Man Claims Sexual Harassment by Film Chief

Another sexual harassment accusation surfaced in the entertainment business Thursday when a former employee at Silver Pictures filed a complaint with the state claiming that Michael Levy, the company’s president, sexually harassed him.

Wayne Ethan Mogilefsky said in the complaint filed with the California Department of Fair Employment and Housing that Levy “sexually harassed me in his private (hotel) suite with verbal, sexual advances and request for physical sexual contact.”

Mogilefsky made $550 a week as a creative executive who reviewed writing projects for the company, according to the complaint. It was unclear when he left Silver Pictures, the production company of Joel Silver, producer of such films as “Lethal Weapon” and “Die Hard.”

Named in the complaint were Levy, Silver, Silver Pictures and Warner Bros., with whom Silver has a production and development deal. An internal complaint was filed with Warner Bros.’ human resources department Feb. 21.

According to the latest complaint, Levy made promises that Mogilefsky would be promoted and receive salary increases, dependent on his compliance with sexual advances, which Mogilefsky refused on the grounds that they were “offensive and hostile.”

A spokesman for Warner Bros. said Warner Bros. and Silver Pictures are investigating the claim. Calls to Levy were not returned. Silver could not be reached for comment.