An attorney for Harvey Weinstein on Friday told a Manhattan federal judge that he wants to stop depositions of the disgraced former film producer, pointing to criminal charges his client faces in California.

Imran H. Ansari, an attorney for Weinstein, made the comments Friday during a telephone conference with U.S. District Judge Alvin K. Hellerstein of the Southern District of New York, who is overseeing a civil case against Weinstein.