Emma Loman
Emma Loman
Emma Loman
John G. Balestriere*
1
[email protected]
2 Matthew W. Schmidt, Bar No. 302776
3 [email protected]
BALESTRIERE FARIELLO
4 225 Broadway, 29th Floor
5 New York, New York 10007
6 Telephone: (212) 374-5401
Facsimile: (212) 208-2613
7
8 Attorneys for Plaintiff
*Pro Hac Vice Application Forthcoming
9
10 Joseph A. Ferrucci, Bar No. 186287
11 [email protected]
FERRUCCI LAW GROUP, APC
12 24361 El Toro Road, Ste. 220
13 Laguna Woods, CA 92637
Telephone: (949) 600-5370
14
Facsimile: (949) 600-5371
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UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
17 CENTRAL DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA
18 WESTERN DIVISION
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EMMA LOMAN, an individual,
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Case No.:
21 Plaintiff,
22 CIVIL COMPLAINT FOR
– against – DAMAGES
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24 HARVEY WEINSTEIN, an individual, JURY TRIAL DEMANDED
25 Defendant.
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1 11. After several such informal meetings, Weinstein told Loman that he
2 had multiple parts in upcoming TWC films that could be appropriate for
3 Loman. Weinstein confided that the scripts for these films were highly
4 confidential, so any substantive discussion of them would need to take place
5 at Weinstein’s “office.”
6 12. Weinstein’s “office” was in fact his personal hotel suite, but Loman
7 knew that film executives often used suites at prestigious hotels as offices due
8 to lack of a more formal space, and to demonstrate their status in the industry.
9 Loman also believed that she had built a rapport with Weinstein and could
10 trust him.
11 13. Upon arriving at Weinstein’s suite, however, Weinstein quickly
12 dropped his professional demeanor. He instead overpowered Loman and
13 raped her.
14 14. Shocked and betrayed, Loman did not know what to do.
15 15. Furthering Loman’s disorientation, Weinstein proceeded to treat the
16 rape like a standard component of their business, as if the professional
17 discussion he offered Loman had actually taken place. Immediately after
18 raping Loman, Weinstein told her that he would follow up with a call, and
19 although Loman wanted to make clear to Weinstein again that he had just
20 severely violated her, he quickly made her leave his suite, citing his busy
21 schedule. Weinstein later did follow up with a call to discuss an upcoming film
22 premiere that would normally be an invaluable networking event for Loman’s
23 young acting career.
24 16. At a later date, Weinstein physically cornered Loman in his suite that
25 he had lured her into, and informed her that—even if she could somehow
26 overpower the much larger Weinstein—the security guards that Weinstein
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COMPLAINT
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1 employed would not allow Loman to leave the floor until she promised to keep
2 silent regarding Weinstein’s assault and rape.
3 17. The following year, when Loman was visiting Los Angeles to shop a
4 film that she had been cast in, Weinstein sent another pointed reminder of both
5 his power and his memory. He had TWC purchase the film Loman had been
6 cast in—solely because Loman had been cast in the film—and then unilaterally
7 had Loman fired from its cast.
8 18. Fearful both that no one would believe her and the potential
9 retaliation from such a powerful figure, Loman stayed silent. It was only upon
10 the late 2017 revelation of the scope of Weinstein’s wrongful actions—to both
11 Loman and the general public—that Loman felt safe coming forward to seek
12 redress for Weinstein’s rape of her, which she began pursuing immediately.
13 JURISDICTION AND VENUE
14 19. This Court has subject matter jurisdiction pursuant to 28 U.S.C.
15 § 1332(a), as there exists complete diversity of citizenship between Plaintiff and
16 Defendant, and as the amount in controversy exceeds $75,000.
17 20. This Court also has subject matter jurisdiction pursuant to 18 U.S.C.
18 § 1595, which provides the district courts of the United States jurisdiction over
19 violations of 18 U.S.C. § 1591.
