Latest news with #NewYorkStateCourt
Yahoo
11-06-2025
- Yahoo
Jury in Harvey Weinstein sex assault retrial reach a partial verdict
Jurors weighing the fate of disgraced movie mogul Harvey Weinstein said Wednesday that they had unanimously found him guilty of sexually assaulting one woman and not guilty of assaulting another more than a decade ago. But the jurors at Weinstein's retrial told the judge they were unable to reach a verdict on allegations he assaulted a third woman, and Judge Curtis Farber sent them home for the day and asked them to resume deliberating on Thursday. Weinstein, 73, had denied all the charges and his lawyers insisted the sexual encounters with his three accusers were 'transactional' and 'consensual.' But the jury came to a different conclusion after five days of deliberations, during which the jury foreman told the judge several times they were having a hard time reaching a verdict and that several members of the panel had been clashing. Before the partial verdict was announced, the jury foreman told the court he'd been threatened by another member of the panel who told him, 'You know me, you going to see me outside.' 'I feel afraid inside there,' the juror told the judge, according to a transcript of the conversation supplied by the New York State Court. 'I can't be inside there.' Aidala immediately objected. 'You have a grown man who has now said that people have told him in the jury room they'll meet him outside,' Aidala said. 'He said it twice.' Farber dismissed that as 'schoolyard nonsense.' 'He is a big guy,' the judge said. 'He's not particularly scared. He's basically saying, 'I am not changing my mind.' He is not being intimidated to change his mind. He is standing his ground, which could be in your favor of the prosecution's favor.' Weinstein then asked to address the judge and made a last-minute plea, "this is not right for me, the person who is on trial here." "Lawyers can fight all they want," Weinstein said, seated in his wheelchair. "This is my life on the line. It's not fair. It's that simple. It's just not fair." Farber agreed this "was not a typical deliberation but it does happen" and the result of the deliberations in the third case could wind up being in favor of Weinstein. "It could be in my favor, but it's not fair," Weinstein replied. "That's the problem with this. ... This is over. " Minutes later, the jurors returned to the courtroom and rendered a partial verdict. Weinstein put his hands to his head after he was found guilty of criminal sexual act for the 2006 attack on former 'Project Runway' production assistant Miriam Haley. But Weinstein was found not guilty of a second charge of criminal sexual act stemming from allegations brought by former Polish runway model Kaja Sokola, who told the court she too was assaulted by the producer in 2006. The jury deadlocked on a rape in the third-degree charge that Weinstein was hit with for allegedly sexually assaulting former actress Jessica Mann. Haley's lawyer Gloria Allred spoke outside of the Manhattan courthouse following the partial verdict saying that the MeToo movement is not dead. 'The real hero of this case is Mimi Haley, because he was convicted not once, but twice, based on her testimony,' Allred said. Haley said the verdict left her feeling hopeful and said she hopes others will continue to speak out against against their abusers. 'To those predators who still believe they can exploit abuse and walk away unscathed. Your time is running out. The world is changing, and you will not outrun the consequences of your actions forever,' Haley said. Sokola said she was happy with the verdict, even though the jury did not convict Weinstein of assaulting her. 'It's a big win for everyone,' she said. 'For myself, it's closing of a chapter that caused me a lot of pain throughout my life.' Both Haley and Mann testified at Weinstein's first trial in 2020. Sokola's charge was new to the retrial. Weinstein found himself on trial again after the New York state Court of Appeals last year overturned his landmark 2020 conviction for sexually abusing young women, a trial that defined the #MeToo movement and helped turn the Oscar-winning producer into a pariah. The appeals court found that the judge in that trial had improperly allowed testimony against the former Miramax chief based on allegations that were not part of the case. 'If this person wasn't Harvey Weinstein, would we even be here?' Weinstein defense attorney Arthur Aidala asked during his closing argument in accusing the women of being grifters. Prosecutors, however, said Weinstein preyed on young women trying to make it in Hollywood, sometimes repeatedly, and threatened to wreck their careers if they talked. 'He never had any interest in their careers,' Assistant District Attorney Nicole Blumberg told the jury. 'He had an interest in their bodies. And he was going to have their bodies and touch their bodies whether they had wanted him to or not." Just as in 2020, Weinstein did not testify at his retrial. But he gave an interview to a FOX5 New York reporter after the jury began deliberations, saying that he acted "immorally" and regretted hurting his wife and family, but never did anything "illegal." "I put so many friends through this and hurt people … that were close to me, by the way, by actions that were stupid," he said. "But never illegal, never criminal, never anything." Much of the evidence that resulted in Weinstein being convicted five years ago of the third-degree rape of one woman and a first-degree criminal sex act against another woman was reintroduced at his retrial. Just as before, Weinstein pleaded not guilty to charges of first-degree criminal sexual act and third-degree rape based on complaints by Haley and Mann. But this time, Weinstein also pleaded not guilty to an additional charge of first-degree criminal sexual act in the alleged sexual assault of Sokola. Sokola told the court that Weinstein forcibly performed oral sex on her in 2006 at a Manhattan hotel when she was 19 years old. But the alleged abuse began in 2002, when she was 16 and Weinstein forced her to masturbate him, she said. 