|
 The actress, who is represented by attorney
Gloria Allred and identified in the documents as Jane Doe, said
in the lawsuit filed in Los Angeles County Superior Court that
Weinstein invited the actress to a hotel to discuss a role in a
television show, but instead forced her onto a bed, pulled off
her jeans and raped her despite her telling him no.
Because the Weinstein Co knew of the movie producer's misconduct
toward women, it was liable for the pain he inflicted, according
to the lawsuit, which is seeking undisclosed damages.
Allred could not be reached to comment, but a copy of the
lawsuit was posted online by Variety.
A spokesperson for Weinstein said in an email to Reuters: "Any
allegations of non-consensual sex are unequivocally denied by
Mr. Weinstein. Mr. Weinstein has further confirmed that there
were never any acts of retaliation against any women for
refusing his advances. Mr. Weinstein obviously can’t speak to
anonymous allegations, but with respect to any women who have
made allegations on the record, Mr. Weinstein believes that all
of these relationships were consensual."
Weinstein, who was fired by the Weinstein Co last month, has
sued his former employer for company records that he says could
help him defend himself against sexual assault allegations, and
for a wrongful termination case, according to court documents.
More than 50 women have claimed that Weinstein sexually harassed
or assaulted them over the past three decades and Weinstein has
been expelled from the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and
Sciences. Police in New York, Los Angeles, Beverly Hills and
London have said they are investigating allegations of sexual
assault or rape by Weinstein.
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Reuters has been unable to independently confirm any of the
allegations.
Weinstein and the Weinstein Co with sexual battery and assault. The
company is also charged with negligence, as the actress claims it
failed to fire Weinstein despite knowing of his years of misconduct
toward other women, according to the lawsuit.
The actress met Weinstein in late 2011 at a party, during which he
offered to help her with her career, according to the lawsuit.
In late 2015, she met him to discuss a role in the TV show "Marco
Polo," during which he grabbed her and she claims masturbated in
front of her, according to the lawsuit.
Weinstein then contacted her in the spring of 2016 to discuss her
upcoming role in the TV show and the alleged rape occurred,
according to the lawsuit. The actress never received a job offer for
the TV show, according to the lawsuit.
(Reporting by Ben Klayman; additional reporting Dan Whitcomb;
editing by Richard Pullin)
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