Genie E. Harrison

Harrison has taken on notable figures in court, including disgraced former movie mogul Harvey Weinstein and music producer Detail.

Pursuing legal action against a celebrity can be a formidable task, but Harrison's attitude is direct.

"I relish the opportunity to hold them accountable," said Harrison, CEO of her eponymously named firm in downtown Los Angeles. "I abhor the abuse of power."

In early 2018, she filed a sexual harassment and retaliation lawsuit on behalf of Sandeep Rehal, Weinstein's former personal assistant. Rehal alleges Weinstein repeatedly groped her and forced her to assist in his sexual encounters with women. Rehal v. Weinstein, 18-CV00674 (S.D. N.Y., filed Jan 25, 2018).

After The Weinstein Co. filed for bankruptcy, Harrison helped negotiate a global settlement of more than $25 million on behalf of Weinstein's victims, overseen by the U.S. Bankruptcy Court in Delaware.

"Altogether, there have been over 70 lawyers who have agreed upon a settlement, and [related] documents should be filed very soon," Harrison said. "I think that ultimately this has been a unique experience for me."

"All of the plaintiff's lawyers have worked hard to arrive at a resolution, so the victims can get some compensation for what they've been through," she said.

In another lawsuit, Harrison represents a massage therapist who claimed Weinstein forced her into sexual contact under the threat that he would destroy her career. Doe v. Weinstein, 18STCV08468 (L.A. Super Ct., filed Dec. 12, 2018). Along similar lines, Harrison represented former assistants to a music producer, who in court documents assert that they were hired and raped by Noel Fisher. Fisher, professionally known as Detail, is a music producer who worked with Beyonce, Jay-Z and Drake. Janae Knox v. Noel Fisher et al., BC710221 (L.A. Super Ct., filed June 15, 2018), Isabella Mack v. Noel Fisher et al. BC710222 (L.A. Super Ct., filed June 15, 2018).

Harrison said a settlement was achieved by default, as "the defendant didn't appear in the case. He has not complied with the terms of the settlement, so we're proceeding against him."'

Harrison was also retained by women who worked for a gaming company in an equal-pay class action. McCracken et al. v. Riot Games Inc., 18STCV03957 (L.A. Super. Ct., filed Nov. 6, 2018).

In January, Harrison took the case after a previous attorney negotiated a $10 million settlement considered insufficient. Harrison withdrew the motion for preliminary approval and said she's pressing forward against Riot Games; a July 6 status hearing is set.

She described it as "the most high-profile case we've come into this year."

-- Karen Weil