Harvey Weinstein has filed a counterclaim against Chubb for denying legal expense cover connected to alleged sexual assaults, according to reports.

In an 8 May report, Reuters said that lawyers for Weinstein, in a countersuit against Chubb - which is refusing to pay for Weinstein’s defence against several lawsuits that accuse him of sexually harassing or assaulting women over the past three decades - said that Weinstein has paid a group of Chubb insurers more than $1mn in premium for coverage designed to protect against “a wide variety of liability claims,” according to court documents filed on 7 May.

“Moreover, they promised to perform their defence obligations even if allegations against Mr. Weinstein proved to be groundless, false or fraudulent,” the Weinstein lawyers said in the document.

In February, Chubb sued Weinstein and asked New York State Supreme Court to issue a judgment declaring that the policies’ terms exclude defending charges in the lawsuits, specifically sexual assault, discrimination and intentional acts, according to Reuters.

Weinstein was one of Hollywood’s most influential men before more than 70 women accused him of sexual misconduct, including assault. He denies having non-consensual sex with anyone.

Units of Chubb have together issued 80 policies to Weinstein and his family between 1994 and 2018, including coverage for personal liability, Chubb reportedly said in its February suit.

That would normally cover legal costs to defend against claims of damage or injury caused accidentally, but the carrier said Weinstein’s conduct was intentional.

The policies include millions of dollars in “broad liability coverage,” $300,000 of “crisis assistance” coverage, and unlimited coverage for Weinstein’s legal defence, Weinstein’s lawyers said in the countersuit.