Gloria Allred Represents a New Accuser of Harvey Weinstein

Today, a new accuser of Harvey
Weinstein is speaking out

about the sexual harassment
that she alleges,

that she endured as a young
actress and screenwriter,

who at, the request of Mr.
Weinstein, was simply pitching

her screenplay to him at
the Sundance Film Festival.

Louisette Geiss worked in
the film and music industry

for over 20 years.

Following her dream, she made
a point to graduate early,

and with honors, so that she
could move to Los Angeles,

and start her career.

Education was key to
Louisette, and she studied

with the top teachers in
film for acting, writing,

and directing, which led
her to land several roles

fairly early on the Drew Carey Show,

Two and a Half Men, and King
of Queens, to name just a few.

She was also a dedicated screenwriter,

and went on to sing on
many national commercials,

and owned an award-winning music company.

Louisette had her second
baby girl only six weeks ago.

She is a mother of two young girls.

She was a guardian to a young girl,

and she's a stepmom to two boys.

She made an abrupt departure
from the film industry in 2009,

and now works in real estate.

She is speaking out today,

because even though Harvey
Weinstein has been terminated

from his employment with
the Weinstein Company,

she and I both feel that
there is not yet been justice

for many women who alleged
that they were victims

of sexual harassment.

Although there are reports
that Mr. Weinstein entered

into settlements with
eight women who alleged

that they were sexually
harassed by Mr. Weinstein,

many more women who alleged

that they were victims never filed claims,

or lawsuits against him.

Many of these women feared
the power that Henry,

that Mr. Weinstein had, and were concerned

that if they took legal
action, or spoke out,

that he could ruin their careers.

In addition, many believed
that nobody would believe them.

A number of accusers have contacted me

about their allegations,
but I've had to inform them

that the statute of limitations,

that arbitrary time period
set by law has expired,

and it's therefore too late

for them to assert a legal claim.

Mr. Weinstein could, however,

decide that he would like to
resolve these allegations,

and wave and agree not to assert
the statute of limitations.

That is exactly what we
believe that he should do.

Mr. Weinstein may believe
that some of these claims are

false, or he may believe
that some are true.

He may believe that he has not had his day

in court on these allegations,

and that he has not been treated fairly.

Many women who alleged that
they are his victims feel

the same way.

I believe that there is
a way to provide justice

for these alleged victims
and for Mr. Weinstein.

I am inviting him to agree
to engage in an arbitration

of these claims with
these alleged victims,

and with an agreed-upon retired judge.

The women could present their
claims of sexual harassment,

and Mr. Weinstein can present his defense.

If the judge finds in
favor of the victims,

the judge could award damages
according to proof at trial.

If Mr. Weinstein prevails,
he would be able to announce

the result to the public.

In the alternative, he could also agree

to a confidential mediation.

This is a process to resolve these claims.

This proposal is similar to
what I suggested to Bill Cosby.

He was not wise enough,
however, to accept my invitation

to resolve the allegations against him.

Will Mr. Weinstein accept
the offer of a process

that is fair to him,
and will help to provide

a system of justice to his accusers?

We will have to wait and see.

I believe that one day, Mr.
Weinstein will wish to return

as a producer in Hollywood.

This is a positive step that he could take

to help to restore his
battered reputation.

It is not enough for
him to acknowledge pain

that he has caused, and to seek therapy.

He needs to go further, and
provide justice to these women

who allege that they are his victims.

Louisette Geiss is very brave

in her decision to speak out today.

She has decided to share
what she alleges was

her experience, because she
knows that there are many others

who still live in fear, and
who do not yet have a voice.

She's doing this for them,
and for her daughters.

I am honored to represent her,

and look forward to Mr.
Weinstein's response.

And now I'd like to
present Louisette Geiss.

[camera shutters clicking]

I first met Harvey Weinstein
at the Cannes Film Festival.

I next saw him at the Sundance
Film Festival in 2008.

He invited me to his premiere

of Where in the World Is Osama bin Ladin?

After the premiere, he asked
me about my music company,

and the script that I had written

and was pitching at the festival.

We agreed to meet at the hotel restaurant

where we both were staying.

