A lawyer who formerly represented Boardwalk Empire star Paz de la Huerta is suing Harvey Weinstein, claiming that the disgraced producer used underhanded means to convince the actress to drop him as a client, thereby depriving him of millions in legal fees.
Aaron Filler, who no longer represents Paz de la Huerta, filed a suit on Friday against Harvey Weinstein, The Weinstein Company and attorney Michael F Rubin, who is accused of spying on the actress at the producer’s behest.
The complaint alleges that Rubin approached de la Huerta last year in Spain and conducted extensive interviews with her, attempting to gain access to her mental health records, and trying to discourage her from pursuing criminal charges against Weinstein.
Paz de la Huerta has claimed that Weinstein sexually assaulted her on two separate occasions in 2010, and her allegations are currently being investigated by the New York District Attorney‘s office.
Filler claims that after the meeting in Spain, de la Huerta dropped him as her attorney, depriving him of up to $20 million in fees from potential lawsuits. He is suing for tortious interference with a contractual relationship and tortious interference with a prospective economic advantage.
Trade publication Variety published a copy of the complaint, which is extensive, and which makes reference to Weinstein’s “pre-emptive and distuptive” tactics in fending off potential lawsuits, including the alleged use of former Mossad agents to intimidate victims.
If successful, he plans to donate any damages he receives to Paz de la Huerta and the Time’s Up! campaign against harassment.
Michael Rubin, the lawyer accused of spying on Paz de la Huerta, has since rubbished the claims, telling Variety that “every allegation in [the] lawsuit is false”, and that he has no connection to Harvey Weinstein. He does not deny meeting with de la Huerta, but says:
“I don’t know Harvey Weinstein. I never met Harvey Weinstein. I had nothing but Paz de la Huerta’s interests in mind. This guy is upset he lost a potential client.”
He added that the current lawsuit is part of a “continuing campaign of defamation” against him and his firm, and an attempt to get publicity. He has said that he intends to “respond forcefully” in the courts.
A representative for The Weinstein Company said that the notion of Harvey Weinstein having any involvement in the matter is “insanity.”