'Her first sexual experience was the defendant forcing himself on her,' Blumberg said. During his three-hour closing, Aidala tried to poke holes in the testimony of the three accusers. He suggested they were coached by prosecutors to describe the sexual encounters, which he likened at one point to 'naked twister,' in a sinister light. 'They did it all to get the original sinner, the poster boy of the MeToo movement,' Aidala said. The #MeToo hashtag took off in 2017 following reports in The New York Times and The New Yorker that detailed allegations of sexual misconduct against Weinstein that went back decades. It helped inspire a reckoning in Hollywood and beyond around sexual harassment. Weinstein, Aidala added, made for an easy target. 'He's a fat dude — sorry, Harvey,' he said while the former producer looked on. 'It's not really a casting couch I thought it was,' Aidala added. 'It's different now. I know it sounds crazy, but he's the one being used.' Blumberg painted a far different picture during the prosecution's closing remarks. 'I want to remind you why we are here,' she said. 'Because he raped three people.' Sokola and Haley both claimed that Weinstein forcibly performed oral sex on them in separate incidents in 2006. Mann told the court the producer raped her in 2013. Weinstein, Blumberg said, 'had tremendous control over Hollywood. He spoke, people listened. He decided who was in and who was out.' 'Remember, it's not the person sitting here today in a wheelchair but this man, in Hollywood, who had the power and was in control,' Blumberg said. Regardless of the verdict, Weinstein will most likely be returned to California where he has to serve a 16-year sentence for a 2022 rape conviction. His lawyers filed an appeal for that conviction in 2024 that is still in process. During his latest trial, Weinstein has been allowed to stay at Bellevue Hospital where he was being treated for a host of serious health issues. Back in October, two sources told NBC News that Weinstein had been diagnosed with chronic myeloid leukemia, an uncommon form of bone marrow cancer. Weinstein was a Hollywood titan in the 1990s and 2000s when he and his brother Bob ran Miramax, the distributor of critically acclaimed independent movies like 'Sex, Lies, and Videotape,' 'The Crying Game,' 'Pulp Fiction' and 'Clerks,' and box office successes like 'Chicago' and 'Bridget Jones's Diary.' In 1999, Weinstein won a best picture Oscar as one of the producers of 'Shakespeare in Love.' And in the early 2010s, his second distribution label, The Weinstein Company, won back-to-back best picture Oscars for 'The King's Speech' and 'The Artist.' But as Weinstein collected accolades, he was dogged by rumors that he preyed on his leading ladies and other women in the industry. By the time he was arrested, more than 80 women had accused him of sexual assault or harassment going back decades. Just as he did at his trials, Weinstein doggedly denied the claims and insisted the encounters were consensual. This article was originally published on
The South African
25-05-2025
- Entertainment
- The South African
'Superman' co-creator's files lawsuit to block international release
The estate of Joe Shuster, co-creator of Superman , launched a fresh legal battle to block the international release of James Gunn's highly anticipated Superman reboot. This new lawsuit, filed in New York State Court, targets Warner Bros. Discovery and DC Studios, seeking to prevent the film's release in key territories. These territories include the United Kingdom, Ireland, Canada, and Australia. The estate claims that copyright to Superman reverted to Shuster's heirs in these countries due to their specific copyright laws. These laws differ from those in the United States. This legal tussle is not new. Earlier this year, in January, attorney Marc Toberoff filed a similar suit in federal court on behalf of Shuster's estate. That case was dismissed in April due to jurisdictional issues, but Toberoff has now refiled with the state court. Toberoff is hoping for a different outcome. The New York Supreme Court has ordered Warner Bros. to submit opposition papers by 23 May and scheduled a hearing for 4 June to argue against the injunction. The lawsuit alleges that Warner Bros. has been exploiting Superman's rights without permission or compensation. This is especially so in countries where the rights supposedly reverted to Shuster's estate in 2017 (and in Canada, 2021). The estate is demanding damages and an injunction to stop the film's international rollout unless a licence is obtained. This lawsuit could jeopardise Warner Bros.' global release plans for the movie, which they have scheduled to hit US cinemas on 11 July 2025. Warner Bros. has firmly rejected the claims, stating they 'fundamentally disagree with the merits of the lawsuit'. They are planning to vigorously defend their rights in court. The studio insists that it holds the proper rights to distribute Superman worldwide and that the legal challenge is without merit, according to Pop Verse. This saga is a reminder of how complex copyright laws can impact global entertainment. Warner Bros. plans to proceed with the film's US release as scheduled, but the court's ruling might delay or restrict its international distribution. South African viewers, who often enjoy simultaneous releases with the UK and other Commonwealth countries, may see the film's arrival affected if the injunction succeeds. Marc Toberoff, representing the Shuster estate, said: 'Our position is clear — the rights to Superman in these territories reverted to the estate years ago. We are simply seeking what is rightfully owed.' Meanwhile, a Warner Bros. spokesperson responded. 'We will vigorously defend our rights and ensure fans worldwide can experience this new chapter of Superman.' As the clock ticks down to the movie's release, this legal battle adds a dramatic subplot worthy of the Man of Steel himself. Whether this lawsuit will ground the film's international debut remains uncertain, but it certainly fuels the narrative that Superman's battles extend beyond the screen, now into the courtroom. Let us know by leaving a comment below, or send a WhatsApp to 060 011 021 1. Subscribe to The South African website's newsletters and follow us on WhatsApp, Facebook, X and Bluesky for the latest news.
