World News:Harvey Weinstein strikes $25m deal with accusers in Civil Law Suit

Weinstein would still have to face a criminal trial

More than 30 women who were allegedly subjected to sexual misconduct by the disgraced Hollywood mogul Harvey Weinstein have reportedly reached a $25m settlement which, if approved, would bring to an end most of the civil lawsuits pending against him although the court need to approve the settlement before it is paid out by insurance companies handling the bankruptcy of the Weinstein Company. The proposal is awaiting final approval from the courts and from individuals involved which include woman from US, Canada, Britain and Ireland. The lack of personal accountability for the former movie producer has caused expressions of disappointment and anger from several of the women involved, though parties to the negotiations insist that the legal options open to them were limited.

Criminal Charges

The criminal charges against him include the alleged rape of a woman in 2013 and an accusation of forced oral sex on a similarly unnamed woman in 2006. Weinstein has denied any claim of non-consensual sex, criminal or civil. In August Weinstein was also charged with two counts of predatory sexual assault to allow a third woman, the actor Annabella Sciorra, to testify about an alleged rape in 1993. Though the statute of limitations has passed in that incident, prosecutors hope her testimony will demonstrate a pattern of behaviour on the part of the defendant that will help secure his conviction. Weinstein has been free on bail since his arrest in May 2018. On Wednesday his bail conditions were raised from $1m to $5m after the prosecution accused him of tampering with his electronic ankle monitor. Lawyers for Weinstein, who arrived at court on Wednesday walking with the use of a frame, had claimed the irregular handling of the bracelet was innocently caused by “technical glitches”. His criminal trial is scheduled to open with jury selection in a Manhattan court on January 6^th 2010, the 67-year-old has denied sexual misconduct allegations by more than 70 women and he denies all charges.