Testimony: Bill OReilly's contract virtually allowed him to sexually harass women, unless proven in court

Jacques Nasser, a director of 21st Century Fox, testified in a proceeding that Bill O'Reilly's contract had a provision stipulating that could not be dismissed on the basis of an allegation unless that allegation was proved in court.

From WaPo:

As part of the review, Jacques Nasser, a director of 21st Century Fox, gave testimony on the companys inner workings.

And what astonishing workings: As Nasser told the story, there was a quick reaction to the accusations against former Fox News chief Roger Ailes, who was sued by former Fox News host Gretchen Carlson in July 2016. After a review of Ailess conduct, he was quickly ousted.

Such a lightning response, however, wasnt possible in the case of OReilly, Nasser told CMA, because of OReillys contract. Requiring sexual-harassment allegations to be proved in a court of law before dismissing the accused party thats a steep requirement. Analyses have shown that well above 90 percent of all civil cases are settled or dismissed before they reach a trial. Not only that, but a wealthy man like OReilly can use his assets to ensure that hed never face a proven claim of sexual harassment.

He would never let a claim go to trial where he would even have the slightest chance of losing, says Lisa Banks, a partner at the employment law firm Katz, Marshall & Banks.

It sounds similar to Harvey Weinstein's contract, which stipulated that "the board of his film company could not terminate his employment over sexual harassment claims if he paid off women to silence them as long as he paid out the money himself, according to reports." (Telegraph)