When we arrived, we were asked to leave

shortly after at the restaurant,
as they were closing.

Harvey then offered to reconvene
the meeting in his office,

which was adjacent to his hotel room.

Obviously, I was hesitant.

I had heard some stories previously

about Harvey's behavior with women.

So there was a hotel security
camera right above us,

and I said to him, "I will
take this meeting with you

if you will shake my hand
that you will not touch me."

And he shook my hand, and
kind of laughed it off.

We went to his office, and
we had a great conversation

about his current film, and
the film that I was pitching.

He seemed genuinely
interested, and I was excited.

After about 30 minutes,
he asked to excuse himself

and go to the bathroom.

He returned in nothing but
a robe with the front open,

and he was buck naked.

He told me to keep talking about my film,

and that he was gonna hop into his hot tub

that was adjacent to the
room, just steps away.

When I finished my pitch,
I was obviously nervous,

and he just kept asking me
to watch him masturbate.

I told him I was leaving.

He quickly got out of the
tub, and grabbed my forearm,

as I was trying to grab
my purse, and he led me

to his bathroom, pleading that
I just watch him masturbate.

My heart was racing,
and I was very scared.

I pulled my arm away finally,
and headed to the door.

He started following me, and telling me

that he could introduce
me to Bob Weinstein,

and that I could get a three-picture deal,

and that he would greenlight my script,

but I had to watch him masturbate.

I was on the verge of tears,

but I pulled it together,
and quickly exited.

I told my sister, and I
told a good friend of mine

immediately after, and over the years,

when people asked me why I
got out of the movie industry,

I would tell them this story.

Even though my parents
raised me to be a strong

and independent woman, I never, ever,

ever thought that I would
have any chance to stand up

for myself against Harvey Weinstein.

I knew if I said anything,
that he would have

a ton of lawyers on my back,

and no one would trust me over him.

I know I'm not special.

I know that this has
happened to many women,

and it's the fear and
pain of sexual harassment

that is released on one's
mind, body, and soul

that I'm trying to stop.

Sexual harassment has become commonplace

in the entertainment
industry, and to be fair,

most women that I know
have a story about being

sexually harassed or
abused in this business.

I am only now feeling
confident to come forward.

I know that Harvey has been fired,

and I know that he said he needs help,

but he's also saying that he
wants to sue the New York Times

for defamation, and that he's pleading

with the Hollywood elite to
give him a second chance.

He's breeding doubt about our stories

that women are just making this up,

and he's making light of it by saying that

this is such a good story, he
wants to buy the movie rights.

I do not think that Harvey
Weinstein understands

or comprehends how much pain
and suffering this brings

to me and scores of other women.

The window to end the
soul-crushing behavior

of sexually harassing women is

only now just recently opened.

I think that we can all
feel that we're really

on the precipice of empowerment here,

and a journey of revolution.

I implore other women to please stand up,

and to come forward.

I know there's many women
who have experienced

just what I've experienced.

Let us be the change we
want to see in this world.

Let's stop talking about making a change,

and actually make a change.

Let's tuck our babies in tonight,

and know that we did
everything that we can for them

to make this world a better place.

When I think of my mom who
has many a story like this,

and Gloria, and the countless
other women who've traveled

the road less traveled to help me rise up

and be a confident mom and professional,

I'm really humbled by their
experiences and their courage.

Sexual harassment in the
entertainment industry needs

to stop, and it needs to stop now.

[camera shutters clicking]

Okay, I'll be happy to
take some questions.

Louisette is not going to be
taking questions right now.

REPORTER: What year did this happen?

2008.

REPORTER: What's the
statute of limitations?

The statute of limitations in Utah,

which is where it happened,

according to Louisette is four years,

and so that statute of
limitations has expired.

REPORTER: What are you hoping for?

I mean, what do you, are
you, have you been contacted

by other women as well?

Yes.

REPORTER: How many?

I'm not gonna do a count, but it's,

some of them are also in
other areas of the country,

and so therefore were not
able to be here today.

REPORTER: Are these in
addition to the ones

already made by The New York times?

Yes.

