CAA Faces Claims from Julia Ormond

A New York appellate court determined on Thursday that Creative Artists Agency (CAA) will have to respond to allegations regarding its knowledge of Harvey Weinstein’s misconduct and its failure to protect actress Julia Ormond.

In 2023, Ormond filed a lawsuit claiming that Weinstein assaulted her after a business meeting in 1995, which was organized by her agents at CAA. Her suit also targets Weinstein, Miramax, and Disney, accusing them of facilitating his abusive behavior. Although CAA attempted to have the case dismissed, the court rejected that motion.

Attorneys Meredith Firetog, Kevin Mintzer, and Effie Blassberger expressed their satisfaction with the ruling in a statement. They stated, “We are grateful that the appeals court affirmed the trial court’s denial of CAA’s motion to dismiss. This decision should serve as a wake-up call to CAA that it must put its clients’ safety and well-being ahead of its own financial interests.”

Ormond’s legal team remains confident that they can prove CAA was aware of Weinstein’s predatory actions and that such knowledge could have prevented the trauma suffered by her and other women.

On the other hand, Loretta Lynch, representing CAA, responded to the allegations by expressing empathy for Ormond while asserting that there is no legal basis for the claims against the agency. She mentioned that CAA could not have foreseen Weinstein’s behavior, as it had no prior knowledge of it. Lynch also referenced evidence that contradicts Ormond’s claims, including statements indicating that she was already familiar with Weinstein’s harassment before joining CAA.

In related news, reports indicate that Disney settled with Ormond on August 1 for $5.7 million. A trial date has yet to be established.