A US$5 million (NZ$7.27 million) lawsuit has been filed against disgraced Hollywood film executive Harvey Weinstein - and it features new details about the disturbing alleged rape of a blind woman.
The lawsuit refers to an alleged incident that saw a US actress - known only as Jane Doe 1 - locked in a "pitch-black stairwell" after she refused to expose her breasts at an audition in a Miramax office. It is not clear when the incident occurred.
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Prosecutors suggest that Weinstein's lawyer David Boies, and former film companies Miramax and The Weinstein Company, "actively participated" in what they are referring to as the 'Weinstein Sexual Enterprise'. Those parties are also implicated in the lawsuit.
Jane Doe 1 is "a legally blind, disabled actress", according to a report from The Blast, who interviewed the firm representing her - and the lawsuit claims she was "assaulted, threatened, falsely imprisoned, and suffered emotional and physical distress" at his hands.
"Weinstein asked her to read from a script, explaining that he was looking for a new face with a 'very European look'. Weinstein appeared very happy and pleased and told her he had several other projects she might 'be right for'," the lawsuit says.
"Jane Doe 1 placed the script in her briefcase and prepared to leave. Weinstein then told her he 'just needed one more thing from you'. He asked her to disrobe and explained he needed to see her breasts, repeatedly stating, 'It's just your breasts'.
"When Jane Doe 1 refused repeatedly, Weinstein told her to 'take your dress down' and 'you are going to need to expose them'. Weinstein told Jane Doe 1 that the role required him to review and approve of her breasts.
"Jane Doe 1, realising she was about to be sexually assaulted, was terrified."
The lawsuit states Jane Doe 1 was told to leave via a different door than the one she came in through by Weinstein - who also allegedly notified her she would "never work in this town again" - and she was then locked in a pitch-black stairwell until a maintenance worker heard her and let her out.
The alleged victim now suffers "profoundly disturbing and life-changing" effects as a result of the alleged incident, the lawsuit says, and has now "changed how she conducts her life, pursues her career, takes meetings and interacts with men".
"She limits interactions that are one-on-one, even though those meetings are necessary to connect and bond with both professional colleagues and personal acquaintances," it said.
"Her professional and personal interactions are thus limited by her fears generated by Weinstein's assault. In other words, Jane Doe 1 lost the part Weinstein offered, lost other opportunities at Miramax and TWC, and has lost other professional opportunities as the consequence of Weinstein's assault."
The allegation is the latest in a long string of accusations aimed at Harvey Weinstein following an initial bombshell report into his sexual misconduct by The New York Times.
Newshub.