REPORTER: Gloria, in your
career, have you been hearing

about rumors of Harvey for a while?

I imagine that people
have been coming to you

throughout the years.

This allegation's new to you?

No.

REPORTER: Why not come forward sooner

with any other clients in the past?

I have no comment on that question.

REPORTER: What would it
take to see from Harvey

that you've accepted
repairing his reputation?

What are you hoping to
get from Harvey on this?

Justice.

Yeah, I mean, there has been
quite a bit of focus on him,

and that's fine,

but what about the persons who allege

that they are victims,
who are not A-list stars?

And in some cases, some
people have contacted me

who were not actresses,
but that's all I'll say.

I'm not going to identify them further.

REPORTER: You had mentioned
that you were advising,

or hoping that Harvey Weinstein
would perhaps get involved

in some confidential mediation?

I'm suggesting the process
of a confidential mediation,

which is essentially a settlement process,

where we could also have a retired judge,

or a professional mediator,

or in addition to that, or
rather, instead of that,

there could be an arbitration.

Both of those are what we call

alternative dispute resolution processes.

An arbitration is a trial.

The mediation is essentially
a negotiating session

to attempt to reach a settlement,

but an arbitration is an actual
trial by a retired judge.

That could happen much sooner
than if a lawsuit were filed,

and then had to wait in
line, perhaps for years

in order to be tried.

REPORTER: Do you-

And any-

Pardon me?

REPORTER: Do you currently
have any lawsuits-

Pending against Mr. Weinstein?

REPORTER: Correct.

No.

REPORTER: If Harvey is protected

by the statute of limitations,
why would he give up that

to go into arbitration?

The question is if Mr.
Weinstein is currently able

to assert at what we call
an affirmative defense

of the statute of
limitations, in other words,

that it's too late,
then why would he enter

into a mediation process,
or an arbitration process?

And the answer is very simple,

that if, as, and when he
chooses to allow a process

where there can be justice for him,

and for persons who
allege they are victims,

I think that will go a long way

to helping to restore his reputation.

So I find that to be in
his own self-interest

for the future, and in addition,

in the interest of persons
who allege they are victims,

because there would be
due process for both.

In other words, both or all
would testify under oath,

present their evidence,
present, he could present

his defenses, and then a neutral person,

namely, a retired judge
could make a decision.

And if he is found not to be
liable for the allegations

that any alleged victim or
victims make against him,

we are suggesting that we would
be agreeable to his having

that decision announced to the press.

So it gives him a day in court.

It gives them a day in court.

It gives an opportunity
for there to be justice,

and for people, all of
them, to testify under oath,

to tell the truth, the whole truth,

and nothing but the
truth, so help them God,

and I think that would be a fair process.

Why would he do it?

Because I think he wants
to work in this town again,

and I think that that is
an invitation to help.

It's not instead of therapy,
it's in addition to,

and in the event that he were able to,

or decided to, after
consultation with his lawyers,

except our invitation to do that,

then I feel that those alleged victims

who have contacted me
would feel much better

about Mr. Weinstein.

REPORTER: Tell me, what would justice

for the victims look like in this case?

Justice for the victims
would be for them to be able

to have a fair process,
such as I described,

in order for a neutral person,

a retired judge to decide their claims.

And of course, then if the
judge decides in their favor,

then they could receive
compensation according to proof

of trial for whatever
damages they can prove,

which might include a need for
therapy bills, medical bills,

if they would be able
to present any evidence

of physical injuries,

compensation for their pain and suffering.

These would be possible remedies.

But of course, if they don't
have sufficient evidence that,

and cannot prove their
allegations by a preponderance

of the evidence, which is the
standard for a civil case,

then they will not prevail.

So it seems fair, it seems
just, and I think it's overdue.

REPORTER: Do you think Ms.
Geiss has the evidence?

Pardon me?

REPORTER: Does your client
have the evidence to prove?

She has evidence that
she is looking forward

to being able to present
to a judge in this process,

and we're not gonna detail what that is,

but it's in addition to
the people that she told,

which would corroborate
her contemporaneous report,

that in fact, he had
done what she alleged,

but we have evidence beyond that,

which we're not willing
to disclose at this point,

but we would present in
an arbitration process.

