's just a dream you were having."
4
Lets hope the criminal courts do a better job and convict him to serve a long time in jail. This is not over yet. His day is yet to come.
4
Let's save the outrage for if he's acquitted in the criminal case.
4
Trump settled with victims of one of his frauds -- the Trump University one -- for $25 million while campaigning.
Then enough people still voted for him to play as POTUS.
Get rich through corruption, then stay rich through corruption. Sometimes crime pays and pays and pays.
6
What type of insurance policy would cover sexual assaults with a payout in the millions? What type of judge would permit this settlement with zero admission of guilt?
4
They should decline the settlement. His crimes were so heinous, he should be made to pay out with his own money and serve time in prison. I’m sure that all of the victims just want to get it finished, and he’s counting on that sentiment to decide the vote, of course threats of filing for bankruptcy will drive it home. But that would be a bitter pill to swallow for the victims. No meaningful consequences. Despicable.
2
I feel the proposed settlement is just one more slap in the face to Weinstein's victims.
The bottom line is that Weinstein is shown to be the vile, disgusting, manipulative creep that his victims have described. They are telling the truth; he is using is manipulative personality and money to buy his way out of having to answer to anyone. It's clear he considers himself above the law.
I wonder if he knows he's written the headline to his eventual obituary all by himself. He will be remembered for the slimy creature he is, and not for anything else he did.
4
He’s a white wealthy man did you expect it to go any other way. If he were a black wealthy man it would be different. Jail time.
2
He faces criminal charges in 2020. This is for the civil side and cases past the statute of limitations. Cosby paid out lots of civil judgments as well. Criminal and civil are two different ball games.
Yuck, I would like to see Weinstein have to own up to his misconduct. Glad that (1) at least one woman plans on a public trial: "A lawsuit by the actress Ashley Judd, who has said she intends to take Mr. Weinstein to trial, would not be part of the deal" and (2) at least two criminal cases remain pending.
In the US , over 90 percent of civil cases settle without a trial. The costs of trials are so high. The expenses of trials mean that the the facts are not ruled on by a court or jury. Not the way our "justice" system is intended to work.
2
It appears that Harvey Weinstein liked to run around chasing women in the all-together. It would be appropriate for a court to rule that in bankruptcy, he be left in his financial "birthday suit," and that he be obliged to disgorge any assets he owns, whether in his name or in the name of any spouse, former spouse, or other person he to whom he has transferred such assets. If the court is feeling generous, he might be allowed to keep his underwear.
It is unreasonable that he is not obliged to pay anything, and actually gets money under the proposed "settlement" to pay for his legal costs.
If he is destitute, the court should appoint a public defender to handle his case.
1
Justice for the rich means buying off their accusers with tons of money, not paying a dime of their own money, no admittance of wrongdoing. What kind of society do we live in?
1
It's great to be rich. Forget morals, right or wrong, your money will free you.
This is why trump believes he is above the law.
4
Harvey knows all the tricks. He invented most of them. By Friday he'll be tooling around on a stretcher, taking his espresso intravenously. By Monday he'll have a film deal about his life. And by the end of that week actors will be begging (again) to work with him because he knows, more than anyone, that everyone wants to be in the movies.
2
Would I say “no” to half a million dollars, or even a tenth of it, if I was one of his accusers? I so wish I would. This “deal” has nothing to do with justice.
2
So the wealthy can buy their way out of jail.
@Lynn
No. This is a settlement of a civil suit, not criminal charges. You would have known that if you read the article.
This settlement is a travesty. The lawyers make out like bandits, Weinstein doesn't have to admit wrongdoing or pay anything himself. Funny, I don't see a real penalty or any real justice in that deal. What a system we have. Corporate and individual wrongdoers skate with a little rap on the knuckles, and the victims are left holding the broken scales of injustice.
1
Reading this rather comprehensive report, l get the sense that only two women's allegations are substantial enough on the basis of severity and evidence. The rest were she said he said about sexual pursuit or harassment that's supposed to have happened years back. One thing is certain: these settlements of no more than $500,000 for each complainant will definitely encourage more allegations of sexual harassment based on the slightest hint of sexual advance by men, and for that matter, by women.
No admission?
As an observer, it seems he must admit to what he’s done for any settlement to be at all satisfying. But I’m just an observer.
@Hank Winslow
Had they gone to trial, the best case scenario for the plaintiffs would be a Court finding that Weinstein committed the acts he is accused of, i.e., a finding that he is "responsible." So why, as part of a settlement, would anyone ever agree to the best possible outcome for the other side? That's a 100% defeat, not a settlement
1
So he walks, his (legal) cronies get richer, and at no cost to him. Smart play, and money always walks free. Effectively confirming that the punitive law is only applied to the have-nots. Curious to see his next production, as he undoubtedly will be redeemed and reinvented
He faces criminal charges in 2020. This is for the civil side and cases past the statute of limitations. Criminal and civil are two different ball games.
For those involved in litigation...please notice that the first settlement announced was for $44 Million back in May. Now that number has dropped to $25 Million. Clients (and apparently some observers) always think they can get more and that frequently leads to poor decision making if they do not have competent, and vocal counsel to balance the offer vs. the risk of trial.
Those who are criticizing this deal should ask themselves whether they have seen any discovery in this case, and whether the plaintiffs should kill this 2nd deal and take the next offer of $10 Million six months from now instead of $25 Million now.
1
These women were assaulted once and are now insulted by the legal system. This is precisely why so many women don’t report sexual assault or refuse to testify at trial.
18
I cannot possibly know how Weinstein's victims feel. I'm lucky I've never been in their position. But I do know that no amount of money would satisfy me had I ever been in their position.
Settling for a pay-out, while the perpetrator pays not a cent? I would not sign that settlement agreement.
Those victims are becoming victims again, by their own choosing. They choose money in the short term, over their peace of mind in the long term, and will eventually regret selling out by realizing sometime in the future their self-worth was more than whatever $$$ they get now. I pity them.
I also despise their willingness to let a predator get off scot free.
71
@c life does not always present the desired option. sometimes there is no passage between the rock and the hard place.
8
In the same breath that you wrote you didn’t know what these women are going through, you also blamed and shamed them.
Did you read the article? The parts where it said most of them were out of the statute of limitation & the part where they sought legal advise on why else they can do besides take this awful deal?
Did you miss the part where the money they’ll get is pretty insignificant after BOTH sides’ lawyers are paid?
Shame on you for passing judgement on these women.
42
@c :
see the post by Ben below : a civil and a criminal case are two different things. This article discusses the civil case.
3
They sold too cheap. They could have gotten him to admit and they could have gotten that amount for each victim.
21
Presumably only if he has assets to that value?
1
@Candy Neville
And how exactly would they force him to admit anything?
1
Why do other articles say the settlement is over $40 million?
5
Before lawyer fees are withdrawn.
And what percent of his net worth is $25M. Probably the equivalent of me handing the guy on the street 25 cents. Disgraceful.
23
The settlement should not be accepted. Weinstein is a cretin and he should not only do jail time, he should be found guilty, as I have no doubt he is.
I am so tired of money buying people’s silence. These women deserve their day in court and he should personally be held accountable.
31
The ability to stand in someone else's shoes is called empathy. While anyone can fail at it, and we all do, there is an extraordinary vacuum between men and women - men, in particular, have no idea what it is like to be female.
They don't have a clue. Perhaps the recent approach suggested on Bustle would be worth considering, before men ever penetrate a woman, they must be penetrated first so they can experience it themselves. Men who object to this and say it's disgusting are often ready and willing to do it to women. Handsome is as handsome does and the higher they go they come the harder they fall. The equality clock is ticking.
13
Heterosexual intercourse is in fact an act of male violence.
That's just SICK. The money will not be from his personal account -- that would be accepting responsibility for his behavior. It will be from insurance. However, -- since they're in bankruptcy, the women can GET.IN.LINE. And all the men involved will sign off on this agreement as fair, just, and the best possible solution for all.
15
It always come down to a financial transfer of assets. Usually from the man to the woman. And after the large sum of money is transferred, all suddenly is made well? Usually there is a NDA signed, which lasts a few years until the woman decides she wants to break it for a more lucrative book deal about said sexual story. It always comes down to the money, and extracting more and more. The emotional trauma may even be real, but its purpose is still the money.
11
So The Silence Returns.
8
What does it take for a wealthy, white man to go to prison in the US? Why not make him settle for $50 million? Doesn't matter. The same laws do not impart the same justice. Some people simply get no justice; other just get jail; others just get paid.
And we wonder why there are so many problems in America and many do not understand where democracy still exists and how justice is no longer blind.
23
Exactly my thought too. Not that Cosby doesn’t deserve his punishment but he is worth more than Harvey Weinstein but guess who is in jail and who is not.
1
He faces criminal charges in 2020. This is for the civil side and cases past the statute of limitations. Cosby paid out lots of civil judgments as well. Criminal and civil are two different ball games. Hopefully they have a cell waiting for him.
This probably won't be popular. I worked at a magazine in the 1990s -- there was one person who used sex to try and get me fired. I went to management. They promptly fired him. In my late 20s I had an affair with my therapist -- I ran into him years later and he apologized. I could've made a lot of cash off him -- but I was young and my behavior was seductive and predatory. He bears responsibility but so do I -- why would I want to destroy his career? I don't know these women, but when something egregious happens one has to speak up and out. As for all these suits being settled by money, well, it really is all about the money.
8
Why doesn’t anyone read the article anymore? 25 million, after lawyers take half, not to mention some of that money also has to pay for HARVEY’s defense, taxes, what ever chump change left is split with 30 women.
How much do you think these women are getting & do you really think all of them are out for money?
Read the article please, all of you that are passing judgement (shame on you) on these women. They literally cannot do right by anyone & they’re the victims.
2
Seems like this is all about money. Did some women actually advance their careers by appeasing him? Do they get money also?
Somehow these millions take the innocence out of the accusers. If he committed a crime, which it seems he did, then he goes to jail. Many victims of much worse get zero compensation.
7
There is no such thing as a perfect victim.
7
It’s about money because it is a civil case and not a criminal case.
Despicable. No other word will do.
11
An outrage. Further proof — though none was needed — that if you are wealthy you can buy your way out of anything.
20
I beg that all future articles on this and similar matters expressly state the difference between civil lawsuits and criminal proceedings. It seems that at least 90% of those commenting think this is the end of Weinstein's legal,problems. Hardly.
16
His problems are greatly reduced since the payouts buy witness testimony.
6
@Linda Jean I am not reading the comments the way you are reading them. Regardless of his upcoming criminal liability, these dollars seem awfully skimpy for the extent of the misconduct. I assume poor Harvey has shed assets and taken other steps to make himself judgment proof with respect to personal liability. What kind of a creep buys $50 million in sexual predator insurance?
1
It's OK. We all know he's guilty. And the plaintiffs get some money to compensate for their ordeal which is a victory even if it doesn't erase the gross memory from their minds. AND...he's going to have to face criminal charges too.
10
Wow, our justice system is incredibly flawed. It’s difficult to even comprehend how wrong this is
6
This is justice????
