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Harvey Weinstein Won't Have To Pay Accusers Directly Or Admit Wrongdoing In Tentative Settlement


Disgraced producer Harvey Weinstein has reached a tentative $25 million settlement with his accusers, according to the New York Times. Since 2017, more than 30 women have accused Weinstein of sexual misconduct—ranging from inappropriate groping to rape. (Weinstein has denied all claims of nonconsensual sex.) And their stories helped ignite the worldwide #MeToo movement.

While the accusations had a significant impact in the cultural conversation, some of his victims have continued to pursue justice through the legal process. But the New York Times reports that the terms of the tentative settlement agreement (which still have to be approved in court) mean that all the victims will have to divide the $25 million sum and Weinstein will never have to spend a dime of his own fortune or admit wrongdoing.

If the deal goes through, the funds will be paid out through insurance companies representing the Weinstein Company, which is in bankruptcy proceedings. The amount of the full settlement is closer to $47 million, a figure which includes the balances owed to other creditors and other legal fees. Of the leftovers, 18 victims will split $6.2 million (with each awarded no more than $500,000) and $18.5 million will go to a group that was part of a class-action case in New York. The victims will have to drop all charges against Weinstein and other executives, according to the Times.

Several claimants spoke to the Times and shared that while the settlement terms aren’t ideal, they plan to agree to it for various reasons. Katherine Kendall, who has alleged that Weinstein chased her around nude in his apartment in 1993, accepted the settlement in part because she “didn’t want to block fellow plaintiffs from getting whatever recompense they could.”

“I don’t love it, but I don’t know how to go after him,” she said. “I don’t know what I can really do.” Genie Harrison, a lawyer representing a former employee of Weinstein’s, added that she felt that waiting for new terms could leave her clients with nothing.

Weinstein still faces a criminal prosecution trial in January 2020 on charges of sexual assault that led to his arrest in 2018.



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Eliza Dushku Received A $9.5 Million Settlement From CBS Over Sexual Harassment Complaints Involving Michael Weatherly


CBS has been rocked by serious allegations of misconduct made against its former chief executive Leslie Moonves and former anchor Charlie Rose, and this week, it found itself at the center of yet another sexual harassment scandal, this time involving actress Eliza Dushku.

The New York Times published an article on Thursday that reports that in January 2018, amid a national conversation around MeToo and workplace misconduct, the network paid Dushku $9.5 million to settle complaints for being written off the series Bull—something that happened after she had confronted the show’s star Michael Weatherly for making inappropriate comments to her about rape, a threesome, and her physical appearance, according to documents reviewed by the Times.

According to internal CBS investigation reports](https://www.nytimes.com/2018/12/13/business/media/cbs-bull-weatherly-dushku-sexual-harassment.html) obtained and reviewed by the Times, Dushku had signed on to do three episodes of Bull, and there had been plans for her to join the cast as a series regular. However, reports show that she felt uncomfortable after Weatherly made remarks in front of the show’s cast and crew about her appearance, including saying on one occasion that “he would bend her over his leg and spank her.” Dushku also told CBS investigators that he made a crack about having a threesome with her and another male cast member, and at another point joked about taking her into his “rape van.”

Dushku reportedly confronted Weatherly about his behavior and, shortly after, she was written off the show. Believing she’d been forced off in retaliation for complaining about Weatherly, the Times says Dushku entered a mediation process with CBS. The network launched an internal investigation, during which the Times claims that CBS’ chief compliance officer Mark Engstrom submitted footage of Dushku cursing on set, purportedly to undermine her complaints. However, investigators wrote in their report that the outtakes were a “gold mine” since they “actually captured some of the harassment on film.” The network eventually agreed to pay Dushku roughly what she would have earned if she had stayed on the show for four seasons, and the terms of the settlement prohibited her from speaking publicly about her experiences.

In a statement to The Times, CBS confirmed the settlement.

“The allegations in Ms. Dushku’s claims are an example that, while we remain committed to a culture defined by a safe, inclusive and respectful workplace, our work is far from done,” CBS said in a statement. “The settlement of these claims reflects the projected amount that Ms. Dushku would have received for the balance of her contract as a series regular, and was determined in a mutually agreed upon mediation process at the time.”

In another statement, Weatherly admitted that he had made “some jokes mocking some lines in the script” that had made Dushku uncomfortable, and apologized for his behavior.

“When Eliza told me that she wasn’t comfortable with my language and attempt at humor, I was mortified to have offended her and immediately apologized. After reflecting on this further, I better understand that what I said was both not funny and not appropriate and I am sorry and regret the pain this caused Eliza,” he said.

At least one incident on the set left Dushku feeling “disgusting and violated,” according to the investigation notes. Dushku’s settlement came to light as part of a company review conducted by the law firms Covington & Burling and Debevoise & Plimpton, and ordered by CBS, after multiple women came forward to accuse Moonves of misconduct. Moonves stepped down from CBS in September, but the company board still has to decide if he will receive a $120 million severance package that many women have said he does not deserve. CBS also fired “60 Minutes” producer Jeff Fager this year, following complaints that he had harassed women at work and sent a threatening text to a reporter. The incident with Dushku is another that points to a culture of harassment and misconduct at the network.



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Michigan State University Reaches $500 Million Settlement With Larry Nassar Abuse Victims


Less than three months after disgraced doctor Larry Nassar was sentenced to decades in federal prison for the sexual assault of hundreds of young women and girls, Michigan State University has agreed to pay $500 million to the women he abused.

Though the settlement is not yet finalized, the agreement — made by lawyers on behalf of 332 of the victims — was approved Tuesday by the university’s trustees. In January, Nassar was convicted of having used his position as Michigan State doctor and a physician for the United States Olympic gymnastic team to prey upon young women and girls for years, abusing them under the guise of legitimate medical treatment.

“This historic settlement came about through the bravery of more than 300 women and girls who had the courage to stand up and refuse to be silenced,” John Manly, a lawyer representing many of the victims, told The New York Times. “It is the sincere hope of all of the survivors that the legacy of this settlement will be far-reaching institutional reform that will end the threat of sexual assault in sports, schools and throughout our society.”

PHOTO: JEFF KOWALSKY/AFP/Getty Images

Larry Nassar

The trial earlier this year generated international interest, captivating viewers across the nation and the world over the seven day duration. Hundreds of women testified against Nassar in a courtroom presided over by Judge Rosemarie Aquilina, who was heralded by some and accused by others of undermining justice during the proceedings.

Michigan State was accused of covering up Nassar’s abuse and ignoring complaints about him for years; in the aftermath, the university’s president resigned and William D. Strampnel — a former dean of Michigan State University’s osteopathic medical school and Nassar’s longtime supervisor — was charged with criminal sexual conduct, misconduct by a public official and two counts of willful neglect of duty.

“Michigan State is pleased that we have been able to agree in principle on a settlement that is fair to the survivors of Nassar’s crimes,” said Robert Young, a lawyer for the university, told the Times. “We appreciate the hard work both sides put into the mediation, and the efforts of the mediator, which achieved a result that is responsible and equitable.”



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