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Harvey Weinstein, currently incarcerated at Rikers Island and in deteriorating health as he awaits his third trial on sexual assault charges, has initiated a lawsuit against his brother, Bob Weinstein, alleging financial misconduct in the management of their former company.
The complaint, filed in New York State court, asserts that Bob Weinstein and David Glasser, the company’s former chief operating officer, diverted corporate funds for personal gain through bonuses and other improper expenditures. Weinstein contends that this alleged misappropriation contributed to the collapse of the company in November 2017, rather than the widely reported fallout from the numerous sexual misconduct allegations against him. He characterizes the actions of his brother and Glasser as a “financial betrayal” that rendered the company insolvent.
This lawsuit follows a breach of contract claim originally brought in 2017 by Len Blavatnik’s AI International Holdings, which accused Harvey Weinstein of defaulting on a personal guarantee to repay a $45 million loan. The case was put on hold when the company entered bankruptcy proceedings in 2018, and AI International Holdings later moved to dismiss it in March 2023, citing Weinstein’s incarceration as a barrier to collection. However, Weinstein’s legal team subsequently sought to keep the case open in order to pursue claims against former company executives, alleging corporate mismanagement and asset misappropriation.
In November 2024, Harvey Weinstein subpoenaed Bob Weinstein for a deposition and related documents as part of the AI International Holdings litigation. Bob Weinstein’s attorney, Brian Kohn, moved to quash the subpoena in January, arguing that it was an abusive discovery tactic intended to harass his brother, whom he described as a “longtime nemesis.” Kohn further argued that the bankruptcy process, which concluded in 2021 with the distribution of the company’s remaining assets to creditors, already provided a mechanism for addressing claims of financial mismanagement. He characterized Harvey Weinstein’s new lawsuit as frivolous and meritless.
The latest suit alleges that Harvey Weinstein remains personally liable for the $45 million loan due to fraudulent actions by former company officers. Kohn, however, contends that Weinstein deliberately forfeited an opportunity to discharge the debt in bankruptcy solely to pursue litigation against his brother. He is now seeking sanctions against Harvey Weinstein and his counsel, arguing that Bob Weinstein should be reimbursed for costs incurred in responding to the subpoena. Weinstein’s attorney maintains that the discovery request is a legitimate part of ongoing litigation.
Harvey Weinstein, now 72, is scheduled for retrial in April on rape charges in Manhattan, following the state appellate court’s decision to overturn his prior conviction. He is also serving a 16-year sentence related to his conviction in Los Angeles. His attorneys have cited his worsening medical condition, including bone marrow cancer, coronary artery disease, and diabetes, in various court filings.
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