Shame, shame, shame. I am 72 and I truly thought that we as a nation had begun to value the female members of our society as persons who are protected the same way the male members are. Clearly, this is not the case. Look at the percentage of rapes that are indicted vs. reported (and we don't even know how many are not reported), the percentage then of those that are adjudicated, then the percentage of those who are found guilty....only to serve basically slap-on-the-wrist terms of punishment.
When are we going to protect the mothers of our children, and our children who will someday be mothers? Why is it that erectile dysfunction is covered by insurance, but many forms of birth control are not? Why is it that our bodies can be subjected to assault, and resulting pregnancies are becoming more and more impossible to abort?
And why is it that money still can talk. If Weinstein was black, and a white woman was assaulted, there would be no delay in the criminal proceedings and he would have not had the privilege of high class attorneys to defend him.
There inequities here are so disturbing that it is hard to even enumerate them.
21
@Mountain Dragonfly
The most under-reported crime in the U.S. is sexual assault.
The vast majority of women never report, never get the support they need and suffer the trauma the rest of their lives.
Everyone of us is around someone daily/weekly that has been through this experience - and we'll never be aware of it because so many women keep it to themselves.
3
$25 million is the change in Harvey's pocket. And he is not even paying the bill!
13
Sooo. Trump was RIGHT when he got caught on mike in the bus.
SHAME SHAME SHAME.
It's almost 2020 - when will justice prevail over power and privilege?
7
Student loan debt is so vile and antisocial it can't be discharged through bankruptcy, but liability for alleged rape can be.
Right.
And the powers that be wag their fingers at young people who've lost faith in the majesty of our glorious capitalist system.
12
@A Nobody
If you're upset about student loans not being dischargable in bankruptcy, talk to Congress. Meanwhile, when and if you bother to actually read the article, you will understand that this is a civil, not a criminal trial, and in any event, no criminal liability, including rape, can be discharged in bankruptcy.
8
@A Nobody
This is an interesting thought - I take your point here. Protections are in place for the very wealthy - yet nothing seems to ever be enough for them. We need to make major changes around money/wealth in our society.
1
@GMooG Yes, but do you think that anything will ever really happen to Harvey criminally? Can the DA really afford the resources it requires to go up against an army of Harvey's criminal defense lawyers?
There is really only one way to make someone as rich as Harvey accountable for his crimes, and that is personal civil liability. He ought to be forking over 50% --maybe ore--of all his personal assets. What that is, I don't know. $25 million could and would be a lot for most people. But for billionaires, it is sort of pocket change-- next to nothing. Civil liability is the only way people like Harvey can ever be punished, because he and 90% of people like him will most likely never will go to jail. Whether the victims get $10,000 or $10 million is almost beside the point. The focus should be on Harvey and his crimes and civil torts, not whether victims are just playing a game to reap windfalls.
1
Ignominious, repulsive and abhorrent. The American dream. Money buys everything. I am Canadian.
6
Same amount Trump paid to the Trump University victims.
8
Love the way his lawyers put him in a Walker. Nothing wrong with this guy. He has to do some time for the things he did to so many women. I wouldn't be surprised if Trump pardons him.
14
@Philip W
Of course. Why wouldn't he pardon a prominent Dem who was a big fundraiser for Hillary?
6
Weinstein will never be able to get an honest job again.
He'll probably be hired by the Trump administration, as the new Secretary of (Exploitative) Labor.
7
Of course, is anyone surprised? 5,4,3,2...the criminal charges will eventually be dropped as well. It was always about money.
4
The sickness characterizing Weinstein extends to the lawyers...?
3
Ridiculous. He admits no guilt? He doesn't go to jail? How is this a "deal"? OK, great, plaintiffs don't want to block others from getting what they want. But sexual predators need to be in court, hearing from those they abused, and held accountable by a jury. I hope this is rejected.
8
@Rebecca
He has had of lifetime of this type of behavior. This is serial sexual assault - a clear pattern of behavior. This is not being addressed correctly by the courts at all. It may all be legal, but it's bad practice. It's reasonable to assume, he will continue with this behavior, if given the opportunity.
2
@Rebecca
No - this has nothing to do with the CRIMINAL action. This story is focused on the CIVIL lawsuits filed against him by the women who allege Weinstein assaulted them. Money is ALWAYS the issue in civil cases like this. Always. The settlement of the CIVIL case(s) has nothing whatsoever to do with the CRIMINAL case that the STATE is brining against Weinstein. They are two totally different kinds of cases that arise out of the same set of facts (generally). One (civil) seeks money and the other (criminal) seeks justice on behalf of the state - i.e. prision and/or a forfeiture of assets.
3
The lawyers are making out like bandits
5
Too little, too late!
3
Look up "white privilege" in the dictionary and you'll find Weinstein's photo. Look up "patriarchy" and you will find the same.
I am a middle class, middle aged white male and I am well aware that the decent life I have lived is a product, in part of white privilege. While the "benefits" vary, the fact that this man has destroyed so many lives with minimal consequences...the disgusting abuse of power....the entitlement...it turns my stomach.
Let's hope the criminal trial at least, in part makes up for it. Men like Weinstein, Epstein, Trump, Prince Andrew and on and on make me ashamed to be of the same gender.
6
@Stephen Chamberlin
Thank you for your comments - it's always encouraging to have men, who understand the dynamics at play, speak out and show support for women. We need and want your backing. Looking forward to a time when all men share your viewpoint.
2
@Leaha of course. I am sick to death of "bro" culture. My experience - a military career behind me - is that it doesn't go away when movements like #MeToo emerge - but rather it just gets more subtle and goes underground. I am ready to opt out of my gender and race :)
Weinstein's all about 'entertainment'
How about the settlement being a reality TV show putting Weinstein in a cage match with ALL the complaining victims.
Anything goes without any legal consequences. Make it pay per view with proceeds going to charities for abused women.
2
Please, please let karma be real.
2
@Lilly
Sadly we won't know.
But it would be 'karmic' to have him reincarnated as a female subject to the same behavior.
1
In another article in the NYT, it talks about the judge having to increase his bail to $2 million because there had been some "technical issues" (HW lawyers claim) where prosecutors couldn't always tell where he was.
In that SAME article, it states that the prosecutor told the judge HW had sold several pieces of real estate to the tune of $60 million!!!
Interestingly enough, he now has no real estate ties to NYC any longer, according to prosecutors, hence the massive increase to his bail.
MY question? Why will HE not have to put up ANY money in this "deal"??? He has millions anyway and now he has $60 million more!!
3
Huh? It's not more, he just changed 60 million dollars of real estate into 60 million dollars of cash. It's still the same value of assets that he owns
2
What insurance policy is written to cover criminal activity? Weinstein and his company should be bled dry with no assistance from an insurance company.
6
I'm appalled, as are many of the readers of this article. The absence of an acknowledgment of misconduct is egregious and it plays right into what his assertions will be for his criminal trial.
On a side note - has anyone else noticed that physical ailments seem to show up when there is a major law suit at stake? I am not moved, hope no one else is either.
6
so a wealthy criminal can buy his way out of having to admit anything ....
7
So that bumps up the cost of insurance for everybody going forward? We'll all be contributing to Weinstein's obligations?
8
Please read carefully. This would settle the CIVIL claims against Weinstein. His criminal cases DID NOT go away. I laugh when I hear someone say they’d never sue anybody. Believe me, if they’re hurt in a car accident or a business partner cooks the books, they’ll be the first ones on the phone to a civil attorney looking for financial remuneration- the only way to compensate victims in the civil courts.
9
Oh, ok. Time$ up. Not.
1
Disturbing and surprising the victims are letting everything go for a check. It’s the ultimate message of capitalism, I guess: money is the only thing that matters. People needn’t even present themselves as victims anymore; it’s a simple monetary transaction with their rapist/assaulter/dehumanizer. As long as the perpetrator can afford it, no harm done, no hard feelings. Next.
‘Course, if the perp is broke, well...different story.
4
Its all about the money
3
This guy is an animal...end of story. It sounds like he won’t pay a dime. I hope the suit by Ashley Judd will take him apart.
9
Harvey Weinstein should spend years in prison.
Here's hoping.
10
This is just more evidence that the system is rigged if not outright corrupt. Here you have a wealthy guy buying his way out of responsibly. For a mere $25 million Weinstein doesn't have to admit his guilt for using his position to repeatedly abuse women including criminal rape. If Weinstein had been a poor black man he would have been given 30 years plus uptown life in prison. In the South he might have even been lynched. Justice in America too often is preceded with a $ sign.
9
Victims deserve to receive the justice they feel they deserve. If they agree to the settlement in lieu of a trial, that is their choice. They should get fully compensated for their pain and trauma. That consideration aside, it is disappointing how commonplace these types of civil settlements have become.
There seems to be an increasing number of victims who receive significant settlement amounts from very wealthy & significant people (mostly men) who have the privilege to pay their "problems" away (in this case through insurance), while also having a deal that doesn't require them to admit wrongdoing; It is this last part that is so infuriating.
I hope the criminal case does not provide as easy a way out.
8
@kerohde How do you propose the victims get money to help pay for the psychological care they may need or to make up for the films they weren’t cast in because Weinstein blackballed them in Hollywood by telling others not to use them in their projects. They file civil suits and either settle or go to trial to seek a monetary award. He will still have the criminal charges to deal with no hope he spends many many years in prison for his crimes.
5
@Summer Smith
Exactly, which is why I think they should take a settlement when they feel it is best for them.
1
It felt unsatisfying to read at first, but then I realised: (a) it’s good that insurance is paying, if it weren’t there would be a danger that the victims would see nothing from the suit when he goes bankrupt, (b) it’s not the end of the world that he doesn’t have to admit wrongdoing here, that’s really the job of the criminal case, (c) this isn’t really getting away scott-free, either. While he may not be punished as far as I would like, I don’t think there is anyone in Earth that would want to go what he’s gone through. He can’t go anywhere without drawing the ire and disgust of everyone around, and his fortune is largely wiped out. I don’t mean that in the sense that you should feel sympathy (he’s earned this fate), I just mean that it makes a strong cautionary tale. This is nothing like Epstein after his first conviction.
6
Thank you for reading the story. It appears many others did not before they commented.
3
He's not broke, not even close! Here's also just sold several properties and other real estate to the tune of $60 million. In my book, that doesn't make him broke, not at all. He can easily afford to pay the $25 million with plenty of change left over.
Also, according to the NYT, he has divested himself of all real estate in NYC, so he no longer has any ties to the city. His ankle monitor had been having a lot of "technical issues" according to the prosecutor in court today.
The judge raised his bail to $2 million and a different ankle monitor. I personally find it interesting (and funny) the person in charge of his ankle monitor is a bail guy, lol. Not HW's bail guy, but s bail guy. HW put up sticks and bonds for the new bail.
Good. Now the state needs to criminally prosecute him to the fullest extent of the law.
8
It is extremely frustrating to me that Harvey Weinstein, members of the Weinstein Company board and others who knew about and enabled his sexual assaults will not suffer any personal consequences.
