Actress Ashley Judd is one of many women to accuse Harvey Weinstein of sexual harassment or abuse, and now the actress is suing the disgraced Hollywood producer for damaging her career.
The lawsuit accuses the Oscar-winning producer of defamation, sexual harassment and violation of the California Unfair Competition Law, according to the BBC.
โWeinstein used his power in the entertainment industry to damage Ms Juddโs reputation and limit her ability to find work,โ the lawsuit alleges.
โAshley is fighting back, but she also wants to point the way for others,โ Theodore J. Boutrous Jr., the lead lawyer representing Ms. Judd in the suit, said according to the NY Times. โIf this isnโt an example of unfair business practice then I donโt know what is.โ
Judd has enlisted the help of director Peter Jackson who revealed in December that he had removed her from a casting list โas a direct resultโ of what he says was โfalse informationโ given to him by Weinstein.
According to the lawsuit, Judd claims she did not know that โsomething unseen was holding her back from obtaining the work she wanted, and had been doing so for decades.โ
Jackson had reportedly hoped to cast Judd in his Lord of the Rings franchise, however the suit claims Weinstein โtorpedoed Ms. Juddโs incredible professional opportunityโ. The suit claims Weinstein falsely told Jackson Judd was a โnightmareโ who should be avoided โat all costs.โ