Yahoo
01-05-2025
- Yahoo
Long time Falls lawyer gets jail term for stealing from clients
LOCKPORT — A once prominent Falls attorney left the Niagara County courthouse in Lockport in handcuffs on Wednesday. New York State Court officers put the cuffs on Robert Koryl after Erie County Court Judge Suzanne Maxwell Barnes, sitting in as an acting Niagara County Court judge, sentenced him to a 6-month jail term, followed by 5 years of probation, for his conviction on charges accusing him of stealing cash from his clients. He could have faced a possible prison term of up to seven years. Koryl is also required to repay $169,063 in restitution to his affected clients and he will be stripped of his license to practice law. He had been serving a term of interim probation, in an effort to give him time to pay back the clients he stole from. But prosecutors said he has so far paid back little, if any, of the stolen money. Koryl, 69, of Youngstown, pleaded guilty in August to two counts of third-degree grand larceny and two counts of fourth-degree grand larceny in connection to the alleged theft of client funds as part of a plea deal with Niagara County prosecutors. He admitted to stealing cash from his clients that was supposed to be held in his attorney trust fund. A Niagara County grand jury originally returned a six-count indictment that charged Koryl with one count of first-degree scheme to defraud, two counts of second-degree grand larceny, two counts of third-degree grand larceny and one count of fourth-degree grand larceny. He pleaded not guilty to those charges. Koryl had been free on his own recognizance prior to his sentencing. Niagara County District Attorney Brian Seaman said the case represented a violation of the public's trust. 'When people go to a lawyer's office to deal with complicated financial matters, they put themselves in the trust of that person,' Seaman said. 'An embezzlement by a lawyer is not just a theft, it is also a violation of a fiduciary duty that does harm to the (legal) profession as a whole.' Koryl practiced out of a Pine Avenue law office and his Martindale-Hubell and profiles show that his work was largely involved with personal injury cases. He was arrested in late June 2023 and originally charged in Falls City Court with one count of second-degree grand larceny and one count of third-degree grand larceny. Prosecutors charged that Koryl 'stole money belonging to his clients that he was supposed to be holding in his attorney trust account between 2016 and 2023.' Investigators from the district attorney's office said they began looking into Koryl after receiving a complaint about his handling of clients' funds. Seaman has confirmed that Koryl was accused of defrauding five individual clients.
