Weinstein Launches New Lawsuit from Prison: Seeks Millions

The co-founder of Miramax, who has been serving a sentence for sexual offenses for several years, is reportedly combing through his old contracts from behind bars, looking for potential financial claims. According to a source close to the case, Weinstein has amassed tens of millions of dollars in legal fees, making any possible payout a welcome prospect, Page Six reports.

American media say Weinstein is pursuing a lawsuit related to Finding Neverland from prison and met with lawyer Robert J. Huntman on Monday.

“Harvey told Robert, ‘While I’ve been in prison, I’ve had time to review my old contracts and realized that the co-producers owe me this money,’” the source claimed.

Earlier this year, Weinstein filed a lawsuit in New York against his former Broadway partners, asserting that he is entitled to a weekly fee of $5,750 and 27.5% of net profits, an arrangement he says was never formally settled. He also claims to still own 50% of the production and accuses his partners of withholding about $4.6 million in unauthorized payments, half of which he says belongs to him.

Meanwhile, Weinstein is preparing for his third trial in New York, this time on charges of alleged third-degree rape in 2013. He was previously convicted of sexual assault in the city, acquitted on another charge, and separately sentenced in Los Angeles to 16 years in prison for another offense, an outcome he is currently appealing. He denies allegations.

The companies named in the lawsuit, NETworks Presentations and National Artists Management Company, have so far declined to comment.

Finding Neverland is a stage adaptation of the Weinstein Company film of the same name, which tells the story of Peter Pan author J.M. Barrie. The movie starred Johnny Depp and Kate Winslet. The Broadway musical ran for 17 months before going on a national tour.