20 21. This Court also has supplemental jurisdiction over the remaining
21 claims pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 1367(a), as those claims form part of the same
22 case or controversy as the related federal claims over which this Court has
23 original jurisdiction.
24 22. This Court has personal jurisdiction over Weinstein because
25 Weinstein has substantial, continual, and systematic contacts with this District,
26 such that he is essentially at home in this District. Weinstein’s wrongdoing at
27 issue also arises out his specific conduct within this District.
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COMPLAINT
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COMPLAINT
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1 35. In the same piece, Forbes quoted film industry journalist Sasha Stone
2 as stating, “Everyone knew if you were in a Harvey movie, chances are you
3 were going to win or be nominated for an Oscar. . . . It’s a sick thing to be in a
4 business where that was the collateral used to coerce women.”
5 Weinstein Targets Loman
6 36. Weinstein first met Emma Loman in 2004 at the Venice Film Festival,
7 where they had a short conversation and exchanged contact information.
8 37. Neither party contacted the other until 2006, when Weinstein called
9 Loman to tell her that he had liked her work as an actor, and immediately
10 invited her to be his guest at the upcoming Festival, a high-profile and
11 prestigious annual film festival in Cannes, France—a major networking event
12 for the film industry. Weinstein insisted on flying Loman to the Festival,
13 putting her up in luxury hotel suite in the Hôtel Barrière Le Majestic for the
14 duration of the Festival, and said that he wanted to personally discuss TWC
15 projects in which he would like to cast Loman.
16 38. While in most contexts such a call may be unusual, in the film
17 industry, it was not. Part of the job of a film producer is “discovering” talented
18 actors through viewing of their films, and then building a strong personal
19 relationship. The hope, similar to “A&R men” from record companies or
20 professional baseball scouts, is that once the actor becomes successful, the
21 producer will be able to leverage that relationship to further profitable work
22 with the producer on favorable terms, as the actor will feel a personal loyalty
23 and debt to the producer.
24 39. Still, Loman was initially hesitant at flying internationally to meet a
25 man she barely knew, but was already in the process of planning to attend the
26 Festival with a friend. She was well aware of Weinstein and his work, and he
27 was both charming and persistent. At one point, Weinstein had his assistant
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1 elevator that only operated with a special key and led to the hotel’s exclusive
2 top floor.
3 46. Once the three were in the elevator, Weinstein’s assistant, claiming
4 he had forgotten something necessary for the meeting, left just before the
5 elevator doors closed, leaving Loman no opportunity to object.
6 47. Suddenly left alone with Weinstein, Loman felt uncomfortable, but
7 she trusted him due to their recent professional discussions—including an
8 instance the day before in which Weinstein had introduced Loman to many of
9 the most notable figures attending the Festival—and continued to her meeting
10 with Weinstein. Loman’s concerns were further diminished when an elderly
11 couple later entered the elevator and shared a friendly conversation with
12 Weinstein and Loman.
13 48. Once alone with Loman in the suite, however, Weinstein’s demeanor
14 became drastically different.
15 49. Weinstein prepared a Coca-Cola beverage for Loman out of her
16 sight, and began to discuss her body. Weinstein made thinly-veiled attempts
17 to coerce Loman into undressing, such as teasingly asking her if she was
18 actually a man.
19 50. Throughout these advances, Loman made it clear that she had no
20 interest in engaging in anything other than business with Weinstein.
21 51. Weinstein quickly became even more blunt, and told Loman that if
22 she wanted to be in one of his films, she would have to be more comfortable
23 with her body.
24 52. Loman responded by expressing regret that she would not be able to
25 work with Weinstein.
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COMPLAINT
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1 protests, he removed the condom he had been wearing and continued to rape
2 Loman.
3 68. Weinstein eventually finished, then forced Loman to shower with
4 him before he allowed her to leave.
5 69. Loman was shocked and traumatized by the encounter; she did not
6 know how to react and did not know who she could speak to.
