Lindt chocolate sues Weinstein Company over cancelled Golden Globes party

Harvey Weinstein’s film company is facing a lawsuit from chocolatier Lindt over cancelled sponsorship for the 2018 Golden Globes Awards party.

Lindt & Sprungli claims in a suit filed in New York Supreme Court on Wednesday that it is owed $133,000 (£95,461).

The luxury chocolatier has been the sponsor for the Weinstein Company’s Golden Globes parties since 2016 after it paid a fee of $400,000 (£285,852) in three separate instalments.

But, while the 2016 and 2017 events took place as expected, the alleged sexual abuse claims made by several women against Harvey Weinstein late last year meant the 2018 party was cancelled.

When Lindt asked for a refund of its sponsorship fee, employees at the Weinstein Company acknowledged a breach of the agreement and confirmed it would reimburse Lindt by the end of December or early January.

However, despite repeated requests made by Lindt, the Weinstein Company has failed to pay the outstanding fee of $133,000 (£95,461).

“Plaintiff brings this action to recover losses suffered by Lindt as a result of TWC’s conduct,” the official documents read.

“Lindt and TWC agreed Lindt would pay TWC in return for sponsorship benefits at three specified TWC events. Lindt paid TWC, but the final of the promised TWC events was cancelled.

“TWC personnel acknowledged TWC’s breach and that it owes Lindt. But TWC continues to retain Lindt’s payments."

The suit alleges breach of contract, conversion, and unjust enrichment.

The latest in a string of lawsuits faced by the Weinstein Company, earlier this month the New York Attorney General announced he would also be suing the company for “egregious violations of New York's civil rights, human rights and business laws.”

The lawsuit was brought on by the attempted $500m sale of the movie studio to a former official of President Barack Obama‘s administration, Maria Contreras-Sweet.

The Independent has contacted Lindt and the Weinstein Company for comment.