Insurance Companies to Weinstein: Forget About It

Accused rapist is locked in a legal battle with his insurers
By Newser Editors and Wire Services
Posted Jul 29, 2018 12:32 PM CDT
Insurance Companies to Weinstein: Forget About It
In this July 9, 2018, file photo, Harvey Weinstein attends his arraignment in court in New York. Weinstein is locked in a messy battle with insurance companies over his steadily mounting legal bills.   (Jefferson Siegel/The Daily News via AP, Pool, File)

Harvey Weinstein is locked in a messy battle with insurance companies over his steadily mounting legal bills, the AP reports. The insurance giant Chubb and other carriers that wrote liability policies for Weinstein and his film company are arguing in court that they shouldn't have to pay for his defense against allegations of rape and sexual harassment. The policies, they have written in court filings, specifically excluded coverage for "such blatantly egregious and intentionally harmful acts." "Mr. Weinstein has nevertheless repeatedly attempted to foist his defense of these lawsuits upon the plaintiff insurers," lawyers for the companies write. Weinstein's legal team, which denies that he assaulted any of his dozens of female accusers, has shot back that the insurers are trying to weasel out of their obligations and have unfairly sided with the accusers.

In court papers, they say Weinstein and his company had paid the insurers a fortune in premiums during the past 25 years. At times, they have been indignant in claiming that he is entitled to millions of dollars in coverage. "Mr. Weinstein has been left in an untenable position, and his patience has run out," they write in one court filing. Weinstein has countersued Chubb and its affiliates, accusing the companies of breach of contract and bad faith. Weinstein, 66, has pleaded not guilty to attacking three women and is out on $1 million bail. A new count added this month, predatory sexual assault, carries a minimum sentence of 10 years in prison and a maximum of 25 years to life. Click for the full story.

(More rape stories.)

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