‘Giuffre’s baseless claims against Prince Andrew… must be dismissed at this stage’
Prince Andrew’s lawyers are hoping to have Virginia Giuffre’s legal proceedings halted after documents surfaced showing a settlement between Giuffre and the late Jeffrey Epstein.
Made public on Monday, the settlement of $500k (£371,000) agrees to end Giuffre’s claim against the late businessman while also agreeing not to sue any other “potential defendant”. As such, Prince Andrew’s lawyers have claimed that the 2009 deal prohibits Giuffre from pursuing the Prince in court.
Giuffre alleges that the Duke of York trafficked her to Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell, where she suffered abuse. The Prince has denied all such claims.
However, wording on the settlement document is expected to be the focal point for Andrew’s legal team, reports the BBC.
At the time, Guiffre agreed to: “Release, acquit, satisfy, and forever discharge” Epstein and “any other person or entity who could have been included as a potential defendant”.
Despite the Prince’s legal team standing firm, Giuffre’s attorneys have stated that the Florida settlement is irrelevant given that New York, London, and the US Virgin Islands are the places of note in Giuffre’s allegations.
The settlement between Giuffre and Epstein has been revealed now due to its potential relevance to the legal proceedings against the Royal.
While Epstein agreed to pay the $500,000 on 17 November 2009, Giuffre’s lawyers noted at the time that Giuffre was “required to be sexually exploited by defendant’s adult male peers, including royalty, politicians, academicians, businessmen and or other professional and personal acquaintances”.
The wording of the agreement is expected to be the centre of debate when proceedings continue on Tuesday.
Even last month, Andrew B. Brettler, the Prince’s lead lawyer, stated: “Epstein negotiated for this broad release, insisting that it cover any and all persons who Giuffre identified as potential targets of future lawsuits, regardless of the merit – or lack thereof – to any such claims.
“Giuffre’s baseless claims against Prince Andrew… must be dismissed at this stage.”
Similarly, David Boies who heads up Guiffre’s team had said that the settlement is not relevant as it does not mention Prince Andrew.
Related links:
- Prince Andrew: Giuffre lawyers seek evidence of royal’s claimed inability to sweat
- Prosecutors drop case against Jeffrey Epstein prison guards
- Ghislaine Maxwell ‘placed on suicide watch’ as she awaits sentencing
