- Dominic Casciani
- National and Legal Affairs Correspondent
Image source, Virginia Roberts
Prince Andrew with Virginia Roberts and Ghislaine Maxwell in 2001.
Virginia Giuffre has agreed not to sue anyone related to Jeffrey Epstein who might be described as a “potential defendant,” a 2009 damages settlement once morest the sex offender shows.
The document, released by a New York court on Monday, reveals that the financier paid Giuffre $ 500,000 to finalize his claim.
Giuffre is suing the Duke of York in a civil case for allegedly sexually assaulting her as a teenager. The member of the British royal family denies those accusations.
Giuffre alleges that 20 years ago the prince was trafficked for Epstein and by Ghislaine Maxwell.
Epstein died in prison in 2019, while Maxwell was convicted last week of recruiting and trafficking girls to be abused by the late financier.
The document was released before an important hearing on Tuesday in the civil case once morest Prince Andrew.
The prince’s lawyers say this previously secret 2009 settlement means Giuffre cannot sue him, because he agreed to end all legal actions once morest anyone related to Epstein who might be described as a “potential defendant.”
But Giuffre’s legal team says the terms of the Florida state settlement are irrelevant to her case once morest the prince, which alleges sexual abuse by the duke in New York, London and the U.S. Virgin Islands.
In their 2009 claim once morest Epstein, Giuffre’s attorneys said the plaintiff was lured into a world of sexual abuse at the financier’s Florida home when she was a teenager.
“In addition to being continuously exploited to satisfy all the sexual whims of the accused [Epstein], [la señora Giuffre] she was also to be sexually exploited by adult male friends of the accused, including royals, politicians, academics, businessmen and / or other professionals and acquaintances. “
That case never went to trial because on November 17, 2009, Epstein agreed to pay him $ 500,000 to stop him cold. That settlement was confidential until now, but has been made public due to its potential significance to the case once morest Prince Andrew.
In the document, Giuffre, known by her maiden name Roberts, agreed to “release, acquit and forever rule out” Epstein and “any other person or entity that may have been included as a potential defendant.”
The wording of the agreement says it frees “potential defendants” from any legal action in the United States, including claims for damages that date “from the beginning of the world.”
Image source, News Syndication
Prince Andrew was seen walking in Central Park in New York with Jeffrey Epstein
“It is further agreed that this settlement agreement represents a final resolution of a disputed claim and is intended to avoid litigation. This settlement agreement shall not be construed as an admission of liability or fault on the part of either party.”
“The parties further confirm and acknowledge that this settlement agreement is signed without any coercion or undue influence, and that both parties have had a full and complete opportunity to discuss the terms of the settlement agreement with their own attorneys.”
A key document
The precise meaning of that wording is expected to be the subject of intense legal arguments in New York on Tuesday.
During the hearing, the duke’s lawyers are expected to say that means Giuffre’s claim for damages, which they say is unfounded, must be rejected.
Last month, Andrew B. Brettler, the duke’s lead attorney, said the language of the Epstein deal would be clear once it was made public.
“Epstein negotiated this by insisting that it cover each and every person Giuffre identified as possible targets of future lawsuits, regardless of the merit, or lack thereof, of such claims,” he said.
“Giuffre’s unsubstantiated claims once morest Prince Andrew … must be discarded at this time.”
Giuffre’s lawyers, by contrast, say the Florida settlement is irrelevant.
In their own court documents they have told the court that the settlement with Epstein is “outside the four angles” of action once morest the prince because it does not cover their claims once morest him.
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