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The Weinstein Co. is looking to depose members of the Unsecured Creditors Committee about any conversations with Inclusion Media, a dark horse bidder for the studios film and television assets.
In the sign of mounting tensions between the studio and representatives for its unsecured creditors, which include women who have accused co-founder Harvey Weinstein of misconduct, the Weinstein Co. outlined a dozen topics of inquiry.
The companys attorneys say they want to know of any communications, verbal or written, between the official unsecured creditors committee and Inclusion Media, which submitted a rival bid for the studios assets this week. The Weinstein Co.s attorneys also plan to ask whether there were discussions about creating a victims fund.
Inclusion Medias bid, which The Weinstein Co. rejected as deficient, proposed created a $30 million victims fund. The Broadway producer behind the bid, Howard Kagan, increased his offer today — though the Weinstein Co. has already named Lantern Capital as the successful bidder for its film and TV assets.
“The 11th hour move on the unsecured creditors and the victims– to scare them into withholding support for the only bidder who has pledged to do right by the victims – should be seen for what it is: one more attempt by the Weinsteins to silence women,” said Elizabeth A. Fegan, an attorney representing Weinsteins accusers. “Times up. Victims will not be silenced – but they also will not allow the brothers to evade the proper channels of the courts overseeing the class and individual assault claims.”
Lawyers for the bankrupt studio also said they plan to inquire about any discussions between the committee and attorneys for the women who brought a class-action lawsuit against Harvey Weinstein in federal district court in New York.
The company singled out one Weinstein accuser, Louisette Geiss, who serves on the unsecured creditors committee, about whether she discussed her individual claims against the company.
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