House Oversight — Estate records
HOUSE_OVERSIGHT_013440
http://www.palmbeachdailynews.com/news/judge-denies-gag-order-i
- Pages
- 2
- Text
- Searchable
Text as released
Machine-read from the scan. Names, dates and numbers can be misread — check anything you rely on against the original page.
Print this page Close 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 Jac […]