7 70. Even more disorienting, Weinstein quickly went back to his formerly
8 charming demeanor and acted like the entire rape had been a standard
9 business meeting, as if he had engaged in the professional discussion that he
10 had offered Loman instead of violently assaulting her. For example, Weinstein
11 told Loman that one of his films was premiering at the Festival that evening,
12 and that if she went, she could sit next to its director.
13 Weinstein Threatens Loman
14 71. On a later date, Weinstein invited Loman again to his hotel suite to
15 discuss scripts.
16 72. At first Loman balked, however she then doubted herself due to
17 Weinstein’s professional demeanor after the encounter. Weinstein repeatedly
18 assured Loman that she would not be alone for this meeting, but it would be
19 professionally organized and they would strictly discuss scripts. Weinstein’s
20 behavior caused Loman to question herself, and she wanted an explanation
21 and an apology from Weinstein.
22 73. Finally, Loman relented and agreed to meet with Weinstein a second
23 time. She also believed that, knowing the risks, she would be able to escape the
24 situation if Weinstein attempted to rape her a second time.
25 74. When Weinstein’s assistant escorted her again to Weinstein’s top-
26 floor hotel suite, Loman noticed that six security guards, seemingly armed,
27 lined the walls of the long hallway from the elevator to Weinstein’s suite.
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COMPLAINT
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1 75. Although Weinstein’s assistant left Loman as she entered the suite,
2 she discovered that Weinstein had at least kept his promise that they would
3 not be alone, as another woman was present in the room with Weinstein.
4 76. However, Weinstein immediately made clear that he would not keep
5 his promise to discuss business, and instead indicated that he wanted a
6 threesome with Loman and the other woman.
7 77. Loman, visibly distressed, immediately attempted to leave the hotel
8 suite.
9 78. Weinstein, however, quickly became physically aggressive.
10 79. Weinstein rushed to the exit, physically blocking Loman from
11 leaving and cornering her against a nearby wall. He then told Loman that his
12 security guards would not allow her to leave, and that even if they did, she
13 could not enter his elevator without its key.
14 80. Loman, fearing another rape, began to shout and cry.
15 81. Weinstein responded demanding that she stay in the suite until she
16 appeared calm, stating that he would not allow her to leave until she promised
17 to not tell or otherwise reveal to anyone what had happened.
18 82. Weinstein then quickly changed tactics. He fell to his knees in front
19 of Loman and began crying himself. He begged her to calm down, told her (for
20 the first time) that he was engaged, and said that journalists were waiting
21 downstairs who would ruin his marriage and career if they saw a distraught
22 woman who had come from his suite.
23 83. Weinstein’s sudden and erratic change of tone only scared Loman
24 even more, as she began to wonder what Weinstein was capable of. She made
25 great effort to appear calm so that Weinstein would allow her to leave.
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1 84. Finally, after around an hour, Weinstein was satisfied that Loman
2 had composed herself, and allowed her to leave his suite, escorted by his
3 assistant.
4 85. Sometime after this interaction, Weinstein called Loman to scream at
5 her and berate her for what he apparently felt was unprofessional,
6 objectionable behavior on her part.
7 86. After the call, Weinstein ended any professional relationship with
8 Loman and rescinded any outstanding invitations for events at the Festival.
9 Loman was simply relieved that she would have no further dealings with
10 Weinstein, and wished to put the experience behind her.
11 87. Loman had further contact with Weinstein the following year, when
12 she was in Los Angeles, to help shop a film to production companies in which
13 she had been cast as the female lead. Loman was excited for the role, and had
14 a close relationship with the film’s planned director, producers, and cast.
15 88. Weinstein contacted Loman and asked to speak with her in the
16 Peninsula Beverly Hills Hotel. Since Loman was now in Los Angeles and in
17 proximity to various personal and professional acquaintances, and because of
18 their previous encounter, Loman felt somewhat confident that Weinstein
19 would be unlikely to physically assault her again if she complied. Furthermore,
20 because she was now in the nucleus of Weinstein’s extraordinarily powerful
21 network, Loman felt that declining to meet with Weinstein would endanger
22 her safety and well-being more than complying with his request, and agreed
23 to meet Weinstein with a friend.