Yahoo
15-02-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Diddy accused of hiring trafficked 15-year-old for sex party in Miami
Sean 'Diddy' Combs is facing yet another sex trafficking lawsuit, this one accusing the hip-hop mogul of hiring an underage girl to work a sex party in Miami just a few years ago. According to the lawsuit filed Friday and obtained by TMZ, an unidentified woman claims she was paid to attend a group sex event hosted by Diddy in or around 2020. She says she was only 15 at the time and had already been trafficked by various men for at least three years. The woman claims she had already been drugged by a man described as her 'trafficker' when she was taken to a warehouse, then into a curtained-off area with a bed in the middle. According to the legal documents, she was then forced to have sex with around 20 men for multiple hours. While the woman says Diddy was not among those 20 men, she claims to have seen him having sex with another underage girl who was a part of her same trafficked group. She says she believes that girl was only 12 or 13 at the time. The woman is seeking damages from Diddy and several John Does for sexual assault and aiding and abetting, according to TMZ. The unnamed plaintiff is represented by attorney Tony Buzbee, who has filed dozens of lawsuits against Combs since last fall. On Friday, Buzbee said seven suits had been filed in New York State Court this week alone, accusing the rapper and several other defendants of sexual assault, battery and exploitation. 'The cases filed this week are being brought for conduct that allegedly occurred as far back as the year 1999 and as recent as 2022,' he wrote on Instagram. 'The egregious conduct alleged in these filings occurred in Los Angeles, Miami and New York City. Three of the plaintiffs are male, and four of the plaintiffs are female.' The latest lawsuit comes on the same day that a woman who accused Diddy and Jay-Z of raping her in 2000 filed documents to voluntarily dismiss the case. The woman, who alleged the assault occurred at a VMAs after-party when she was 13, previously admitted there were inconsistencies in her story. Jay-Z has fiercely denied the allegations since the lawsuit was filed in December. 'Today is a victory. The frivolous, fictitious and appalling allegations have been dismissed,' the Roc Nation founder said in a statement on Friday. 'This civil suit was without merit and never going anywhere. The fictional tale they created was laughable, if not for the seriousness of the claims. I would not wish this experience on anyone. The trauma that my wife, my children, my loved ones and I have endured can never be dismissed.' The 55-year-old Harlem native has maintained his innocence since his arrest in September. 'No matter how many lawsuits are filed — especially by individuals who refuse to put their own names behind their claims — it won't change the fact that Mr. Combs has never sexually assaulted or sex trafficked anyone,' Diddy's legal team said in a statement to TMZ on Friday. 'We live in a world where anyone can file a lawsuit for any reason. Fortunately, a fair and impartial judicial process exists to find the truth, and Mr. Combs is confident he will prevail in court.' The federal trial against Combs is scheduled to begin May 5.
Yahoo
15-02-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Diddy accused of hiring trafficked 15-year-old for sex party in Miami
Sean 'Diddy' Combs is facing yet another sex trafficking lawsuit, this one accusing the hip-hop mogul of hiring an underage girl to work a sex party in Miami just a few years ago. According to the lawsuit filed Friday and obtained by TMZ, an unidentified woman claims she was paid to attend a group sex event hosted by Diddy in or around 2020. She says she was only 15 at the time and had already been trafficked by various men for at least three years. The woman claims she had already been drugged by a man described as her 'trafficker' when she was taken to a warehouse, then into a curtained-off area with a bed in the middle. According to the legal documents, she was then forced to have sex with around 20 men for multiple hours. While the woman says Diddy was not among those 20 men, she claims to have seen him having sex with another underage girl who was a part of her same trafficked group. She says she believes that girl was only 12 or 13 at the time. The woman is seeking damages from Diddy and several John Does for sexual assault and aiding and abetting, according to TMZ. The unnamed plaintiff is represented by attorney Tony Buzbee, who has filed dozens of lawsuits against Combs since last fall. On Friday, Buzbee said seven suits had been filed in New York State Court this week alone, accusing the rapper and several other defendants of sexual assault, battery and exploitation. 'The cases filed this week are being brought for conduct that allegedly occurred as far back as the year 1999 and as recent as 2022,' he wrote on Instagram. 'The egregious conduct alleged in these filings occurred in Los Angeles, Miami and New York City. Three of the plaintiffs are male, and four of the plaintiffs are female.' The latest lawsuit comes on the same day that a woman who accused Diddy and Jay-Z of raping her in 2000 filed documents to voluntarily dismiss the case. The woman, who alleged the assault occurred at a VMAs after-party when she was 13, previously admitted there were inconsistencies in her story. Jay-Z has fiercely denied the allegations since the lawsuit was filed in December. 'Today is a victory. The frivolous, fictitious and appalling allegations have been dismissed,' the Roc Nation founder said in a statement on Friday. 'This civil suit was without merit and never going anywhere. The fictional tale they created was laughable, if not for the seriousness of the claims. I would not wish this experience on anyone. The trauma that my wife, my children, my loved ones and I have endured can never be dismissed.' Combs, meanwhile, remains in custody at Brooklyn's Metropolitan Detention Center as he awaits trial on federal sex trafficking and racketeering charges. The 55-year-old Harlem native has maintained his innocence since his arrest in September. 'No matter how many lawsuits are filed — especially by individuals who refuse to put their own names behind their claims — it won't change the fact that Mr. Combs has never sexually assaulted or sex trafficked anyone,' Diddy's legal said in a statement to TMZ on Friday. 'We live in a world where anyone can file a lawsuit for any reason. Fortunately, a fair and impartial judicial process exists to find the truth, and Mr. Combs is confident he will prevail in court.' The federal trial against Combs is scheduled to begin May 5.