REPORTER: Did you have a
conversation with your daughter

before she removed herself
from an advisory role?

No.

She's in a separate law firm.

She makes her own decisions,
and I'm very proud of her,

and I love her, and
respect her, as I've said.

She doesn't decide who I represent.

I don't decide who she represents,

or if, as, and when
anybody should discontinue

representation of any client.

We're completely separate firms.

[indistinct question from reporter]

I'm sorry, I can't hear your question.

REPORTER: Are you at least relieved

that you're not going to be in a scenario

where you may end up on different sides?

Actually no, because she informed me

that she was never
retained to represent him

in any process involving
any claim against him.

REPORTER: What do you think
the emails that came out

regarding your daughter
suggesting a defense,

showing Harvey with some
of the alleged accusers

in so many positions?

REPORTER: Yeah, I don't have any comment

on anything that she has said,

because our focus today is for victims,

or persons who allege they're victims,

and what Mr. Weinstein
can do that could result

in a positive outcome.

That's that's our focus.

Yes.

REPORTER: If Mr. Weinstein
doesn't take you up

on your invitation, what's
your next course of action?

We'll have to wait and see.

REPORTER: In a case like this,

you obviously can go after Harvey.

Can you go after the company as well?

We don't have any comment
on whether we would

or could go after the Weinstein Company.

REPORTER: What do you
think of Angelina Jolie

and Gwyneth Paltrow coming out today?

Why do you think they
stayed silent for so long?

I don't know what Gwyneth
Paltrow and Angelina Jolie knew,

and when they knew it,

so I don't have any comment
on why they stayed silent,

or if they stayed silent, and
why they are coming out now,

but I do think that it's important,

and I'm glad that they have
both made statements about this,

and I'm glad that Meryl Streep did,

and Judi Dench, and anyone else,

because women's voices matter.

Women are now empowered, you know,

and the casting couch scenario
is just going to have to end,

because otherwise there are
gonna be serious consequences,

as there are right now for Mr. Weinstein.

This is just not acceptable anymore.

It's not gonna be tolerated,

and you know, women are not
going to be silenced anymore.

REPORTER: Your claim
before she met with him

and the hotel room, it
sounds like she, she knew.

She was very, very aware of
what could possibly happen

by shaking his hand in front of a camera,

making him promise.

I mean, it sounds like
she was very confident

it was gonna happen.

How, how did, how did she know that?

I mean, how talked about is
Harvey's antics in Hollywood

for her to know to go that far

to make sure that that wouldn't happen?

Yeah, well, she didn't
know that it would happen,

but of course she had heard rumors,

and this is why she wanted
to be clear with him

that this is not something
she was going to tolerate,

and she did make that clear,

and that's why she did
it in front of a camera.

REPORTER: Did anyone come forward

about any other producers,
not naming any specifics,

but that you know of?

That seems like a common
problem with Hollywood.

I don't have any comment right now

about whether any other
persons have contacted me

about their accusations against
anyone else in Hollywood.

Let's just put it this way.

That wouldn't be a surprise to me,

and I'm contacted by many
people about many issues.

REPORTER: Do you have the
camera footage that's related?

We're not going to comment
on what specific evidence

we would present if, as, and
when Mr. Weinstein did accept

our invitation to enter into a process,

which could lead to justice,

or as much justice as is
possible under the circumstances.

REPORTER: Did your client ever hear or see

Harvey Weinstein again, after that night?

We will answer that
question at another point.

REPORTER: Because he has
a history of following up

his victims, trying to buy them gifts,

buy his way out of it.

That has not, did that happen
with your client at all?

There were no gifts.

REPORTER: When we're talking about statute

of limitations, getting justice,

there was a case two years
ago in [indistinct] New York.

She did go to the police.

She was, you know, recorded with him,

and the recording was published
today by the New Yorker.

Can you talk a little about that case,

and the D.A. in New York
declined to prosecute?

What are your thoughts after
listening to that recording?

I've heard about that story,
and I don't have any comment

on the New York D.A.
declining to prosecute,

because I don't know what evidence

the D.A. had at that time.

