The legal fallout from the mushrooming Weinstein sex scandal could be big

The L.A. Times reports:

The mounting sexual assault and harassment claims against disgraced Hollywood mogul Harvey Weinstein could have severe legal consequences for the executive and his already struggling namesake company.

Although it may be difficult to build a criminal case against Weinstein, his alleged mistreatment of women could expose him and his film and TV company to costly civil lawsuits, according to attorneys and professors specializing in sexual misconduct.

“The potential liability is significant,” said Ann Fromholz, a Pasadena attorney who has handled sexual harassment cases.

Under California law, Weinstein Co. could be liable for Weinstein's alleged actions, according to Doug Silverstein, an attorney specializing in employment and discrimination. "They are on the hook just like him," he said.

Whether an alleged victim could bring a lawsuit against Weinstein, 65, would hinge, in part, on the applicable statute of limitations. In California, the statute of limitations for civil sexual assault is two years and in New York it is three years; Weinstein has been accused of misconduct in both states.

“I expect a flood of lawsuits to be headed his way if they are timely and he hasn't already bought off the victims,” said Laurie Levenson, a professor at Loyola Law School.

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