Harvey Weinstein: Ashley Judd's sexual harassment claim against disgraced producer dismissed by judge

Judd alleged that Weinstein tried to smear her reputation after she refused his advances, and that he prevented her from getting a role in 'Lord of the Rings'

Judd came forward with sexual harassment claims against Weinstein in 2017 (AFP/Getty)

A federal judge in Los Angeles has dismissed the sexual harassment claims made by Ashley Judd in a lawsuit against Harvey Weinstein.

Judd had accused the producer of defaming her in 1998 after she refused what she claimed were his sexual advances the year before. In the lawsuit, filed in April 2018, the Double Jeopardy star accused Weinstein of smearing her reputation by discouraging director Peter Jackson from casting her in Lord of the Rings.

Judd, who was one of the first women to publicly accuse Weinstein of sexual misconduct, accused him of sexual harassment in violation of a California law that bars such conduct by a person “in a business, service or professional relationship” with another.

According to Reuters, US district judge Philip Gutierrez said he was not determining whether Weinstein sexually harassed Judd “in the colloquial sense of the term”. However, he said her relationship as an actor with the film producer was not covered under the law she had sued under, nor under a 2019 amendment.

Weinstein’s lawyer, Phyllis Kupferstein, welcomed the judge’s decision.

“We have said from the beginning that this claim was unjustified, and we are pleased that the court saw it as we did,” she said in a statement, adding: “We believe that we will ultimately prevail on her remaining claims.”

Judd’s lawyer said the ruling will not upend her complaint. “Nothing about today’s ruling changes that Ms Judd’s case is moving forward on multiple claims,” he said in a statement issued on the evening of Wednesday 9 January.

“We look forward to pursuing the three claims for relief that the Court has already ruled can move forward.”

Jackson, known for directing films including the fantasy franchises Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit, said in 2017 that he had been considering Judd for a role in the 2002 film Lord of the Rings, but was told she was “blacklisted” during conversations with the Weinstein company.

He claimed Weinstein told him Judd was “a nightmare” to work with. Weinstein denied trying to derail Judd’s career and said he had no role in her casting in Lord of the Rings.

Weinstein currently faces a separate, criminal case involving five allegations of sexual assault, including rape, and is due to stand trial in May.

The Hollywood producer has been accused of sexual misconduct by more than 70 women. He has denied all the allegations and said any sexual encounters were consensual.