In a recent legal development, both The Walt Disney Company and the Creative Artists Agency (CAA) have jointly filed a motion seeking the dismissal of a claim made by British actress Julia Ormond. Ormond alleges that both companies were aware of the threat Harvey Weinstein posed to women in the entertainment industry.
Ormond, who lodged the lawsuit in October, accuses Weinstein of sexually assaulting her in December 1995 at her residence following a business dinner, subsequently impeding her career. In addition to targeting Weinstein, the 58-year-old also implicated The Walt Disney Company, her former agents at CAA, and Miramax in the lawsuit, claiming they were aware of Weinstein’s predatory behavior.
Legal representatives for The Walt Disney Company have formally petitioned the New York Supreme Court for an order to dismiss Ormond’s claim of “negligent supervision and retention.” They argue that Ormond has not provided evidence demonstrating the company’s knowledge of Weinstein’s alleged sexual misconduct prior to December 1995. The court documents assert a lack of factual information regarding any previous instances of misconduct on the part of Weinstein known to The Walt Disney Company.
Furthermore, the documents emphasize that Ormond does not assert that Weinstein’s purported misconduct occurred on the company’s premises, nor does she claim that Weinstein was employed by The Walt Disney Company. According to the legal filing, these factors render it inappropriate to assert a claim of “negligent supervision.”
Similarly, lawyers representing CAA contend that, at the time of the alleged assault in December 1995, the agency was not aware of Weinstein’s history of sexual misconduct. They argue that CAA had no reason to believe there was any risk to Ormond when arranging a business dinner with Weinstein.
Harvey Weinstein, the disgraced movie producer at the center of numerous sexual assault allegations, was sentenced to 16 years in prison for rape and sexual assault in Los Angeles in February. Prior to this, he was already serving a 23-year sentence for a different conviction in New York.
Julia Ormond, known for her prominent roles in films such as “Legends Of The Fall,” “Sabrina,” and “First Knight” during the 1990s, has initiated legal action against Weinstein and the mentioned entertainment entities.
The legal representatives for The Walt Disney Company, Wesley Earnhardt and David H Korn of Cravath, Swaine and Moore LLP, as well as lawyer Loretta E Lynch representing CAA, have been reached for comment. Additionally, a representative for Julia Ormond has been contacted for further insights into the matter.
