Sexual Assault: Actress Julia Ormond Sues Harvey Weinstein, Disney

Renowned actress Julia Ormond, known for her roles in 'Legends of the Fall,' 'First Knight,' and 'Sabrina,' has filed a lawsuit against disgraced Hollywood mogul Harvey Weinstein. Ormond alleges that Weinstein sexually assaulted her in 1995 following a dinner in New York City. She is also seeking damages from Disney, Miramax, and her former talent agency, claiming they failed to protect her from abuse. The lawsuit was filed in New York under a statute that permits sexual assault cases to be filed outside of the statute of limitations. Harvey Weinstein is currently serving a 23-year prison sentence for rape. Ormond's legal action contends that her career suffered irreparable damage after the alleged attack by Weinstein. According to the suit, at the height of her career, Ormond and Weinstein returned from a business dinner to an apartment provided by the production company, where he "stripped naked and forced her to perform oral sex on him." The lawsuit further asserts that "That sexual assault on Ormond could have been prevented if Miramax or Disney had properly supervised Weinstein and not retained him while knowing that he was a danger to the women he encountered at work." The British actress is also suing the Creative Artists Agency (CAA), her former talent agency, alleging that they failed to warn her about Weinstein's abuse and suggested that reporting the incident to authorities would damage her career. The lawsuit claims that CAA lost interest in representing her shortly after Weinstein's assault, leading to a dramatic decline in her career. Ormond's legal team stated, "The damage to Ormond's career because of Weinstein's assault and the aftermath was catastrophic both personally and professionally," adding that she "nearly disappeared from the public eye" since the alleged attack and retaliation by the defendants. In a statement issued through her lawyers, Julia Ormond expressed her gratitude to those who have spoken out and highlighted the courage of other survivors. She hopes that holding powerful individuals and institutions accountable will lead to increased protection for all workers. The lawsuit seeks an unspecified amount for lost wages, "mental pain and anguish," and "severe emotional distress." The BBC has reached out to Disney, Miramax, and CAA for comment. Harvey Weinstein has faced accusations of rape and misconduct from over 80 individuals dating back to the late 1970s.