Harvey Weinstein sues The Weinstein Co. for company records

In the lawsuit filed in Delaware's Court of Chancery,Weinstein said he needed the information to prevent the company,in which he and his brother remain the largest investors, frombeing harmed by unjustified legal settlements.

Representatives for Weinstein and The Weinstein Co. did notimmediately respond to requests for comment.

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The Weinstein Co. has been one of Hollywood's mostinfluential forces since its launch in October 2005 and hasproduced and distributed films including The King's SpeechandSilver Linings Playbook.

The New York Times reported earlier this month thatWeinstein, 65, had reached eight previously undisclosedsettlements with women who accused him of sexual harassment andunwanted physical contact.

The New Yorker magazine reported that 13 women had claimedthat Weinstein sexually harassed or assaulted them.

On Tuesday, an actress who accuses Weinstein of sexuallyassaulting her filed a negligence lawsuit against the company,saying it was aware Weinstein had previously settled otherallegations of harassment and assault and should not have lether meet privately with the movie producer in a hotel room.

The New York City Police Department has said it isinvestigating an allegation of sexual assault by Weinstein in2004.

The Los Angeles Police Department also said earlier thismonth that it is investigating a 2013 sexual assault allegationagainst the movie producer.

Weinstein has denied having non-consensual sex with anyone.Reuters has been unable to independently confirm any of theallegations.

Weinsteinbelieves that hisemailaccount... will contain information exonerating him.- Weinsteinlawyer

In Thursday's lawsuit, Weinstein said he also wants toinvestigate whether confidential information was leaked to thepress, if the Weinstein Company's board and executives wronglyterminated him as chief executive, and if the board is pursuinga "fire sale" of the company, according to the complaint andattached exhibits.

"Mr. Weinstein believes that his email account which isthe only one he used throughout the time he was employed by thecompany will contain information exonerating him, andtherefore the company, from claims that may be asserted againstthem," Weinstein's lawyer wrote in an email to the Weinsteincompany, according to Thursday's filing.

The New York attorney general has opened an investigationinto sexual harassment and possible violations of civil rightslaws at the Weinstein Company also.