WASHINGTON, D.C. — A federal judge on Thursday ordered CAA co‑founder Michael Ovitz to complete his deposition in actress Julia Ormond’s sexual‑assault lawsuit, after he abruptly left the session when questioned about Jeffrey Epstein.

The lawsuit accuses the talent agency Creative Artists Agency of facilitating a December 1995 meeting between Ormond and producer Harvey Weinstein, during which she says Weinstein forced oral sex on her. The complaint, filed in California state court, seeks unspecified damages and alleges that CAA’s senior executives, including Ovitz, knowingly enabled the encounter despite internal warnings about Weinstein’s behavior.

During the March deposition, Ovitz was asked whether he recalled a 2010 internal memo that referenced Epstein’s connections to Weinstein. He walked out, prompting the judge’s sanction. “I was not prepared to answer that line of questioning at that moment,” Ovitz told his legal team, according to court transcripts. CAA reported $2.3 billion in revenue for fiscal 2023, and analysts say prolonged litigation could affect its valuation.

Legal experts note the order underscores growing scrutiny of talent agencies’ role in protecting talent from predatory figures, a trend mirrored in Europe’s recent directives on workplace safety and corporate accountability. “This is a clear signal that agencies can no longer hide behind confidentiality,” said Sarah Klein, partner at Latham & Watkins. Investors are watching the case for potential settlements that could trigger class‑action claims, while the agency’s shareholders, who collectively own roughly 30 % of CAA’s public‑equity, may demand stronger governance safeguards.

Key Takeaways

• Judge orders Michael Ovitz to finish deposition, reinforcing court authority in high‑profile civil suits.
• CAA’s 2023 revenue of $2.3 billion may be pressured by legal costs and possible settlement liabilities.
• Global investors are monitoring corporate‑governance reforms as agencies face heightened regulatory scrutiny.

The ruling highlights how personal‑conduct lawsuits can ripple through the entertainment industry’s financial landscape, prompting boardrooms to reassess risk‑management protocols and investors to factor potential legal exposures into valuation models.

MORE FROM BNEWSO

Ice-T on ‘Law & Order: SVU’s’ Longevity and Cultural Impact: ‘I’m on a Good Treadmill

Tech: ‘Animals’ Review: Ben Affleck Returns to the Director’s Chair for a Nasty, Comp

David Zaslav Gets $606 Million Payout From Paramount-Warner Bros. Merger — World Repo

#WorldNews #BNewsO #Breaking #USNews

Source: Official Feed · Published by Bd News Online