I hope his victims will receive some comfort that they won this settlement against his company. Although it is not a "legal" admission of guilt it is a functional one. I also hope Weinstein receives full justice under the law in his upcoming criminal trial.
5
There will always be the Weinsteins, and the Jeffrey Epsteins, and former NYS Attorney General Eric Schneiderman who hit women. These and other physical, sexual, child, and emotional/psychological abusers will continue to exist. What we can hope to do is to stop them as quickly as possible, not allowing the behavior to repeat or to continue for years.
But we need to delve into questions of covering up for the abuse.
That these people are other abusers are able to continue for years with subjecting abuse and harming others occur when good people, who know it is wrong, fail to speak out and when other good people, some journalists, fail to listen to the victims of abuse and report the abuse.
One notorious example is ABC News reportedly covering up for Epstein. I know nothing more than headlines, but this sort of behavior if true is unacceptable and those responsible for covering up for the abuse should be held to account for it is their silence, their covering up, that enables these abusers to continue with the abuse.
Even today, there are countless victims of the various forms of abuse who are suffering because the good people who are aware of the abuse fail to speak out against it.
I would love to see an NYT story about those who knowingly cover up for the physical, sexual, child, and emotional abusers starting with Mr. Weinstein.
3
Brought to you by the same legal system that renders student loans non-dischargeable.
6
@Jason
That's not "the legal system." It's Congress, which wrote the law.
5
So much for "Me Too "being all about bravery and advancing womens' rights. All that vanishes into air, evidently, once greedy lawyers get involved.
What a disgrace.
They could have at least held out for some reforms of hiring and firing practices in the entertainment industry.
But why think of confronting underlying causes, when sensationalizing the symptoms makes for such good headlines?
It is to be hoped that the holdouts from this deal will push harder for actual punishment and actual reform, not just liberating Weinstein from his tainted largess.
@Sage
"They could have at least held out for some reforms of hiring and firing practices in the entertainment industry."
How? The "entertainment industry" was not a party to the lawsuit? How could the plaintiffs or Weinstein compel the entire industry to do anything?
1
@GMooG
Well, for starters, a few less of the $25mil going into greedy lawyers' pockets and instead funding the Institute to Stop Sexual Predation In Hollywood.
Hard to think of course, when its all about making money off past victims instead of helping protect future victims from becoming victims. Something "Me Too" never focused on either. But it could if it really wanted to.
1
maybe the victims have a better sense than you do of how their money ought to be spent.
2
Take whatever you can in the civil case. Justice will be served when he is found guilty in the criminal case. Harvey will eventually spend years; perhaps all the years he has left behind bars.
5
So Insurance companies are in the hook for a criminal payout, but dude has zero responsibility?
1
It’s a civil payout. Read the story. He’s still facing the criminal charges. Insurance won’t be sitting in prison for him.
3
I fear the world forever will be forced to use the word "alleged" when referring to the heinous acts Weinstein's accusers have described. His wealth and the failure of society to believe women could let him avoid admitting guilt or responsibility until he's in his grave.
What would really be despicable, though, would be for his wealth, and society's failure, to buy him a way back into his former business. Not admitting guilt is not the same thing as being innocent.
4
@G Your comment is way confusing.
@G, Agreed and well said. It’s no wonder Americans are dying from despair.
1
Why do those who whom stand convicted of heinous crimes appear “frail and feeble”, walker, canes at the ready? Time and time again, those with decades of abuse stand before the court as broken in body, yet never contrite in acceptance of guilt.
Lock e’m up!
5
What insurance policy pays off your illegal activity and then kicks in on your legal bills?? That’s what I want to know more about.
5
What a joke - this guys worth 100s of millions of dollars -
This settlement is barely a slap on the wrist for this guy - the victims should be suing their attorneys.
2
@Steven
Why don't you then offer to represent them in that suit? You could do it on contingency, or pro-bono. Deal?
1
Ahhh—- Justice in America as money Trumps everything...
One can do anything if one can afford it.
Ain’t America great?
1
Money trumps all.
2
The movie line that made Cuba Gooding's career:
"Show me the money" is ironic and may come back to haunt him based upon Weinstein's settlement...
such sordid "deals" are a cancer metastasised throughout the country that solemnly mouthes the vacuous slogan of "justice for all", and the self-proclaimed artist of "the deal" is its fittingly elected national figurehead
1
@Waltz. Since you’re not living in the US, I’ll assume you are not aware that this is the proposed outcome of civil claims against him. He still faces criminal charges and, hopefully, lots of years in prison for his crimes.
3
How much of this paltry settlement will these women actually receive after their lawyers take a chunk? My guess is, close to bupkis.
3
The system seems designed to frustrate women's claims, however honest they may be. But, the public exposure of Weinstein's ugly behavior is worth much to ensure that women will not be duped by him again.
He can run around his bedroom, bathrobe flying, with no one to appreciate his ick...that's a whole other kind of frustration.
2
Weinstein is by far one of the most disgusting, hideous, reprehensible "human beings" ever born on this planet. Oh, and also stupid.
He thought he was so attractive that all of these beautiful young women could not contain themselves in his presence? I have a Master's degree and if anything like that ever approached me for a massage I would run away faster than the Road Runner. Laughable.
Burn, Harvey, burn. As well as the Board members who must also be made accountable.
3
This must be some kind of Joke. Your going to let him off the hook for money! He deserves to be in prison.
3
Amazing that the women would agree to this! The man should go to court and then to jail. No wonder sexual abuse thrives.
2
@Barbara, please read the article, this is the civil case where monetary damages are typical outcome. There is still the criminal case where he will likely go to jail.
Hope he keeps enough money to fund his commissary account in prison.
1
I guess he might have had to come back from dead to admit wrongdoings - Now hes off the hook !!
Grotesque. Justice has not been served, only dirty lawyers out for a fee. So much for the women champions of equality and justice. This was precisely the case that needed to go to trial. This was precisely the case that should never have been settled for monetary payments. What is the going price for rape, sexual extortion? It seems that the ambition or monitary averice of the individual plaintiffs outweighed their commitment to justice. What example for all the young women yet to be assaulted who fear to go to the police or pursue civil cases? That their humanity has a price? It goes to show that the struggle for justice needs to be waged in the streets, far from lawyers and politicians. Only us will get justice.
8
@AR
While much of what you say is true, it is hardly fair to of ambition (Really? How so?) and monetary avarice. Most likely they feel worn down and beaten up, and want to move on with their lives. Many of these allegations goes back decades.
We need to change the laws. This is how someone like Donald Trump has evaded justice. He has avoided going to trial, settles with his victims and admits no wrong doing. Better, fairer more reasonable laws would have probably prevented him for becoming president. Instead, he would be living in a little room with bars on the windows.
1
This doesn’t make criminal charges go away. Why would you think it does? It settles the civil suits filed or that could be filed. He’s still facing charges. Did you not just read that his bond was doubled as he tried to mess with his ankle monitor.
1
This paltry, unsatisfying settlement makes me sad. The only thing I take solace in is that even if Harvey doesn’t feel a hit financially, even if he doesn’t that’s to admit wrongdoing, his reputation is beyond tarnished anyway.
5
It all started with Roman Polanski on the West Coast... or was it in New Jersey from the 1940s to the 1960s with Portnoy the "lust-ridden, mother addicted young Jewish bachelor"? It's a cultural phenomenon with Weinstein being one of the supersized villains who stands to get away, thanks to deal making and deft lawyering behind the scenes, unlike Epstein.
1
Weinstein and Epstein...they both got away with slaps on the wrist. Maybe Harvey will be relocated to Epstein's old cell?
2
@crystal
dead in jail is a "slap on the wrist"?
And what happens to the MeToo movement that was triggered by these accusations ? Everything just gets settled out of court? Awesome !
4
Be careful when passing judgment against the victims. We don’t know what they’ve been through in this process. Blame the greedy, narcissistic perp instead, please.
1
@Talon - This is not a judgment against the victims. I am excoriating the system that allows these kinds of settlements.
Appreciate the clarification, Plato.
1
Money talks, yet again.
5
Simply an outrageous money grab. Principles go out the window and all this 'me too' hype just boils down to - yet another - fat payday. Disgraceful.
7
@fed up
You are fed up? Me Too is not hype and lack of principles. They are working within the framework of some very weak laws and this is the result. It can hardly be called a fat payday when you consider how many years these victims have suffered. This is hardly a money grab and the real outrage is how lightly Weinstein has gotten off.
Even more outrageous is your disdainful attitude towards the victims. Honestly, I'm fed up with people like you.
3
I beg your pardon. You have absolutely no idea what the situation of the victims is at present. I’m okay with them being weary of being in the spotlight and wanting to move on. Your misplaced anger should be towards the perp and the lame court for allowing such paltry compensation and no jail time? This isn’t justice.
3
Better that than seeing him killed in prison, the victims ending up with nothing at all.
Having not had to deal with the emotionally draining aspects of dealing with a sexual predator, I cannot put myself in these women's shoes. However, it seems to me that no amount of money in the world would be enough to allow this monster to get away with not admitting culpability. That would gall me to no tomorrow. And why is he on bail, anyway? Any non-famous male would be locked behind bars for sexual predation without bail. SMH.
6
$25 Million?
That’s money that people like Weinstein could lose in their couch cushion and not miss.
He’s still been going to boujie NY nightclubs. Real justice would leave that man and every single one of his enablers and co-conspirators without a penny to their names, and in prison for a very, very long time.
Our society is broken. I believe beyond repair. It’s time to hit the reset button, like the French did in 1789...
4
I can tell you from having worked at Miramax in the mid-90s that both of the Weinstein ghouls were considered monsters, but there was a rogues’ gallery of enablers and accomplices and it also included some of the other film companies and people like producer Scott Rudin, Tarantino, many spoiled A-list actors, including Bob de Niro, etc. and many other executives who were abusive to their employees and kept in place the empire of fear that was the film industry and still is. And there was an assortment of people who protected these “big shots” and were the enforcers of keeping these so-called golden gods golden and safe with PR, spin, and intimidation. Jane Rosenthal for de Niro and an assortment of lackeys for the Weinsteins.
Just as in politics, good luck finding Justice. The bad guys won.
17
@Bob , same thing in the nonprofit industry, including unfortunately with ostensibly "liberal" organizations, even some with female CEO's.
3
Weinstein intentionally broke the law. Why are insurance companies paying on his behalf?
5
Money rules. What a disgrace. Don't see a difference between this and the blood money given in other cultures. What a shame. Makes you wonder if this was all about money and if these accusations had an iota of truth in them
2
Well, now we know what to call the victims.
1
Shaking my head in disbelief. This development merely proves what an attorney friend told me years ago: "In America, you can have as much justice as you're willing to pay for."
11
@Blunt
Yes, of course. I'm sure that Bob Barr wakes up every day, thinking, "What can I do today to protect a prominent Democrat who was one of Hillary's biggest bundlers & fundraisers?"
2
Are you surprised given who runs the country and who the attorney general is?
4
When you consider all that will be deducted from this settlement, the remaining dollars hardly seem sufficient compensation for Weinstein's inhumane behavior. This man needs to go to prison for the disdain he has shown for his victims. Fortunately, he is not off the hook yet.
