Harvey Weinstein's attorney has shot down a new accusation of sexual assault after the alleged victim claimed to have stabbed the disgraced producer in the genitals with a broken nail.
A new lawsuit was filed against the incarcerated movie mogul in California Superior Court in Los Angeles on Friday, with Hayley Gripp accusing Weinstein of forcing himself on her in a Beverly Hilton hotel suite back in November 2012, when the aspiring actress was 19 years old.
In legal papers obtained by TMZ, Gripp explained how she had been approached in the hotel by an unidentified female associate of Weinstein's while she was waiting for a casting call nearby, and they started discussing her career hopes, as well as her struggle with nervous system disorder Tourette syndrome.
The woman convinced Gripp to meet with a big producer who happened to be at the same venue and was introduced to Weinstein, who allegedly went by the name Dom. She was served a glass of wine, after which she claims to have temporarily blacked out - only to awake and find the heavyweight producer touching her vagina and masturbating, as she was pinned down on a coffee table.
According to the suit, Gripp immediately began fighting back and broke one of her false nails on the table, which she used to stab Weinstein in the scrotum, leaving him bloodied as she made a run for it.
She went on to recall how the female associate, who had been "standing guard" outside the room, apparently blamed the incident on her Tourette's and warned her to keep quiet about the encounter because no one would believe her.
Gripp insisted she had no idea who Weinstein was at the time, and only recognised him in 2017 when he hit headlines as part of the #MeToo movement against sexual misconduct.
Her lawyer, Eric Lerner, tells the New York Post his client was subsequently diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder and is now seeking justice for Weinstein's alleged actions with a jury trial for unspecified damages.
"This lawsuit is about Ms. Gripp reclaiming her power, becoming a survivor, not a victim, and getting restitution for the sexual crimes perpetrated against her. She has real damages from this that are lasting," Lerner said.
"Harvey Weinstein, along with those who helped him perpetrate these crimes of sexual assault and attempted rape against Ms. Gripp, must be held responsible for ruining her life," he went on.
However, Weinstein's attorney, Imran H. Ansari, has hit back at the legal action, declaring his client innocent.
"Mr. Weinstein categorically denies the allegations made against him in the complaint that has come out of the woodwork, and intends to vigorously defend against the lawsuit," Ansari shared in a statement.
Weinstein is already serving a 23-year prison sentence in New York following his conviction for the 2013 rape of hairstylist Jessica Mann and forcibly performing oral sex on former Project Runway production assistant Miriam 'Mimi' Haleyi in 2006.
The fallen producer, who has faced a mountain of similar sexual misconduct allegations, is also facing extradition to Los Angeles, to stand trial for 11 counts of rape, sexual battery, and other counts relating to claims made by five women from incidents that reportedly occurred in California over a decade ago.
If convicted, he faces 140 years to life in prison.
