Judge Rejects Harvey Weinstein’s $18.9 Million Settlement Offer

A US District judge in Manhattan has rejected Harvey Weinstein’s civil settlement offer of $18.9 million with over a dozen of his accusers. Calling the settlement fund ‘obnoxious’ judge Alvin Hellerstein single-handedly threw Weinstein’s bargain out of the window.

“The idea that Harvey Weinstein could get a defense fund ahead of the plaintiffs is obnoxious,” said the Manhattan district judge.

The settlement “would be unfair to women who Weinstein raped or sexually abused because it treated them no different from women who had merely met him,” Hellerstein added.

Read More : Harvey Weinstein Sentenced to 23 Years in Prison

If accepted, the settlement would have ended “class-action litigation by Weinstein accusers, and New York Attorney General Letitia James’ lawsuit accusing Weinstein, his brother Bob Weinstein and their bankrupt Weinstein Co of maintaining a hostile work environment” a publication reported.

The settlement however would have left over dozen of accusers with meager amounts of just $10,000 to $20,000, while setting aside $15.2 million for defense costs. Weinstein is appealing against the 23 year sentence he was awarded for sexually assaulting a woman and raping another. He also faces trial in Los Angeles for sexual misconduct.