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| Judge denies gag order in Epstein, Edwards lawsuit; dismisses complaint |
| By MICHELE DARGAN |
| DAILY NEWS STAFF WRITER |
| Updated: 7:25 p.m. Wednesday, July 13, 2011 |
| Posted: 7:11 p.m. Wednesday, July 13, 2011 |
| A circuit judge Wednesday squashed an attempt by attorneys for Jeffrey Epstein to prevent parties in a civil lawsuit |
| involving the billionaire sex offender from talking to the media. |
| Circuit Judge David Crow denied the motion for a gag order. |
| In addition, Crow dismissed the complaint by Epstein against attorney Brad Edwards, who has represented 10 underage |
| girls in sex abuse claims brought against Epstein. Epstein alleged Edwards abused the court system by threatening to |
| depose Epstein’s powerful friends, which included Donald Trump and President Bill Clinton. |
| Other claims included that Edwards tried to obtain records from an alleged sex therapist who had never treated Epstein |
| and that Edwards used investigative tools that included trespassing on Epstein’s property. |
| Crow gave Epstein’s attorneys 30 days to refile the lawsuit, which will be the second amended complaint and third |
| evolution of the lawsuit. |
| Epstein also named Edwards’ former boss, convicted Ponzi schemer Scott Rothstein, in the lawsuit, alleging Rothstein |
| made “various representations to potential investors regarding the Epstein actions.” |
| In dismissing the lawsuit, Crow said he found “serious problems” with the complaint. Crow called the lawsuit “vague. |
| “You have to know, at this point in time, what he did or didn’t do that was an abuse of process,” Crow said. |
| Epstein, 58, has confidentially settled more than two dozen lawsuits with young women who allege they were sexually |
| abused by him when they were minors. |
| Edwards filed a counterclaim, alleging Epstein filed the lawsuit to get Edwards to back down from representing the |
| victims. |
| “Mr. Epstein had to pay more to settle these cases than he would have if Mr. Edwards wasn’t out there putting all this |
| pressure on him,” said attorney Jack Scarola, who represents Edwards. “That’s Mr. Edwards’ job ... to put as much |
| legitimate pressure on the defendant as he possibly could and he obviously did an extremely effective job.” |
| Epstein pleaded guilty to two felony charges: soliciting prostitution and soliciting a minor for prostitution. He served 13 |
| months in the county jail and has to register as a lifelong sex offender. |
| Representing Epstein, attorney Joseph Ackerman argued unsuccessfully for a gag order. Ackerman said Scarola has |
| repeatedly made statements to several news organizations about the case. |
| “Mr. Scarola has constantly referred to Mr. Epstein as a pedophile and there’s been no proof of that anywhere,” |
| Ackerman said. “Muzzling lawyers who may wish to make public statements has been long recognized as within the |
| court’s inherent power ... We don’t believe it’s appropriate to wage a media campaign and taint the jury pool.” |
| Scarola said it would be unconstitutional to impose a gag order. |
| “There is a complete and total absence of proof that we have engaged in any conduct whatsoever that could be |
| prohibited,” Scarola said. |
| Scarola said he and Edwards have been asked to appear on national television as well as received interview requests |
| from the foreign press. Scarola said he has been selective in his interviews. |
| There has been a frenzy in the British press ever since Virginia Roberts, an Epstein victim, spoke to the Sunday Daily |
| Mail earlier this year about being introduced to Prince Andrew and spending time with him at Epstein’s behest. Roberts |
| alleged she served as a sex slave to Epstein when she was a minor. |
| “If Mr. Epstein is embarrassed by Mr. Epstein’s conduct, that’s Mr. Epstein’s problem,” Scarola said. |
| “I’m pleased to hear he’s embarrassed by his conduct. Maybe it will serve as some deterrent in the future.” |
| Find this article at: |
| http://www.palmbeachdailynews.com/news/judge-denies-gag-order-in-epstein-edwards-lawsuit-1606397.html |
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