Harvey Weinstein recordsdata authorized declare alleging lack of medical care and hygiene at Rikers – NBC New York
Harvey Weinstein’s legal professionals filed a authorized declare Tuesday in opposition to New York Metropolis, alleging that he’s receiving substandard medical remedy in unhygienic situations whereas in custody on the infamous Rikers Island jail advanced.
The discover of declare, which is step one in submitting a lawsuit, accuses the ability of failing to handle the previous film mogul’s medical situations, which embrace power myeloid leukemia and diabetes, and negligence starting from “freezing” situations to a scarcity of fresh garments.
The town’s regulation division and Division of Correction didn’t instantly reply to requests for remark.
“Once I final visited him, I discovered him with blood spatter on his jail garb, presumably from IV’s, garments that had not been washed for weeks, and he had not even been supplied clear underwear – hardly sanitary situations for somebody with extreme medical situations,” Weinstein’s lawyer, Imran H. Ansari, mentioned in an announcement, evaluating the ability to a “gulag.”
Weinstein, 72, has been in metropolis custody since earlier this yr, following an appeals court docket ruling nullifying his 2020 rape conviction within the state. The case is about to be retried in 2025. Weinstein has denied any wrongdoing.
Weinstein was briefly hospitalized in April and once more in July for well being issues. His staff has mentioned he is been handled for diabetes, hypertension, spinal stenosis, COVID-19, and fluid on his coronary heart and lungs.
The authorized declare, which seeks $5 million in damages, argues he’d been returned to Rikers every time earlier than he had absolutely recovered.
Weinstein’s movie manufacturing firm went into chapter 11 proceedings after his convictions, establishing a $17 million fund for a sexual misconduct claims fund.
The Rikers Island jail is slated to be closed in 2027, however the metropolis has pushed again deadlines to take action.
