Seagrams Heirs Unable to Shake All Claims Linked to Sex Cult
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Sara and Clare Bronfman, who are heirs to the Seagrams estate, must face civil claims against them by victims of the sex cult NXIVM, a federal court said.
According to the complaint, Keith Raniere created NXIVM to offer courses ostensibly designed to help people reach their full “human potential” by overcoming psychological and emotional pitfalls. Many of the groups’ members paid thousands of dollars to attend self-help workshops. Some women belonged to a subgroup called DOS, which had “masters” and “slaves” and performed sex acts at Raniere’s direction.
Sara joined NXIVM in 2001 and Clare joined in 2004, the suit says. Both were on its executive board and held other management positions within the organization. “Together, Clare and Sara Bronfman provided NXIVM and its related entities with more than $100 million in funding,” Judge Eric Komitee of the US District Court for the Eastern District of New York said Sept. 27.
A grand jury handed down indictments against Raniere, Clare, and others, in 2018, alleging violations of the Racketeer Influenced Corrupt Organization Act. All of the defendants except Raniere pleaded guilty, and he was convicted. Clare was sentenced to 7 years in prison.
Seventy former members of NXIVM sued for civil damages, including claims under RICO and the Trafficking Victims Protection Reauthorization Act. Some of the defendants, including Raniere, didn’t respond to the civil suit, but Sara and Clare moved to dismiss the claims against them.
Content retrieved from: https://news.bloomberglaw.com/litigation/seagrams-heirs-unable-to-shake-all-claims-linked-to-sex-cult.