5
Wow! So much for standing up for justice, makes it look like it was all about the money as many people thought.
2
@Radnyc
How many years of legally haggling are you willing to put up with? How much money do you have to drag this out for many more years?
These victims have been beaten down and worn out years ago.
I'd like to see you be put through the wringer for two decades and see how you feel at the end.
1
So if these victims sign a clause agreeing to not testify further does this mean he will have no further accusations in the criminal case? And be off the hook entirely?
4
@richard
Any agreement like that would be unenforceable.
1
It's scary to note the state of reading comprehension in the American public.
Even the far above average Times' readers seem incapable of understanding simple concepts.
Like the difference between a civil preceding and a criminal one.
Or what a voluntary agreement amongst all parties.
Or the fact that some victims might well prefer to get the money from the insurance companies now vs going to a trial and risk ending up with nothing.
Or the fact that the victims, like Ms. Judd, who object to the settlement are entirely free to bring their own cases against Mr. Weinstein, and not settle.
Is it really so hard to read and understand basic concepts?
13
"or pay anything"
So who will pay the "$25 million"? "His bankrupt film studio"? How can they pay if they are bankrupt?
Regardless of any of the above, what does this deal say about (and to) those (very bad) people who commit the same (very bad) crime and do not have $25 million to buy their way to freedom? My point is not that poor rapists should get a free pass, but that (alleged) rich ones should not. Weinstein should face his day in court and his (or the "bankrupt" company's 25 million should never even enter the equation). Better yet, confiscate the $25 million (they are bankrupt any way) and let due process take its course.
2
@John
Words of wisdom for you from Mark Twain:
It is better to remain silent and be thought a fool than to speak and to remove all doubt.
5
"... a deal that would not require the Hollywood producer to admit wrongdoing or pay anything to his accusers himself, according to lawyers involved in the negotiations."
Somehow, the legal system needs to be changed so the above cannot happen. Twenty-five million settlement and he doesn't even have to say "my bad." That just stinks.
5
@glennmr
Somehow, I know that Gloria Allred and her mini-me are behind many of these deals. So much for being an advocate for abused women. She is an greedy, self-promoting opportunist posing as a feminist.
3
Hope he goes to and stays in jail for a long time. Also hope he never gets back to a position to abuse any other women! Hollywood sometimes has a habit of forgiving people who should never be forgiven.
2
Just finished reading "She Said" by Jodi Kantor and Megan Twohey, the two reporters who thoroughly tracked down and interviewed most of Weinstein's victims. I can only imagine how they must feel having to report this proposed settlement.
3
Put him in jail and throw away the key before he tries to get back into the movie business and abuse more victims.
1
He’s getting off cheap!
Not much money to be shared by 30 people, many of whose lives he has destroyed.
1
Something about this smells fishy. What insurance company would insure Harvey Weinstein against accusations of sexual harassment and assault when his predilections were already widely known? Insurance companies do not usually pay out when there's a preexisting condition. So what's in it for them?
I believe that all rich men who share those predilections anticipate, especially in this climate of awakening, that sooner or later they will be caught. As is usual among the very rich, there are myriads of shell games to be played to ensure no one in the inner circle sustains financial hardship.
If you can bet against a failing company and make a fortune doing so, you can easily figure out how to make money on your own demise. Only those who can afford to take him to court on a criminal charge can hold him to account. The rest have to content themselves with what they can get - small comfort when the memories haunt will haunt them forever.
4
Yes, hopefully the criminal trial will result in justice served. This notorious criminal should be held accountable. With such high profile cases like Weinsteins's evolving ever so slowly, one can only wonder how it would have been in the absence of his obscene wealth.
4
Does this mean that Oscar recipients can go back to cooing their appreciation of dear, sweet Harvey at the Academy Awards?
6
@woofer
Institutions and entire areas of the law were invented to protect powerful men just like Weinstein, Trump and Bill Cosby.
2
But he's not even going to pay the money - it'll come from insurers. This continues to be a disgusting story.
22
American justice —- money can buy innocent ! Politicians can buy Democracy ! Trump abuse of power can buy GOP politicians. With two people in Senator, the president can hijack American democracy and committed any crime he wants without consequences
6
Why am I not surprised?
2
His arrival at court today, walking with the assistance of a walker, is an old lawyers trick. It is intended to portray him as no longer being a danger to anyone, regardless of past behavior.
And maybe engender a little sympathy, though I doubt there is much sympathy out there, no matter how hard they may look for it.
5
Heartbroken for these women; and women everywhere who have said, me too. We believed that if we shared our many, many stories of abuse and exploitation that the world would listen, that they would help.
So we spoke up. We said, me too, me too, me too.
But the most devastating part of all of this, is coming to realise that while they hear us loud and clear.. they just don’t care.
14
@Chris M, May I be permitted to point out that you appear to have missed the entire point?
2
So, this is the legal equivalent of saying, “Sorry, not sorry.”
I hope somehow, some day, the women find peace.
6
Well, it's going to be harder for him to chase his actresses around now that he is using a walker...nature has a way of settling scores as well.
The walker was a prop.
4
Retired trial lawyer here. This is awful. Hopefully the trial judge will not approve it since the defendant is not admitting anything. Too few judges have refused such settlements but they all should.
One of the functions of tort law is to make the world safer for people who were not damaged. Many safety devices we have today are a result of tort cases and settlements. Secret settlements where no responsibility is admitted does not serve the public, and the public is entitled to have this man admit his awful behavior.
If there is anyone who should not be put in a safe harbor Weinstein is the poster boy for being unworthy of soft treatment.
It is unclear why his former company is paying the proposed settlement versus him personally. Doesn't that effect other business creditors? The whole proposal benefits lawyers and some victims but not others.
13
You’re right! He should be required to admit to his criminal behavior.
4
@Harry Schaffer
Thanks for sharing views/opinions on this case. Good to get background information on how these cases typically go.Always good to learn from trail
lawyers.
1
Shame on Harvey, shame on the insurance company, the lawyers, and the judge. Basically he has been exonerated on the civil case side. The easy way out. No harm. Insurance pays and rates go up. The public and his accusers paid plenty
The silver lining is to treat him as a pariah. So then he and his similar thinking soory excuse for a human being (Trump) can live happily ever after. Same behavior with some common goals but perhaps different twist.
5
The rich and powerful live in a different world than the rest of us peasants.
2
$25m seems a pretty small sum to account for the damage Weinstein did to all these women. Is that the best the lawyers could do?
6
He can pay the best lawyers.
Along with an ankle monitor could he also be required to wear beekeeper headgear in public if there is a chance he will be photographed.
2
If you ever wonder why respect for the law is almost non-existent, consider Weinstein's "deal" with no admission of wrong doing.
If this were an anomaly we might be able to shrug and say, "OK." But it is not.
Wall Street fraudsters and Big Banksters have regularly avoided any mea culpa.
Businesses of all sizes, shapes, and descriptions regularly avoid admission of wrong-doing (guilt for the rest of us) and pay a nominal fine which sooner or later gets passed along to the users (us).
It has long been obvious among segments of our country that there is one law for the rich and powerful and another for the rest of us.
We, the vast un-rich and un-powerful, will restrict the law when it begins to respect us.
13
Today's news is very heartening to corporate executives and the lawyers who write their company's executive liability insurance policy contracts.
The message is this: those company-paid insurance contracts work. Executives can basically get away with ANY imaginable civil offense -- no matter how heinous -- without payout, without admission of guilt...so long as the co.'s liability insurance is properly written.
Given that the remaining criminal case against Weinstein is, by all indications, not strong, I'd say this story is now pretty much over, except for the shouting.
The horror. The horror.
6
What might this tell people....that it's all about money....again? That people with money can do wrong and not ever be convicted or admit to wrong doing. Even if there's still a criminal case, it's a long shot to have him convicted. Meanwhile, so many are locked up at length for little or even no charges ever made. Huh....some world we live in.
5
Several plaintiffs are quoted here saying they're unhappy with the deal but they have no alternative, which I don't understand. If you've filed a lawsuit and the defendant's settlement offer is unacceptable, wouldn't you continue to trial? I'm sure there is more going on here that involves negotiations between plaintiffs. Is it inaccurate to read this outcome as meaning that the plaintiffs would lose if they went to trial?
2
Hmm.
These women will receive $25 million though as far as I know they are not out any money. i understand that they have suffered "emotional damage." However, unless that emotional damage resulted in their paying out money to therapists, I don't see how the settlement constitutes restitution for their injuries.
I believe some of them have already received large payments for landing parts in in the blackguard's movies.
Others may have received large payments as part of confidential settlements with Harvey or his helpers whereby they agreed not to blow the whistle on Harvey. These women thereby helped Harvey continue his illicit activities.
2
The funny thing is, he's still the only one who thinks he is innocent.
5
He is, as long as he's not convicted of anything. Presumption of innocence, remember?
1
So, no actual personal penalty for his crimes? That seems wrong.
2
So many thoroughly heinous, powerful, amoral, wealthy men. One is on our Supreme Court. Sometimes I despair we are completely surrounded. Good men, thank goodness for you!
7
@Lilly
I think that most of us are. At least I pray so.
1
I’ve been raped by boyfriends and almost killed by my ex-husband. I have had the recent, welcome joy of meeting a few wonderful men, so I now know you exist. The first wonderful man I have ever known is my son, so I have been holding out hope.
3
So, Weinstein doesn't have to admit to wrongdoing? What kind of moral justice is that? How does $12 million for "some, but not all, legal costs for Mr. Weinstein" amount to "a quarter of the overall settlement package" of $25 million? It's almost half.
This is an obscene travesty of justice. Agreement to it is nothing less than complicity.
5
If it’s true insurance companies paid this, I’m going to pour through my (relatively small) stock & fund portfolio and make sure I’m not a shareholder in the insurance company. If I am, I won’t be silent at the next shareholder meeting.
Is their anything else I - we - can do?!!?!
Anything?
>:-/
6
why are you assuming that the insurance company didn't make money on this policy?
1
Makes me think his accusers were just after the money after all.
2
With this comment, I despair that we have much farther to go before women are treated respectfully and equally than I thought.
9
This is outright corruption. In a just world, Epstein should go to jail just for cutting a deal like this. But here's something more: the people RECEIVING his dirty money would--in a just world--also go to jail for corruption, specifically, endangering others by selling their silence.
4
Oops, Epstein ==> Weinstein, obviously. (Not sure to which of them I should apologize; maybe neither!)
1
This reminds me of that young man, I think in Texas, who several years ago was drunk driving and killed several people.
He got off. And the defense was that he suffered from "affluenza". Suffered! No doubt his getting off involved goodly amounts of quiet money.
He should be in prison the rest of his money-grubbing life with no parole.
In today's Times there's an op-ed about how to get Americans to fall in love with Capitalism *again*. The use of the word "love" suggests serious concern. They should be. Things like affluenza and Weinstein bring out my inner Bolshevik.
It's sick and it's wrong.
6
This is not justice. Buying his way out of just punishment makes me sick.
