The New York Supreme Court ordered Creative Artists Agency co‑founder Michael Ovitz to sit for testimony in actress Julia Ormond’s civil suit alleging that Harvey Weinstein sexually assaulted her in 1995. In the same ruling yesterday, the court rejected CAA’s bid to obtain Ormond’s mental‑health records, a move her attorneys say protects her privacy as the long‑running discovery fight grinds on and other defendants exit through high‑profile settlements.
According to TheWrap, Ormond moved last July to enforce a subpoena after Ovitz failed to appear for a scheduled deposition in June 2025. TheWrap reports that Ormond’s complaint alleges Weinstein forced himself on her in 1995 and that CAA leadership knew about Weinstein’s conduct but did not step in to protect clients.
Case Background
Ormond first brought the case in 2023 under New York’s Adult Survivors Act, according to AP News, alleging that Weinstein assaulted her following a business meeting and that CAA and studio defendants failed to act in response. Industry coverage has filled in some of the behind‑the‑scenes detail; Puck’s Matthew Belloni has outlined how Ormond’s legal team says agents discouraged her from speaking out, while the agency has flatly denied those claims.
What Ovitz Could Be Asked
Ovitz departed CAA in August 1995 to take a top executive position at Disney, a move well documented in coverage of his career. Years later, in a 2018 interview with CNBC, he said sexual harassment had been “around Hollywood since its inception,” a remark Ormond’s attorneys argue makes his perspective on agency culture during the mid‑1990s fair game for discovery.
What This Means Legally
The order that Ovitz testify is a procedural step in discovery, not a finding that anyone did anything wrong. As Cornell’s Legal Information Institute explains, depositions are sworn, out‑of‑court testimony used to gather evidence before a case reaches trial. Courts can use subpoenas to compel witnesses to show up and can sanction those who refuse, while also regularly limiting access to sensitive material through privilege rules and protective orders.
Next Steps
TheWrap reports that Disney and Miramax were dismissed from the case earlier this year after reaching a settlement, leaving CAA as Ormond’s main remaining corporate defendant. The timing of Ovitz’s deposition has not yet been made public, and the judge will set the boundaries of what he can be asked as discovery continues.
