Reports: Harvey Weinstein reaches $44m deal to settle lawsuits

Harvey Weinstein has reached a tentative $44m deal to resolve lawsuits and compensate his alleged victims of sexual misconduct, according to reports.

The deal, which has been reached with his accusers, his former film studio’s board members and the New York attorney general’s office was reported by the Wall Street Journal and Associated Press.

More than 15 lawsuits have been filed accusing Weinstein or his company Weinstein & Co of misconduct. The settlement would cover many of them, including a class action by alleged victims and a suit by the New York attorney general.

Harvey Weinstein still faces criminal charges of rape and performing a forcible sex act. He denies all allegations of non-consensual sex.

Adam Harris, a lawyer for studio co-founder Bob Weinstein, told a bankruptcy court judge in New York on Thursday that “an economic agreement in principle” had been reached, AP said. The amount of the settlement was not provided.

Weinstein, who won plaudits and awards through his company and another studio, Miramax, for movies including Shakespeare in Love, Pulp Fiction and The King’s Speech, fell from grace after more than 70 women, mostly young actresses and others in the movie business accused him of sexual misconduct dating back decades.

In total, the films he worked on have generated over 81 Oscars since 1999 and founded the Miramax entertainment company in the 1970s, which initially focused on art-house films.

In 2005, he split from Miramax and founded Weinstein Co, alongside his brother Bob.

As the accusations against Weinstein mounted, his company Weinstein Co fired him and filed for bankruptcy, and he was expelled from the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences.

His case helped launch the #MeToo movement, which has led to dozens of powerful men in entertainment, politics and other fields being accused of sexual misconduct.