5
This is the man who hired a Mossad agent to befriend and dig dirt on Rose McGowan. The former agent has recently told her story and revealed her shame. Surely there must be a criminal charge. $25 million will be a drop in the bucket.
6
So many of these comments link Weinstein with President Trump. Earth to NY Times readers: Weinstein and Trump are two separate people.
Guilt by association is bad enough, but Weinstein and Trump aren't even associated with one another. One was in real estate and the other in movies. One is a Republican and the other is a notable backer of liberal causes, a close friend of the Clintons.
Yes, it's true that both are white, male, and wealthy. So are millions of other people. Please try to get a grip.
3
Scandalous, two tier class justice made in the USA!
3
You would think insurance companies wouldn’t cover such payouts until a related criminal investigation and court process has concluded.
Of course, I’m likely assuming incorrectly that when an executive is a serial sexual predator, their company’s insurance company wouldn’t cover the costs of their criminal behavior.
I keep forgetting about the multiple tracks in our legal system. Silly me.
1
But... remember... it is not about the money....
2
The women got what they wanted - money. And before you excoriate me for saying the obvious, ask yourself if any of them would turn down their million bucks for their day in court with Mr. Weinstein. Not. A. Chance.
4
I am somewhat surprised that so many commenters who are probably regular NYT readers, don't understand what this article is about!
2
Powerful white man grossly abuses others.
Money smooths the road.
That powerful white man walks forward on that road, cleansed.
The abused are burdened to carry the dirty weight.
Hmmm, what's wrong with this picture?
1
This is not justice. It is payola. The only real winners here are the lawyers, which is pathetic.
3
"his bankrupt film studio"
I won't believe that until non-Hollywood accountants confirm it. Until then, he's sure to "come back" like Hostess did—with few worries and fewer union employees, as if he never left, because he never left.
Need proof he never left? https://www.vox.com/2019/10/25/20931916/harvey-weinstein-zoe-stuckless-downtime-bar-actors
Oh, and if Weinstein appeals, he wins, thanks to the stolen courts—especially THE stolen Court. So yeah.
2
@SR
Maybe you'll be convinced by the fact that the company has ceased operating, and its assets were sold off 18 months ago.
1
So in other words, these victims will be assaulted twice.
2
You're kidding.
Please tell me this is a joke.
1
Imagine if Harvey Weinstein were an
African American male, age 22 and
impoverished? Just...imagine it.
4
He would probably be dead. And I think how it would make me lose my mind as a mother. This kills me. When can we take away power from the heinous, amoral monsters who have so much power in our society now. We need racial justice. We need equal rights. This is just one reason I’m praying we are allowed to elect Bernie this time.
3
Weinstein is a big pig. Why did he not get help with his problem, he could have you know. So many women who had to be used for his infantile acting out sessions. Their lives mean nothing to him. Their lives were forever changed because this brute would not go for help. He was a public menace. If he had no money he would be in jail right now. Cannot help but love the two tiered justice system. Wonder if monster trump will ever have to do time for the women he assaulted? I know Donald likes to say he is the best at everything but I think Weinstein has beaten him here, maybe even Cosby.
3
We live through these indecencies.... all of us Women, and some of us are lucky it’s a big fat rich dude that did it. .... it’s just about the benjamins.
2
$25m to not admit that you’re a serial rapist? Poor people go to jail for less than an ounce of weed. American justice is a myth- you get “justice” when you have money.
2
Go Ashley Judd! Take him to trial. I understand why the others are not, but grateful Ashley is in a position to hold him accountable in a very direct and personal way. As for the criminal trial, I hope that goes very well for the prosecution and (especially) for the victims. It is beyond all doubt that Harvey Weinstein is a vile sexual predator who should spend a long time in prison.
4
Gawd, it must be wonderfully liberating to to a rich, soulless, conscienceless monster. Do anything you want, exploit anyone you want, then get someone else to buy your way out of any responsibility for your cruelty. I wish I believed in hell ...
2
This is terrible. It allows Weinstein and company to claim innocence and portray (and see) themselves as victims of money-grabbing "feminazis." This is how #metoo fizzles out. Any settlement that does not include an apology by Weinstein is worthless, regardless of how much money is paid to his victims.
1
@EBurgett , he may well still be held accountable by the handful of other cases that are proceeding, including the criminal cases.
Arguably, Metoo began to fizzle out when Gillibrand used it to push for Al Franken's resignation; when Matt Damon was crucified for trying to say there are different gradations and that Al Franken and Louis CK are different from Cosby and Weinstein; and when it was noticeably silent or tried to minimize and/or contextualize away mirror problems of abuse of power by women, such as NYU Professor Avita Ronell and recently retired Congresswoman Katie Hill.
What a country, you pay not to be charged of rape. Not surprised DT feels legit doing similar business in Ukraine
2
It's interesting to me that there is insurance coverage for what amounts to intentional torts that, if proven, also would result in criminal liability. I never practiced insurance law, but I always had a general understanding that it was against public policy to insure against intentional torts and criminal wrongdoing, simply because no one should be encouraged to engage in such conduct in the belief that someone else would pay the damages.
9
So the insurance company is going to pay not only compensation to Weinstein's victims but also part of his legal bills. And then the insurance company will do what insurance companies do. That is, raise rates for everyone else. Just great. Harvey is sitting at home laughing. And no admission of guilt. Justice in America.
515
@JSA -- Correction: this is
Just US in America.
Justice, for those who can Afford it.
Just like 'Free' Speech.
40
@JSA No one should be able to deny guilt while paying money to their victims. Insurance is a fraudulent business that requires other people to pay for someone else's mistakes while not admitting any wrongdoing. As was said above, the rates go up for everyone else that did nothing wrong to cover that cost. He should be tried and sent to jail if convicted and the settlement money should come out of his own pocket.
4
The irony is that the this-is-the-best-you-can-hope-for argument the exact same one that lawyers used to get countless Weinstein victims to accept settlements and sign NDAs over the past several decades.
348
@David Exactly was my first thought. Things have changed, but not that much.
13
@David
retired attorney F/71
And how many of these women have been required to sign Non-Disclosure Agreements/NDAs as a condition of getting lawyers to do this work, almost certainly billing hourly. I read these articles and wonder whether journalists even think to ask how much of a settlement total goes to plaintiffs' lawyers and what is left for the injured parties.
Out of this $25M total civil settlement against the company and named defendants, the damaged women will get pennies. Because their lawyers usually get at least 40% of a settlement PLUS expenses with no trial and 50%+ with a trial. The plaintiffs knew that they were being robbed by their own lawyers as costs escalated and the % left for each went down so they had to settle.
Settle. In every sense of that word. After hard lessons learned about patriarchy power from defendants and matriarchy power from women attorneys in these cases funding their expensive lifestyles on these damaged womens backs. In every sense of that image too.
Not me. Not ever. Made a living like attorneys billing these cases and hiding the numbers in NDAs.
For Heaven and the Future's Sake, would journalists please start digging until they get to the total rake taken by attorneys on both sides and report those numbers. Putting on the public record the pennies left for damaged humans trying to restore their reputations and lives?
66
@n.c.fl
Victimized twice over. I bet the victims feel even more powerless.
5
Staggering the number of accusers and the span of time the alleged abuses/crimes took place. With so much smoke, there is undoubtedly fire. Though he has purchased no fault settlements - why would he do so if he were not guilty. Society will always consider him as a sexual assaulter - and perhaps the courts will as well.
127
@Broni
Society will consider him much
worse than a sexual assaulter
and not possible to use the words
to describe that here. I hope that
he and his smugness become
completely ostracized by civil
society everywhere he goes.
Despicable that any of his legal
fees are being paid.
24
@Broni Anybody in his situation even if innocent would settle. There is no way he could ever disprove the claims or the public believe him. Now I don't think he is innocent but I am just saying there are cases where you have to settle even when innocent.
3
These no-fault deals in which someone makes a settlement payment for a transgression but is termed guilt-free are a disgrace.
It's as if the law is saying money absolves an individual of wrongdoing.
What a horrible lesson that teaches.
882
@samludu
You're criticism assumes that there was in fact wrongdoing. But that was the central issue in dispute in the lawsuits. Every victim that is part of the settlement made a conscious choice, to forgo the delay, risk, expense, etc. Of a trial in exchange for the certainty of receiving compensation. Who are you two second guess the judgment of the people directly affected?
15
@GMooG They took the money because that is the best they can do, given the timelines, etc. If you think he is innocent, well, that's amazing. Say "hi" to Peter Pan and your other make-believe friends for me.
43
@samludu You expect him to voluntarily agree that he was wrong? What would be his incentive to do that? A settlement is an agreement - it requires both parties to agree to the terms. Each of these claimants were free to reject the settlement because it did not include an outright apology and admission of wrongdoing - maybe they should have. But there would have been no settlement and perhaps no money if they chose this route.
6
Fortune favors the rich
15
The more money you have, the more justice you receive.
16
@Richard -- Free Speech and Justice are pretty much unaffordable to us, the 'bottom' 99-percent.
3
sounds like the best justice money can buy
18
Okay, so the lawyers on both sides make out very well. Will "the accusers" see even a dime?
14
Are American women really going to put up with this?
Being bought off?
20
@ps yes
2
One has to read this very carefully, and even then it is not exactly clear what is going on. This seems to be a settlement that has arisen out of a lawsuit against the Weinstein company and is being paid by insurance companies. There still seem to be outstanding suits that have been brought against Weinstein himself as well as a criminal action.
9
@SS One would hope... Geeze.
Is this the best they could do. It seems so wrong to me. Admit no wrongdoing? Seriously? Pay no fine that hurts his pocket. This is not justice in my book.
24
@Joan Pachner @Joan Pachner the rich do not have to deal with such trivial matters. Have you been living under a rock?
If someone would set up a crowdfunding site for HW victims I bet we could raise $25m. Then the victims could carry on with their lawsuits and call Weinstein’s bankruptcy bluff. Worst case he’s bankrupt. I bet he’s got cash squirrelled away. Victims should be entitled to their day in court. No justice is served by this settlement and even as a pure compensatory scheme it is deeply flawed.
23
If only money could really heal trauma, and buy redemption.
6
I suppose this is good for victims in that they won't have to testify in court and feel embarrassed and traumatized, but it's a real boon for Weinstein, who will pay little if anything and not have to face his accusers. Thank goodness he is still being tried for sexual assault of two women. That's something, but darned little under the circumstances.
7
He needs to be in jail for life- period! This system only favors the rich!
17
No admission of wrongdoing and no individual financial responsibility . . . after so many brave young women have risked their careers, been hounded, harassed and threatened by private investigators, and had their reputations dragged through the mud. After those young women paid such a terrible price, this guy gets off. It is staggering how rich, white men constantly bend the system to protect themselves, while the rest of society pays the price.
21
@Gloria I agree, but it’s the woman who sold out by accepting the hush money.
3
Harvey Weinstein may not ever have to publicly admit his criminal behavior but there are many, many of us who believe his victims’ stories to be true. Stand strong women!
5
It pays to be rich is what I guess you can glean from this article. Deny, stall, lawyer up and drag things out until your accusers and their attorneys are buried in legal wrangling.