Also, the burden in a
criminal case is up here,

beyond a reasonable doubt.

The burden in a civil case is down here,

by preponderance of the evidence,

or for punitive damages,
somewhere in between,

which would be by clear
and convincing evidence.

So I don't know what the D.A. had

at that time, or what her
allegations and evidence were,

so I really, I can't comment on that.

REPORTER: Were you aware
of other allegations

from potential clients
or otherwise that do fall

within the stature of limitations

that he could be liable for?

I can't comment on that at this time,

but in the event that Mr.
Weinstein's lawyers contact me,

I'd be happy to discuss that with them.

REPORTER: Gloria, is there any outcome

in which you feel brings
justice to the victims

that addresses it in a more systemic way?

I mean, there's a lot of
reports about, you know,

the number of people involved

in perhaps preparing women for Harvey.

Is there anything that
they could address it

in a more systemic way?

Well, I mean, I think the
press is doing a very good job

in locating and discovering

in their investigation many facts.

I don't know whether all
those facts are true or not.

Having said that, I think, I mean,

there are many accusers who
do not wish to be public.

That's one of the reasons
that Louisette is speaking out

today, because she's
doing this also for them,

and in a mediation or arbitration process,

of course, their names would
be provided to Mr. Weinstein,

but they would not need to be made public,

and so this would protect
them if they do not wish

to disclose their names to
the public, or speak out,

and also they would have access to justice

through a system which
could provide that to them,

which I think is important.

REPORTER: If he accepts your offer,

would this open the process
to other alleged victims

and their attorneys
possibly to work through it

as well with you?

We'd be open to that,

assuming Mr. Weinstein and his
attorneys were open to that.

In other words, we could work
towards a global resolution

of these allegations.

REPORTER: What about Harvey's wife?

How do you feel about the
position that she's in now?

And have any of your clients ever tried

to communicate with her?

I don't have any comment about his wife.

I mean, she could make a
comment about what she knows,

or doesn't know, or did
know, or didn't know,

if she chooses to, but
I mean, I always feel

that marriage are very
complicated relationships,

and our focus is on Mr.
Weinstein, and not on his wife.

REPORTER: Gloria, do you
believe Mr. Weinstein is the tip

of the iceberg, and that there
will be other powerful people

in Hollywood exposed in this way?

That's possible.

I mean, the days of sense of entitlement,

arrogance of power, my girl,

I can take advantage of
anyone seeking employment,

or attempting to retain
the employment they have,

or being in fear of suffering
some negative job impact

because they decline sexual advances,

I mean, those days are at an end,

in terms of women knowing
that they have rights,

and they can assert those rights.

So I would say if there are
any high-profile employers,

or executives who are still
sexually harassing women or men,

then they should understand
they're acting at their peril,

and they're taking an enormous risk.

But some people who do
that are risk-takers,

but the old adage of never
underestimate a woman could never

be truer than it is today,

especially if that woman is
someone seeking employment,

or seeking to retain their employment,

because there are many
lawyers who will help them,

and advise them in reference
to what they can do

if they are sexually harassed on the job.

So anything else you'd like to say?

Anything further, and then we'll go.

Thank you very much for coming,

and I know some of you have emailed,

and I will respond to those emails.

She's not gonna do any
interviews right now

after this press
conference, but thank you.

Just for background, just for background

on the statute of
limitations, waiver issues,

do you understand that?

It's not a bar.

The statute, the civil statute
of limitations is not a bar.

Criminal statute of limitations bars.

If you're behind, you can't file.

The D.A. can't file.

Civil statute of limitations is waivable,

so if the defense either doesn't assert it

in their papers and responding,

or decides not to waive
it, the case goes forward.

It's not a bar, any civil
statute of limitations,

so it can be weighed.

In a civil case.

There's actually one state
in which that I know of

that could also be waived
in a criminal case,

but without getting into that.

This is Michael Morocco, my
law partner of almost 42 years,

and Michael has also been an arbitrator,

and he has been a mediator, so he is.

You don't have to be a
judge to be an arbitrator,

but he has been a professional arbitrator,

as well as someone who litigates sexual-