24 89. In this meeting, Weinstein behaved relatively professionally and
25 calmly, and he took a copy of the script from Loman. Loman thought she had
26 escaped unscathed.
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1 90. However, later that day, Weinstein’s TWC purchased the script, and
2 Loman was subsequently fired from the film.
3 91. Loman was later told by multiple colleagues who had worked on the
4 film that Weinstein had unilaterally ordered the firing himself, and told at least
5 one producer not to do any business with Loman in the future—in what
6 appeared to be an open threat to Loman that she not disclose Weinstein’s rape
7 and other misconduct to anyone.
8 FIRST CAUSE OF ACTION
9 (Violation of Human Trafficking Laws, 18 U.S.C. § 1591(a))
10 92. Plaintiff repeats and realleges the allegations made above as if fully
11 set forth herein.
12 93. Weinstein knowingly affected interstate commerce by recruiting,
13 enticing, transporting, and soliciting Plaintiff, knowing that he would use
14 threats of force, means of force, and coercion to make Plaintiff engage in
15 commercial sex acts.
16 94. Weinstein did so for the express purpose of forcing Plaintiff to
17 engage in commercial sex acts, namely so that he could sexually assault and
18 rape her in his hotel room in exchange for roles in prominent films and other
19 professional opportunities.
20 95. Weinstein, TWC, and Weinstein’s assistant—who was acting on
21 behalf of Weinstein—coordinated to form a venture that coerced, transported,
22 and harbored Plaintiff, either with knowledge or in reckless disregard of the
23 fact that Weinstein would use threats of force, means of force, and coercion to
24 make Plaintiff engage in commercial sex acts.
25 96. Weinstein’s assistant financially benefitted from facilitating the
26 transportation and harboring of Plaintiff, and he did so with knowledge or in
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1 reckless disregard of the fact that Weinstein would use threats of force, means
2 of force, and coercion to make Plaintiff engage in commercial sex acts.
3 97. Weinstein’s assistant demonstrated his knowledge or reckless
4 disregard of Weinstein’s misconduct by transporting Plaintiff to a suite in
5 which Weinstein attempted to engage in commercial sex acts.
6 98. TWC demonstrated its knowledge or reckless disregard of
7 Weinstein’s misconduct by stationing six guards outside of a suite in which
8 Weinstein attempted to engage in commercial sex acts with the intent of
9 controlling any admittance or departure from the suite.
10 99. At every stage of her interactions with Weinstein, TWC, and
11 Weinstein’s assistant, Plaintiff had a reasonable expectation of forming a
12 productive and lucrative professional relationship with Weinstein and TWC.
13 100. Plaintiff had no expectation that this relationship would be
14 conditional upon her engaging in commercial sex acts with Weinstein, or that
15 she would be assaulted, raped, and falsely imprisoned.
16 101. Plaintiff suffered serious physical, mental, financial, and
17 reputational harm as a result of Weinstein and the venture exploiting her and
18 using means of force, including rape and sexual assault, to force Plaintiff to
19 engage in commercial sex acts.
20 SECOND CAUSE OF ACTION
21 (Assault)
22 102. Plaintiff repeats and realleges the allegations made above as if fully
23 set forth herein.
24 103. Weinstein isolated Plaintiff in close quarters and prevented
25 interference from bystanders; demanded and initiated sexual contact without
26 Plaintiff’s consent; raped Plaintiff; cornered, chased, and physically blocked
27 Plaintiff to cause fear of physical harm; threatened harm to the career of
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COMPLAINT
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22 BALESTRIERE FARIELLO
23
/S/
24 John G. Balestriere*
25 Matthew W. Schmidt, Bar No. 302776
Attorneys for Plaintiff
26 *Pro Hac Vice Application Forthcoming
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COMPLAINT
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