3
It's staggering the number of commentators here who apparently don't know there is a difference between civil lawsuits and criminal trials, ("Weinstein bought his way out of jail!" etc.) either because they failed to read the article or because of genuine ignorance.
6
@mpound Obviously you don’t get that he just bought himself a pass or do you really think he will end up in prison?
Weinstein is a serial sexual predator who should be in prison for the rest of his life. Rich people should not be able to buy their freedom - especially after decades of abuse and dozens of victims. Anything less than incarceration is yet another abuse of these women.
81
So he's admitting to no wrongdoing but the people who say he sexually assaulted them are getting $25 million?
Tell me again that the #MeToo movement is about seeking justice and not monetary gain.
15
@Casey L. The law allows them no other avenue. The article makes that clear. You ought to resolve your anger with women elsewhere - hopefully far from other humans.
12
@Casey L. Weinstein definitely did all those things. There's like 50 women who came forward and they all deserve compensation. $25 mil is NOTHING for someone as rich as Weinstein, especially if all of the women named in the civil case have to split it. Near the end of the article it states that no single individual would get more than $500,000. Not nearly enough.
4
@Casey L. I don’t think you read very carefully. $12 million is going to cover his and the company’s legal costs. The class of victims have to split part of the rest averaging about $500,000 each. The remainder goes to a fund for any victims who’ve yet to come forward. Does $500,000 make the shame humiliation and pain of sexual assault go away? I don’t think so.
You did get one thing correct. There’s no justice being served here.
12
We live in a country where our President can get away with treason and his enablers in the Republican Party don’t bat an eye.
Harvey Weinstein has abused hundreds of women for more than 30 years and his company pays to free him from any liability.
What perfect timing for this settlement and the upcoming impeachment. Who says crime doesn’t pay!
32
@PatMurphy77 - No, his company does not pay $25 million. His company’s insurers (and reinsurers) pay $25 million. Which means at the end of the line, you and I pay $25 million — the loss goes into the premiums assessed by the insurers in the future, paid by Joe and Jane Average Policyholder.
17
@chambolle gotta love capitalism!
4
Just like Trump. Money equals silence. And it doesn’t even have to be your own money. Disgusting.
35
@avrds
Money equals power.
Weinstein cannot silence these women now, but he can snap his fingers to get his insurance company to make the civil court cases against him go away.
2
Hopefully nobody will ever make movies with such a predator.
3
How typical--wealthy white man hides all his money and claims poverty, and then coughs up just enough to hand over low-six-figures (NOTHING in today's money) to pay women to go away, with absolutely no penalty to the man. Disgusting--and the women who continue to accept settlements like this perpetuate this kind of treatment.
12
Also note that insurance is paying the settlement not him. His employer probably paid the insurance premiums...so cost to him is zero.
8
This is so messed up.
17
One of the Weinstein accusers, Asia Argento, molested a young actor to whom she paid out 380.000 dollars in a settlement. She also never saw the inside of jail. Hopefully, the payout from Mr Weinstein will cover her expenses, everything else would be a shame, wouldn't it? Where is the #metoo movement when females abuse?
What a disgusting state of hypocrisy.
12
Disgusting all the way around.
7
If this monster doesn't spend any time in prison our country is broken
17
Who knew rape has actually been legalized?
Oh, of course: Harvey Weinstein.
10
I assume that Ashley Judd's separate lawsuit would be civil, but if she could get this pervert on the stand, if for no other reason that to face his guilt, I would feel better about this travesty of a settlement.
In any case, Weinstein is the epitome of "money walks", a corollary that goes all the way to the White House. However, it walks with the stench of dog droppings on the sole of the shoe, and the stench cannot be wiped off. Ever.
17
Who cares about money. He should go to jail. This guy is a menace to society.
14
Is it illegal being a menace to society? In my opinion, Mr Mitch McConnell is a menace to society, but there's no movement to incarcerate him, in fact on the contrary.
3
Based on the headline and the reaction towards some of the suspected motives of the victims who settled, it seems as if thee NYT should change the headline to clarify that this is a civil settlement and that Weinstein is still facing criminal charges in New York. The way it sounds now seems like the victims chose money over justice, a wildly inaccurate notion.
57
@Matt Dont be naive! Nothing serious will come from the criminal charges now and that’s a certain as the amen in church.
1
lol
And then women wonder why some men do not take rape and harassment seriously.
Seriously, after these woman come forward crying and wailing they then accept money.
I am a woman and I feel soooo ashamed, money is all it takes to silence these women. Leaves me now to wonder if any of what they said were ever true
8
@Sandra I agree. How sad for the true victims. Shame on those who accepted this.
4
@Sandra Did you read the article? some are outside the statute of limitations and some are fighting to not settle this way.
7
@SS some are, but SOME still taking the money and he will admit no wrong. I am waiting for the criminal trial......when he will be walking....
Company in bankruptcy. The women will receive nothing.
1
Good for Harvey. He’s been through the wringer by some money grabbing opportunists and now he can concentrate on the criminal allegations. Furthermore, Harvey has been unfairly labeled horrifically for acts which have only been alleged. The #MeToo movement has turned our Constitution on its head: guilty until proven innocent. He has a right to due process.
I know this is not going to be a popular comment but I don’t care. Sober legal minds would and should agree with me. Thank goodness his case is not being tried in the media with all the hysteria that brings.
9
@Covfefe
Not a popular comment? Are you the president of the King Herod fan club?
4
@Covfefe Right, the DOZENS of women who have accused him and who have suffered ruined careers, years of harassment, and threats by Weinstein's hired enforcers are all scheming, greedy, manipulative liars determined to ruin poor Harvey's reputation--this despite the fact that their stories of abuse have, in many cases, been corroborated by former Weinstein employees who have admitted their shameful role in silencing his victims. Honestly, the disgusting misogyny of his defenders knows no bottom. Sounds like you have some personal experience in treating women the way Harvey did.
3
@Katy R
Yet another extremist comment without knowing who I am, the same way you judged Harvey. This is the #metoo movement. As long as the woman’s lips are moving then surely she must be telling the truth. Keep in mind many of those dozens of women stayed in touch with Harvey after their purported (and dare I say, convenient) tales of abuse. The rigidity of a trial will hopefully shake the truth out. It still stands to reason that some of the victims (and I’m not stating there were none) can lie without consequence. The only one who stands to potentially lose his freedom here is Harvey. With that in mind, he is due a process where he can question his accusers and let a jury determine their credibility.
5
You have to wonder what "trumps" Weinstein holds over his ex-studio that they work this deal for him and pay for it, too. Sound Putinesque to me.
4
If Weinstein was a man of average means, he would be in jail- not getting such a sweetheart deal where he pays no money out of his own pocket and no admission of guilt.
Unbelievable and disgusting.
19
"neither Mr. Weinstein nor his former board members would be required to pay the alleged victims"
More fake justice.... 0.1% American-style.
Do whatever you want to other humans...and leave some pocket change and bus fare for the mutilated victims.
What a scam.
14
What is the real impact of the #MeToo movement if the accused and harassers never face punishment?
6
This is disgusting. He needs to be behind bars for the rest of his life. There should be riots in the street if yet another wealthy man pays his way out of jail time for heinous crimes while thousands others are locked up for the 'crime' of smoking weed.
8
Any evidence with your verdict Ms Laura, or just a gut feeling?
4
So, as usual in the US, not only one rule for rich and another for the poor but also one for white men and another for all others. With this judgment I now wonder why Bill Cosby is in prison with his appeal recently denied.
6
Is'nt rape a felony with at least 10 yrs. imprisonment? And Weinstein has committed so many! If the victims really want justice they should not accept the deal. Or else, they are going to set their rapist free for a measly 25 million. His slate is wiped clean and no prison time for even one rape. Victims. That is no justice for you.
3
@NNI I think all of the women in the civil suit are past the statute of limitations for rape, so they cannot bring their case to a criminal court even if they wanted to. Sadly, this deal is the best compensation that they are going to get. So they either accept this or get nothing. He IS going to criminal court for two cases that are not past the statute of limitations, so he will go away for a long time. But like the article implies, this settlement isn't justice. It's another case of a rich dude paying his way out of jail.
2
An astonishing and tragic outcome for all the victims. Is this America? Or a country where money, being white, having the best lawyers sets one free from any/all guilt?? What a travesty. What arrogance and disgusting examples for women of all raves, ages, etc. Weinstein has been reviled. He has been found guilty. It leaves one speechless. Money has been used to settle...and shut up the victims...who can’t afford the legal they really need. There are no other bad lessons from this...just despicable outcomes
3
So his accusers and their lawyers are going to let this (alleged) serial sexual assaulter roam the world?
2
There is ONE thing ‘above the law’ - #Money.
3
I didn't realize you can buy insurance in case you repeatedly commit crimes.
14
A favorite Trump trick: Threaten or actually declare bankruptcy to escape the consequences of your actions. Weinstein learned well from the master.
5
@Dan Barthel
Weinstein isn't in bankruptcy, and never threatened to file bankruptcy
3
Wait, something here does no add up.
Lede says $25 million settlement, but story say $12 million of that is gong to Wienstien's lawyers, so the settlement, BEFORE lawyers for the plaintives take their cut is only about $13 million?
So take 1/3 of that 13 out for lawyers, the plaintives are only going to see about $8.6 million?
Am I missing something here?
3
@Sparky Jones , the article says a $47 million settlement, with $12 million to lawyers, $25 million to the plaintiffs ($6.2 million to 18 plaintiffs & $18.5 million toward some parallel cases & future claimants); and it's not clear what the remaining $10 million of hte original $47 million goes toward.
Sexual assault allegations are about getting paid, not getting justice. This is why people don't believe allegations without proof- the financial windfall for claiming sexual harassment is massive. People will kill for this type of money...do you really think they wouldn't lie for it?
3
An absolute disgrace. A Weinstein payout of $25 million - he will make that on his next one or two films. And not even banned from making films again...this is just wrong on every level. And the emotional scars these women will live with throughout life far exceeds $25 million - actually there is no monetary price for his disgusting activities. Unconscionable!
3
This tracks the impeachment process exactly. Future presidents may do as they please with impunity. Future rich, slobby (sic) sex offenders may do as they please since "if you're a star, you can do what you want. They let you do it." Open season on the Constitution? Civility?
2
Why do "laws that protect boards against liability" apply, after the boards approved eight different payouts to silence the accusers of sexual assault?
The first time your pal Harvey tells you the hysterical woman is lying, whatever, then maybe you deserve protection. But what excuse do these people have to continue to enable Weinstein's crime spree over and over and over and over and over and over and over again?
It is a shame that the excesses in the MeToo movement (I'm looking at you Lucy Flores) have distracted from the real story, which is how rapists are immune from the law if they have enough money and power.
2
Money,money,money is the root of all evil, he needs to be in jail.
4
Shame on the US justice system if this travesty of justice is allowed to proceed.
The ony alternative will be to shoot HW in the street to get justice done : is that what America stands for ?
2
@Moby
Says a man whose country not only embraced Polanski but feted him.
