Harvey Weinstein's former personal assistant has filed a lawsuit against him claiming he would dictate emails to her while he was nude and that she allegedly had to clean up his semen from his office couch. Sandeep Rehal was 26 when she started working for Weinstein as his personal assistant at The Weinstein Company in 2013, according to the lawsuit filed in New York on Thursday. Rehal claims she was forced to work in a 'pervasive and severe sexually hostile' environment for two years until she quit in 2015.
The lawsuit alleges that Rehal had to make preparations for and clean up after Weintein's 'extremely prolific sexual encounters.'
It allegedly involved setting up an apartment near the office that he could use for sex and keeping his erectile dysfunction injections stocked up.
'Every time Harvey Weinstein went to meet a woman at a hotel, in the office, or elsewhere, which occurred on average at least three times a week when he was in New York, Ms Rehal was required as part of her job to provide Harvey Weinstein with a shot, which she placed in his jacket pocket or in a brown paper bag,' the lawsuit states.
'Another 'task' Ms Rehal was forced to do to aid Harvey Weinstein's sexual encounters was to clean up the semen on the couch in Harvey Weinstein's office. This happened on a regular basis, three or so times a week when Harvey Weinstein was in New York.
'Rehal had to pick up Harvey Weinstein's used Caverject shots, which he tossed on the floor in his office, hotel rooms and his apartment. She also had to pick up his used condom, and clean up rooms before housekeeping personnel would do their work.'
Among her other tasks, according to the suit, were reading and responding to his emails, managing his doctors' appointments, scheduling his drivers, doing his shopping and supplying him with clean underwear. Rehal claims she was in constant fear of Weinstein's unwanted touching, lewd comments about her appearance. She says her boss would also press himself against her when they walked and would use sexist and sexual language when referring to her.
He would regularly call her a 'c**t' and a 'p***y', the lawsuit claims.
'On numerous occasions he said, 'What's wrong Sandeep, is the tampon up too far today?',' according to the suit.
Rehal also alleges that Weinstein would rub between her thighs when they were in his chauffeured SUV together. The ex-assistant claims Weinstein would be in the nude while dictating emails to her on a weekly basis. She claims he would constantly brag about his power and said to Rehal and other employees: 'I am Harvey Weinstein and you are at Weinstein University. I decide whether or not you graduate.'
Her lawyer Genie Harrison said Rehal quit in February 2015 to break away from 'the intolerable work environment'.
She added that Rehal, like Weinstein's other alleged victims, feared revealing her claims until an avalanche of allegations against the former Hollywood producer surfaced last year.
A spokesperson for Weinstein denied Rehal's allegations.
'Mr Weinstein categorically denies these claims and his lawyers will respond in the appropriate legal forum with evidence proving they are untrue,' the spokesperson said.
Rehal is suing Weinstein, The Weinstein Company, Bob Weinstein and the company's head of human resources, Frank Gil, for unspecified damages.
'To say Weinstein's behavior was harmful, tawdry, demeaning and offensive is an understatement,' Harrison said.
'Weinstein's abuse of power has been well documented, allowing Sandeep finally to reveal the details of her employment, which before now might have seemed too incredibly horrifying to believe.
'Although Sandeep's employers gave little thought to her physical and emotional welfare, we have confidence that the jury will deliver justice and restore her dignity.
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