Harvey Weinstein is suing New York City and its Department of Correction for alleged negligence and failure to provide adequate medical care while he is held at Rikers Island, where he is awaiting a retrial on sexual assault charges.

Weinstein, 72, has been in custody since earlier in 2024 after the New York Court of Appeals overturned his 2020 rape conviction, with a retrial expected to begin in 2025.

A federal judge recently ruled that New York City was in contempt for failing to address violence and poor conditions at Rikers, threatening to impose direct oversight.

He has faced serious health issues during his incarceration, including hospitalizations for diabetes, COVID-19, and complications related to fluid on his heart and lungs.

Weinstein's attorney, Imran H. Ansari, claims that the prison conditions are particularly detrimental to someone with severe medical issues.

His case underscores the critical need for adequate medical care for prisoners, especially those with serious health conditions.

The lawsuit, filed on November 26, 2024, seeks $5 million in damages for the alleged neglect and mistreatment of Weinstein.

Rikers Island is scheduled to close in 2027, although the timeline for its closure has been delayed, and the New York City Council's vote to close the facility by August 2027 remains uncertain.

In October 2024, Weinstein was diagnosed with chronic myeloid leukemia, raising further concerns about his health in the unsanitary and unsafe conditions at Rikers.

Weinstein's film production company is currently in bankruptcy proceedings, having established a $17 million fund for sexual misconduct claims after his convictions.

Weinstein reports a significant deterioration in his health while incarcerated, attributing this decline to the conditions at Rikers Island.

The New York Department of Corrections has not yet commented on the lawsuit, and the law department did not respond to requests for comment following the claim.