Zelda Perkins, the British former assistant to convicted rapist Harvey Weinstein, is one of seven women who have branded as “insulting” a proposed $25m global settlement in a class action lawsuit and called upon the New York state attorney general to renegotiate terms.
Weinstein, who currently resides in Rikers Island prison awaiting sentencing on Wednesday after he was convicted of first-degree sexual assault and third-degree rape, was said to be nearing a deal with his accusers last December.
Under the terms of the agreement, more than 30 actresses and former employees would be paid by insurance companies representing The Weinstein Company (TWC), without the disgraced former mogul having to admit any culpability.
The deal sought to bar future accusers from legal action against Weinstein. The $25m was proposed as part of an approximately $47m fund that would in part pay for Weinstein’s legal costs, pay his brother Bob Weinstein, and protect members of the TWC board from any liability.
Perkins and six others (Zoë Brock, Alexandra Canosa, Rowena Chiu, Wedil David, Dominique Huett, and Kaja Sokoa) signed an open letter to the New York state attorney general Letitia James decrying the settlement.
The letter called on James to hold Weinstein and his enablers accountable for their actions. It said, “The Manhattan District Attorney Cyrus Vance took a risk when he and his assistants decided to prosecute their case, but that’s what good law enforcement officials do. We expect no less of you. Respectfully, it is time to step up and come out of the shadows. Your voice needs to be heard.”
The latter continued, “The settlement is insulting to all of the survivors in that it represents a small fraction of what should be paid by Mr. Weinstein, his former directors and officers, and large multi-billion dollar insurance companies.”
On Monday reported emerged that Weinstein, 67, had hurt his head inside prison after a fall on Sunday. He had reportedly been trying to move around without the aid of his walker, a common sight at his recent Manhattan trial.
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