4
Yet another ugly lesson that money and power trump justice. Money kept Jeffrey Epstein living the high life__until those with more money and more power brought his life to an end.
3
This is an outrage. He is a criminal. Good for the women who rejected the proposed deal. He should go to prison for what he did, and we can only hope that there is enough left to convict him and send him there.
3
This isn't justice- this is sick. This is evil.
5
So sick of the rich and powerful being able to buy their way out of trouble. He should go to jail for his conduct. Instead he gets a slap on the wrist. #MeToo is two steps forward one step back.
3
This is such a disturbing article that I had to stop reading it. Harvey Weinstein, who is worth much more than he 25 million, pays NOTHING? All the money coming from his insurance companies? AND - if the settlement is 25 million and there are 30 actresses- how is this justice? Let’s do some math. I am sorry I saw this. Completely disgusting.
4
You’ve got to be kidding me. More of the same. Absolutely absurd.
2
Our country is morally bankrupt Everything “one” can be bought
4
there's no bottom in the United States. as an immigrant, and dual citizen, I am really happy I retained my original citizenship from a civilized country.
6
@Linda I have done the same.
I read the article and my mind is spinning with the legal complexities. It looks like money - and not a dime of it from Weinstein' pocket - bails him and his enablers out of the civil suits. I pray that we see real justice meted out on the surviving criminal charges. That's apparently the best our legal system can mete out to sexual predators with wealth, power and abundant insurance.
4
Why does any person get insurance to cover his abuse and rape accusations.
Which insurance companies are agreeing to indemnify him? No one should ever do business with these companies again.
The abuser does not have any penalty. This should not be permitted.
2
Thank god these accusers have a price and thank god, Harvey has the money. I should urge my children to become actuaries.
1
The purpose of the accusations are fully revealed.
3
“Mr. Weinstein, who would avoid making a personal payout…”
So, what civil consequences ultimately did he suffer, exactly?
And no admission of guilt. He gets to say, Hey, I never did anything and I didn’t pay a dime.
4
Great message to send to the 1% - you can get away with anything if you have cash...egregious. This event, this man, and our justice system currently present the worst of what inequality brings to the table. I'm disgusted by all of it, and question my own participation as a citizen of the USA. Is anything happening today that is not completely broken? What are we doing to this great American experiment? "The fate of all mankind, I see
is in the hands of fools"- Peter Sinfield
1
I hear he arrived at today's bail hearing using a walker? Probably suffering from 'bone spurs.' I bet he borrowed it from a film prop department.
Payout coming from his in-bankruptcy company? I bet his lawyers get paid first. And it looks to me like his PR firm knows all the tricks.
Equal justice in America? You be the judge.
3
What better way to close out the decade of Trump and #metoo than a massive sexual assault case that fizzles out with a bankruptcy and avoided convictions. A criminal absolved of accountability by the court of law. A pittance paid to victims for their compliance. A lesson to all would-be assailants. Absolutely zero justice served to a man who is white, wealthy, and powerful, and who continues to shamelessly gallivant among high society with a dedicated entourage. Could there be a more perfect narrative to summarize where we are as a society?
Frankly, I'm exhausted. Perhaps the 2020's will be the decade when truth and justice matter again.
Many of the comments i've seen so far suggest he is "getting off the hook" and that the American judicial process is flawed.
This is simply a settlement for the CIVIL case, criminal proceedings continue. I see this as an initial victory to hopefully compensate some of the many many women who have had their live/careers completely detracted by H.W.
2
Whether Weinstein or the company pays the money, they have lost much more. They are now uninsurable. Their business and potential for work is gone. Their future is bankruptcy anyway. They may never admit their crimes, but there is no one who doubts they committed them.
It would be so satisfying to watch them admit it all and take the settlement money out of their own pockets. This is much worse. Everything they have lost is lost forever. Their most powerful moments are never coming back.
1
I don’t see what all the fuss is about Harvey not paying damages personally out of his own pocket. His company took out insurance for this sort of thing. His company paid the premiums.
How would you like it if your home burned down and the insurance company refused to pay the claim?
The amount will always be more than fair, reasonably fair, and unfair to who you ask. That’s the way awards are. This number represents a number that will satisfy most parties and a judge still has to approve it.
Many commenters are confusing criminal and civil proceedings. Big difference.
Criminal = if found guilty, possible jail time; Civil = monetary payout if found in favor of accused or settlement before court.
5
Continued great reporting from this team. I’d hate to be their next target.
We're told ad nauseam that what makes America unique is its adherence to the rule of law. Now here's another fine example, to stand alongside countless other judicial deals and rulings that remind us, over and over, that the game is rigged, that this is an oligarchy, not a democracy. Hypocrisy, I think, is what makes us unique.
1
“defeated and hopeless”
What a great summary of what its like to seek justice in modern America.
2
As I read this article the "settlement" has nothing to do with the criminal proceedings pending against Mr. Weinstein. This does however end the civil litigation.
1
Outrageous. And expected.
Just remember, it takes two parties to settle... the rich pay out, the poor eagerly accept payment.
The folks who are expressing outrage need to remember one thing: the victims had to accept this deal, and by that I mean that had to be okay with it, willing to accept it.
Call it coercion (again) if one pleases, but here (again) is an instance of folks not saying NO.
Or perhaps, it was just about the money?
1
Will the multitude of NDAs stay in tact or can the victims now start speaking about their experiences, writing books and so on?
2
This deal is grossly insufficient to the victims and makes a total mockery of the civil justice system.
2
No jail time for the wealthy. No admission of guilt for his crimes. No personal monetary penalty. What a country we live in. Still he cannot wear a tie properly, or wear a good fitting shirt. Slovenly appearance equates with a slovenly mind. Obviously he couldn't care less. What say he'll be back in business in no time.
56
@Restore Human Sanity There is a difference between criminal and civil proceedings. Which apparently nobody on this board seems to understand.
7
This was civil not criminal proceedings.
4
Somehow I have to believe that Karma will get him! But then again, I‘ve been convinced that Karma will get Trump too. So far, Karma has been very disappointing!
2
This is totally outrageous. Does this mean that all such previous miscreants with sufficient wealth can buy their way out of jail?
37
@Ken K,
They sued him in civil courts and accepted a settlement. These cases are unrelated to the criminal charges he still faces.
6
@Ken K This is a civil case. He still faces criminal charges.
3
@Ken K Hard to believe so many people here don't know the difference between civil and criminal court.
5
Why is anyone surprised? These women are now being victimized all over again, this time by the judicial system, which happens time and time again.
35
Seems like a rather paltry settlement. Plus Weinstein walks? Rather disappointing to say the least.
32
How long will it be before Harvey Weinstein starts trying to make new movie deals? Once again, a powerful man gets off lightly because the legal system is well set up to insulate him.
19
Is this why I pay ever rising ticket prices to go see movies?
8
Are you serious? How is it possible that a criminal predator can get off with a slap on the wrist? This confirms that laws don’t apply to wealthy criminals, only to have-nots. Where is AG Barr on this one? He seems happy to intervene with investigations for his wealthy buds, so why not for dozens of molested women? We are one seriously sick society.
26
@George Boccia
No, all this confirms is that you didn't read (or understand) the article. The article is very clear that this only resolves the civil lawsuits. His criminal trial will proceed unaffected.
5
@George Boccia "How is it possible that a criminal predator can get off with a slap on the wrist?"
Relax. His criminal trial is in January. Until it concludes, he hasn't gotten away with anything. Today was about settling some of the lawsuits against him.
Rich people’s justice: The lawyers make out like bandits. Weinstein pays the victims zero out of his pocket. He does not have to admit to doing anything wrong. And his corporate enablers, i.e. board members, get their legal bills paid. And, oh yeah, this comes as Trump is ordered to pay $2 million to charities for fraudulent use of his “foundation,” but does have to admit wrongdoing and, contrary to the request of the NY attorney general, can deduct the $2 million “penalty” as a donation to charity.
28
@Tom Debley
How is one not to feel demoralized by a judicial/legal/tax
system designed to protect the wealthy?
America is Great if you're rich, white and male.
2
This is a disgrace; more evidence that, in our system, you get the justice you can afford. As for the Weinstein Company, I can only hope that their legacy is irreparably damaged by the shameful actions of the Weinstein brothers and their complicit board of directors. I celebrate their bankruptcy and would be only too happy to see them and them forgotten by history. May their films live on — but with a concerted effort to hide the corrupt and amoral production company that made them.
7
This settlement does not seem just to me, and marks a depressing denouement for the #metoo movement.
8
What is this? Why are the victims selling out like this? 25 million is nothing to Weinstein, and the victims, by taking the payment, have now become his next wave of enablers. He has had no corrective action taken against him, no punishment. Once again, even in the face of the entire MeToo movement -- a movement his actions directly spawned -- a powerful man buys his freedom and walks away unscathed. What a sad episode from start to finish. The whole debacle makes us women seem fickle and foolish for playing the money game instead of putting up a fight.
I hope the victims who are pressing charges for rape correct Weinstein's reign of tyranny by seeing him caged in a cell.
7
So, the truth cannot be ascertained. Bill Cosby in jail after repeated trials but this Weinstein walks.
The old truism 'follow the money' was never truer. For both sides of the coin: accusers and accused.
6
@Svirchev
Weinstein's ***criminal*** case is yet to come in 2020. This is the civil action.
If I understand this article correctly, Weinstein still has 2 criminal cases to go through. Other than that his high priced lawyers have bought him freedom from responsibility personally and financially in all the other cases?
I will not criticize the victims and their lawyers for trying to reach some sort of settlement in the face of Weinstein's high priced attorneys shenanigans which are apparently allowed.
What it looks like to me is that once again the wealthy buy a very different type of accountability FROM the law than no other citizens can even imagine being able to do. And our laws as currently written favor the rich and punish the poor with jail time.
The 1% don't want to pay a fair share of taxes and have no intention of being held fully accountable for their actions under our laws. They buy their politicians to set this system up legally.
And they wonder why the serfs are upset.
If things continue in this way, American society will not be able to absorb nor function with the increased disparity in how people benefit or not in America.
34
Spot on Liz. Our American system is fundamentally broken to the core and absolutely needs fixing. If not, next comes uprising and revolution by the Serfs.
@Elizabeth
could Cosby buy the jail free card ? did he manage ?
It's always about the money. After all, as everyone knows, trump purchased a presidency.He's deeply admired for that.
2
This is just plain wrong. No consequences: no change.
8
Justice...just another commodity in America for sale to the people who can find others to pay for it. The rest of us are just here to pick up the tab or become unpaid labor in the private corporate industrial prison complex.
11
I always hate that "not required to admit guilt" part of so many of these agreements.
And while not inferring connection, the NDA (non disclosure agreement) - a favorite tool of many, is another scourge.
Oh, I almost forgot, forced binding arbitration with "impartial" corporate chosen arbitrators is another favorite of our society's abusers.
AND I WILL NEVER FORGET WEINSTEIN'S ALLEGED BEHAVIOR.
4
This is too complicated for us to grasp from the outside. It's not good but probably the best chance at a settlement since it involves the company and the company's insurance company. Best hope is not for settlement funds but for a very long prison sentence with other very violent, repulsive inmates.
