Weinstein scandal: Actress files class-action suit against producer, Miramax

Jayme Deerwester | USA TODAY

Show Caption Hide Caption What's next for Harvey Weinstein? The NYPD has zeroed in on allegations made by actress Paz de la Huerta, who called police on October 25th to report Weinstein raped her twice in 2010. The NYPD has said they believe her allegations are credible. (Nov. 9)

The key word in the Harvey Weinstein scandal this week is lawsuits, with the producer having been sued three times in the last five days.

On Friday, he and the Weinstein Company were sued by a creditor for defaulting on a $44 million loan. Tuesday, an unnamed actress accused him of sexual battery over two incidents that took place in 2015 and 2016. On Wednesday, he was served yet again.

The latest developments, as they occur:

Weinstein sued for the second time in as many days

Attorneys Cris Armenta and Steve Berman filed suit in federal court Wednesday in Los Angeles, seeking certification of a nationwide class-action suit against Harvey Weinstein and his former company Miramax on behalf of their client, identified as Jane Doe 1.

The unnamed actress says that after she read for a role in a Miramax film in a private office, Weinstein told her to disrobe. When she refused, he threatened that she'd "never work in the industry again."

She says he then chased her into a dark stairwell and locked her there until maintenance people heard her screaming and let her out.

In a press release announcing their lawsuit, Berman said, “The complaint alleges that these actions show a pattern of activity that rises to the level of actionable racketeering under RICO, a federal law that provides for extended civil penalties and a civil cause of action for acts performed as part of an ongoing enterprise.”

The Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act, passed in 1970, has been used to prosecute organized crime.

The Department of Justice website says that under the RICO Act, it must be proven beyond a reasonable doubt that the defendant was employed by or associated with the enterprise, that s/he engaged in a pattern of racketeering activity and committed at least two acts of racketeering. According to Title 18, Part 1 of the U.S. Code, those can include acts or threats involving murder, kidnapping, gambling, arson, robbery, bribery, extortion or dealing in obscene matter.

“At the basis of this class action is a consortium of entities actively working in unison to conceal and continue Weinstein’s rampant sexual harassment that one-by-one took irrevocable toll on the careers, business prospects and reputations of actresses Harvey Weinstein victimized,” Berman wrote. “The brave individuals who have stepped up and publicized Weinstein’s unforgivable behavior are the impetus of this action and the heroes for those everywhere who have suffered workplace sexual harassment. We want to ensure their bravery is not in vain.”

Weinstein has consistently denied any non-consensual activity through his representatives.

"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," spokeswoman Holly Baird told USA TODAY. "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.”

McGowan speaks: Actress worried Weinstein spies were involved in planting drugs

Paz de la Huerta, Manhattan D.A. resolve privacy issues involving subpoena

A lawyer for actress Paz de la Huerta says they have reached a compromise regarding what they said was an overly broad — and invasive — subpoena, The Associated press reported Wednesday.

On Nov. 11, her attorney Alex Straus filed a motion requesting that the D.A.'s office narrow the scope of material it wanted to review, especially with regard to her therapist's records.

“Ms. de la Huerta’s communications with her psychologist include information about subjects and individuals completely unrelated to the grand jury focused on the sexual assaults alleged,” Straus had argued, saying those files are protected by doctor-patient confidentiality.

On Oct. 25, the Boardwalk Empire star accused Weinstein of raping her on two occasions in 2010 and represents the best shot at arresting him thus far, according to what NYPD Chief of Detectives Robert Boyce said at a Nov. 3 news conference.

Boyce told reporters that de la Huerta "put forth a credible and detailed narrative to us" and was able to "articulate each and every movement of the crime: where she was, where they met, where this happened and what he did."

Weinstein Co. sells 'Paddington 2' for fast cash

The Weinstein Co., staggering under scandal-related financial pressures, sold the North American distribution rights to its biggest upcoming release, Paddington 2, to Warner Bros.

Warner Bros. on Wednesday announced that it acquired the animated sequel, due out January 12. Several studios bid for the film, which follows the $268 bid million-grossing 2014 original based on Michael Bond's beloved children's books.

The Weinstein Co. has been moving to sell off its most lucrative assets in the wake of the sexual assault allegations against fired co-chairman Harvey Weinstein. The sale gives The Weinstein Co. a much-needed infusion of cash, with the price exceeding $30 million.

Producer David Heyman said earlier said he intended the Weinstein Co. name to be "nowhere near" the film, which was wholly financed by Studiocanal.

Weinstein stripped of honorary degree from University of Buffalo

Like scandal-tainted Bill Cosby before him, Weinstein is starting to lose his honorary academic credentials: Trustees from the State University of New York and the SUNY chancellor on Wednesday revoked the honorary degree granted to Weinstein in 2001.

Weinstein was an English major at the University at Buffalo from 1969-1973.

In a statement posted online, the University at Buffalo said Weinstein's alleged conduct is "inconsistent" with the values and policies of the university and "contradicts the spirit of the honorary degree" and "undermines the accomplishments" that were cited to bolster the awarding of the degree.

"We at UB are collectively offended and disappointed by Mr. Weinstein’s alleged and admitted conduct. In seeking this revocation of the SUNY honorary degree, the University at Buffalo is also clearly stating that sexual harassment or sexual misconduct will not be tolerated," the statement said.

The university also said that while Weinstein never made a personal gift to the university, Disney, on behalf of Miramax, the company previously run in part by Weinstein, gave a total of $22,750 to support a media study scholarship at the university.

Harvard University earlier revoked the W.E.B. Du Bois Medal it gave to Weinstein, in light of the allegations of sexual abuse against the movie mogul.

Contributing: The Associated Press

List: 79 women have gone on the record accusing Weinstein of sexual misconduct