Julia Ormond's Bold Lawsuit Targets Harvey Weinstein, Disney, CAA, and Miramax for Shocking Allegations

Julia Ormond, an actress, has filed a lawsuit against Harvey Weinstein, accusing him of battery and sexual assault that she claims took place in 1995. In addition to Weinstein, Ormond is also suing Miramax, the film production company previously owned by Weinstein, and the Walt Disney Company, who acquired Miramax in 1993, for negligence. She is also suing the Hollywood talent agency CAA (Creative Artists Agency), who represented her, for negligence and breach of fiduciary trust. (Artémis investment firm recently acquired a majority stake in CAA.)

According to Variety, Julia Ormond has lodged a complaint in which she alleges that in December 1995, she and Weinstein had planned a business dinner to discuss a project. However, during the dinner, Weinstein refused to engage in any business-related conversation, insisting that they discuss the project at the apartment provided by Miramax as part of their initial agreement. Upon reaching the apartment, Weinstein proceeded to remove his clothing and coerced Ormond into performing oral sex on him.

A representative for Weinstein has vehemently denied these allegations, stating to CNN, "Harvey Weinstein firmly denies the claims made against him by Julia Ormond and is fully prepared to mount a robust defense. This is just another instance of a complaint being filed against Mr. Weinstein many years after the incidents allegedly occurred, and he expresses confidence that the evidence will not support Ms. Ormond's assertions."

The complaint also alleges that Miramax or Disney could have effectively supervised Weinstein and refrained from retaining him despite being aware of the harm he posed to the women he encountered at work.

In the lawsuit, Ormond asserts that when she disclosed what had transpired, her then-agents at CAA, Bryan Lourd and Kevin Huvane, who presently serve as co-chairmen of the influential Hollywood talent group, implied that if she reported Weinstein to the authorities, her credibility would be questioned and he would inflict severe damage to her professional prospects. To make matters worse, shortly after Weinstein assaulted Ormond and she informed her agents about it, CAA lost interest in representing her, causing her career to suffer significantly.

CNN has contacted representatives of Miramax, The Walt Disney Company, and CAA, as well as Lourd and Huvane (who are not directly mentioned as defendants in the lawsuit), to obtain their comments.

Ormond expressed her gratitude and humility towards those who have bravely spoken out about their experiences with Harvey Weinstein, after enduring painful memories for many years. She acknowledged the Adult Survivors Act, which has given her an opportunity to shed light on how influential individuals and institutions like her talent agents at CAA, Miramax, and Disney enabled and protected Weinstein, resulting in sexual assault against her and numerous others.

Ormond rose to prominence with her notable performances in popular films such as "Legends of the Fall" and "Sabrina" in 1994 and 1995 respectively. Her talent was recognized in 2010 when she received an Emmy Award for best supporting actress in a limited or anthology series for her outstanding portrayal in HBO's "Temple Grandin." (CNN, a Warner Brothers Discovery subsidiary, shares a common ownership with HBO.)

In a recent AMC show, she had a leading role in a spin-off of "The Walking Dead" that lasted for two seasons.

"Our client has endured significant personal and professional hardships as a result of the assault by Harvey Weinstein, as well as the negligence of Disney, Miramax, and CAA in preventing it and responding appropriately when she reported the incident," stated the attorneys, Douglas H. Wigdor from Wigdor LLP and Effie Blassberger from Clayman, Rosenberg Kirshner & Linder LLP.

Weinstein received a 16-year prison sentence earlier this year after being found guilty of rape and sexual assault in 2022. In the Los Angeles trial, although he had denied all seven charges, he was ultimately convicted on three of them.

He is already serving a 23-year prison sentence in New York for a 2020 rape conviction.

Weinstein, 71, was at the center of allegations that fueled the global #MeToo movement in 2017.