4
Unless he faces some real penalties through the judicial side of this he will be right back at it and feeling even more untouchable than he does now.
3
End Statute of Limitations. Disgraceful.
7
This is wrong, money talks, he gets to walk. It's not even his money.
10
"a deal that would not require the Hollywood producer to admit wrongdoing or pay anything to his accusers himself"
From the Jeffrey Epstein school of legal maneuvering.
5
But, will he stop? Does this even give him an incentive to do so?
4
So this wipes the slate clean and money, no matter how dirty, talks.
Ms Judd has strength, money and a sense of justice. I can only trust our system is actually just and women's voices are not only heard, but also heeded.
2
In short, he'll be off the hook. This is a travesty. The fact that the accusers will agree to it is also a shame. I understand it's a civil suit, but he should be held accountable.
4
I guess it's all depends on how you look at it. $25 million dollars doesn't seem like a lot when you compare it to Hollywood grosses but it is a lot of money for the word "alleged". As in the "alleged" victims and his "alleged" harassment. Weinstein has lost his reputation but gained a word that gives him the benefit of the doubt in his obituary.
2
Money speaks louder than truth.
“After two years of legal wrangling, Harvey Weinstein and the board of his bankrupt film studio have reached a tentative $25 million settlement agreement with dozens of his alleged sexual misconduct victims, a deal that would not require the Hollywood producer to admit wrongdoing or pay anything to his accusers himself, according to lawyers involved in the negotiations.”
Such deals are reprehensible.
One commenter noted this was for the civil cases, not the criminal ones, but no matter. Weinstein should have been forced to admit guilt and to personally pay the settlements.
Plus, the article mentioned only two criminal cases involving only *two* women — a drop in the bucket.
What sort of justice is it that lets perpetrators of horrific assaults use their insurance companies to buy their way out of trials, convictions, admissions of guilt, personal responsibility, and financial pain?
One woman quoted in the article said she settled to help other women — and because she didn’t know what else to do. No doubt, that's the view of the lawyers involved, who want to make sure they get their cut. Sad, terribly sad; dismaying and horrible.
One of the worst sexual offenders of modern times has, essentially, gotten away with it!
10
It is amazing how the presumably well-educated readers of the NYT have no idea how the judicial system works. This is very simple. There is a limited pot of money. There are many victims of abhorrent behavior by Weinstein with their hands out who would like the money. In order to get some of the money now, you have to compromise. The pot is not infinite. If you don't want to make a deal, then, like the 2 women mentioned in the article, you take your chances. Maybe you'll hit the jackpot at trial. Maybe you lose at trial. If you hit the jackpot, you'll have to find a deep pocket to collect from. I suspect this is an eroding insurance policy. Part of the deal, if you take one, is that Harvey will admit to nothing. Even if you hit the jackpot, he is not going to "admit" to anything. At the end of the day, of course it is about the money. That is the civil justice system. If you don't want to be involved in it, then just follow the criminal trial. Punishment, revenge, incapacitation are all for the State. Maybe that will happen, maybe not.
4
He doesn't admit guilt or pay restitution! Am I missing something?
3
So Cosby... Prison. Weinstein.....payoff. This is America
215
@Mica
?
He's facing two criminal trails, they just aren't resolved yet, as was stated in this very article.
16
@Mica ... This is a civil not criminal settlement, including women who are beyond the statute of limitations for criminal charges. Is it pretty or fair? No but the criminal prosecution proceeds in January so there may well still be prison time for Harvey.
11
Criminal vs Civil cases. Weinstein hasn’t had his day in criminal court yet.
10
25 millions? What is that number for this guy. The victims should have fought for a much higher amount.
7
@RBR did you read the article? they are, they have, this is what they have available
2
I'm sure you know much better than the victims in their own lawyers
2
Money and power rule. The fact that he needn't admit anything is outrageous.
86
The power of Bankruptcy Court over basically ALL aspects of a proceeding such as this is disgusting. Here’s the first huge problem: “a deal that would not require the Hollywood producer to admit wrongdoing or pay anything to his accusers himself” - is a slap in the face to victims. And here’s the second big problem with these proceedings: “More than $12 million — a quarter of the overall settlement package — would go toward some, but not all, legal costs for Mr. Weinstein”. Somehow the lawyers always seem to make out the best in these situations. Disgusting and reprehensible.
263
@Kevin Right, it's the lawyers. First of all, if the studio met the statutory requirements, it was legal for it to file for bankruptcy, Further, attorneys are entitled to be paid for their services just like any other professional. But the bottom line is that the accusers are agreeing to take a cash settlement and not demanding an adjudication of wrongdoing.
2
@Cynthia - not arguing that the lawyers shouldn’t be paid. It’s the amount they receive. An analogous argument is one that people complain about with regards to CEO pay. An hourly rate, rather than a contingency fee of 1/4 the money from a bankrupt company, (which takes away from what the victims get) seems more fair to me. But that’s not the world we live in.
6
@Kevin
It's a settlement. That means everybody agreed to it. Which part of that do you not understand?
2
Wait what?! Jail him.
Money should not be able to buy everything.
169
@Andrea R.
Madam, this is only in regards to his CIVIL cases; his Criminal cases continue and will likely result in Jail Time.
65
@Palmer
Want to be some cash on that?
5
The victims agreed to it, and the deal "would not require the Hollywood producer to admit wrongdoing or pay anything to his accusers himself."
How can you receive a discharge in bankruptcy for paying restitution to victims of crimes like rape?
We have a generation (or more) of Americans struggling under the burden of student loans they cannot discharge in bankruptcy, but Harvey Weinstein gets off for raping people?
139
Bankruptcy does not allow anybody or anything to get a discharge from criminal acts. The only reason the bankruptcy court is involved in this settlement is because the entity whose insurance is paying this, is in bankruptcy. However, Harvey Weinstein is not in bankruptcy. The victims had a choice: they could either proceed with their civil suits against him or take part in this settlement. Nobody forced them to do anything and the bankruptcy has nothing to do with the amount or type of the settlement
5
He’s a rich white man, dear. In case you haven’t heard, they often either get off. or get off easily. And especially in this town.
8
This is pretty outrageous that he gets away with it all, escaping all responsibility for his abhorrent behavior, totally enabled by the people around him. And the bankruptcy? Right on par with the Purdu Pharma bankruptcy, escaping all responsibility. In that case, loss of life which is much worse of course than sexual assault. But, both multi-millionaires who casually escape justice.
33
@TrishaMD Trisha, he does not escape all responsibility. He is currently facing a criminal trial that could imprison him for the rest of his life. The civil settlement may have been the only way that his accusers could receive some financial restitution--there was a possibility of them getting nothing. I hesitate to equate this deal with absolving him of his sins. Harvey's time will come.
33
@Matt I do hope you're right. Like others commenting here I thought it looked as if Weinstein was going to get away with everything. I pray he'll see prison for the rest of his life. That would be the only real justice, and would make my day.
2
@TrishaMD If you have an issue with the bankruptcy laws, contact your representative in Congress. There is no morals test for relief under the bankruptcy code.
Everyone involved in this transaction that leaves Weinstein completely off the hook should be disbarred, including the judge who will likely approve it.
Rape is a crime.
Weinstein doesn't even get to admit anything.
How is this legal and ethical?
This entire business transaction should have been adjudicated at the time of a criminal trial and not as part of a civil proceeding.
This is wrong on every level.
Oh, and he gets to file for bankruptcy.
Gross! Vile!
523
This has nothing to do with the criminal case. He will still likely end up in jail. The civil cases are separate from the criminal case brought by the state, and are purely about recompense for the victims. However much money they receive, it does not halt the criminal case that is still proceeding forward.
38
@Ben
These victims were paid off cheaply. It all is tied together. The fact that this was finished first is outrageous. There should be no statute of limitations of criminal behavior. Weinstein committed crimes with every single one of these women.
As for your assertion he'll probably serve time in jail, this outcome should tell you that nothing is assured when it comes to men with lots of money. Not one dime of his money was spent in this.
25
Did you even read the article? Many of the women can't bring suits because they are barred by the statutes of limitations or they don't want their lives blown up by a public trial.
14
What a travesty, if not a surprise.
The attorneys defending Weinstein and his associates have arbitrarily created a framework by which the women he assaulted will receive minimal compensation.
Weinstein will personally pay zero and admit to nothing.
So basically, he seems to have sexually assaulted dozens of women and now - at least personally - gotten away with it.
Disgusting, and I hope Ms. Judd et al. take him to the cleaners.
My heart breaks for the brave women who stood up to him, and I'm embarrassed that the inequity in resources caused them to be jobbed like this.
309
@Joe: I agree, and once taken to the cleaners AND admitted guilt, pay the bills, and donate the rest of the money to women's sexual assault and survivor groups for good measure.
2
This is disgusting. I have no respect for our court system...
128
@Tom s That's a pretty broad statement. The majority of accusers have agreed to a settlement. The "court system" neither mandated the settlement nor drafted the bankruptcy code.
3
this absolutely wrong that the settlement pays for weinstein’s legal costs.
outrageous.
that $12,000,000.00 should come out if his pocket.
227
With money, you’re not even guilty.
405
He still faces criminal charges. This is the civil side.
90
This is very on-brand for the Trump Era: pay enough money and all your crimes go away.
What a great message to send to our young men: don’t worry about being a gentleman who respects women, just make a boatload of money so you can buy your way out of trouble.
627
Very on brand since the beginning of time. The penalty for wrong doing has always been relative to who you know, and how much you've got. As George Carlin said, "It's a big club, and you ain't in it."
69
@Paul Unfortunately, this is not a Trump era phenomenon. It's been going on forever. Now we hear about it, some of it.
26
The settlement only covers civil liability, not criminal. Generally, you cannot just cut the government a check to make your criminal liability disappear. There is a high likelihood he will still end up in prison, and the victims will still be compensated (although not out of his own pocket). In any case, he faces financial ruin and prison, and the victims walk away with an average settlement of $833,333 - to me, that sounds like a good outcome, assuming he is convicted.
19
“a deal that would not require the Hollywood producer to admit wrongdoing or pay anything to his accusers”
There’s only one rule: those with money make the rules. Just the millionth example of people with money realistically being above the law. Shameful.
164
#metoo can't be just about the money. If they accept this settlement then what has really changed? Weinstein needs to be required to accept responsibility for his actions full stop. I feel for his victims but without that, this settlement has changed nothing.
128
@Dav Cha What would having their claims dismissed as being filed outside the stature of limitations accomplish? Of for those who are within the statute of limitations having their claims, what would having their claims discharged in a personal bankruptcy accomplish? It’s easy to take potshots at other people’s legal work when you ignore the law and ignore the facts.
Is the out cone in sone sense unjust? Absolutely. Should the bankruptcy laws be revised to place tort claimants, who are after all involuntary creditors, ahead of secured creditors who chose to deal with someone. I certainly think so though I suspect I’m in a minority in that regard in the legal community. But these women, and their lawyers, dint get the law as it perhaps should be to govern their case. They have to deal with the law as it is.
1