📄 Extracted Text (23,957 words)
•
IN THE CIRCUIT COURT OF THE
FIFTEENTH JUDICIAL CIRCUIT IN AND FOR
PALM BEACH COUNTY, FLORIDA
JEFFREY EPSTEIN,
cor.50.2929aufactigIVP111,
CASE NO. • A Aq
Plaintiff,
v.
SCOTT ROTHSTEIN, individually,
BRADLEY J. EDWARDS, individually, and
.M., individually,
Defendants.
CO
COMPL
Plaintiff, JEFFREY EPSTEIN, (hereinafter "EPSTEIN"), by and through his
undersigned attorneys, files this action against Defendants, SCOTT ROTHSTEIN,
individually, BRADLEY J. EDWARDS, individually, and L.M., individually. Accordingly,
EPSTEIN states:
SUMMARY OF ACTION
Attorney Scott Rothstein aided by other lawyers and employees at the firm
of Rothstein, Rosenfeldt, and Adler, P.A. for personal greed and enrichment, in betrayal
of the ethical, legal and fiduciary duties to their own clients and professional obligations
to the administration of justice, deliberately engaged in a pattern of racketeering that
involved a staggering series of gravely serious obstructions of justice, actionable frauds,
and the orchestration and conducting of egregious civil litigation abuses that resulted in
profoundly serious injury to Jeffrey Epstein one of several targets of their misconduct
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and others. Rothstein and RRA's fraud had no boundary; Rothstein and his co-
conspirators forged Federal court orders and opinions. Amongst the violations of law
that are the subject of this lawsuit are the marketing of non-existent Epstein settlements
and the sanctioning of a series of depositions that were unrelated to any principled
litigation purpose but instead designed to discover extraneous private information about
Epstein or his personal and business associates (including well-known public figures) in
order to defraud investors and support extortionate demands for payinent from Epstein.
The misconduct featured the filing of legal motions and ursuit of a civil litigation
strategy that was unrelated to the merits or valu\ clients' cases and, instead,
had as its improper purpose the furthering Ato
i ste 's misrepresentations and deceit
to third party investors. As a result, Epstein was subject to abusive investigatory tactics,
unprincipled media attacks, and unsupportable legal filings. This lawsuit is filed and will
be vigorously pursued against all these defendants. The Rothstein racketeering
enterprise endeavored to compromise the core values of both state and federal justice
systems in South Florida and to vindicate the hardworking and honest lawyers and their
clients who K‘ adversely
e affected by the misconduct that is the subject of this
Complain
Plainti reserves the right to add additional defendants — co-conspirators as the
facts and evidence is developed.
GENERAL ALLEGATONS
1. This is an action for damages in excess of $15,000.00, exclusive costs, interest,
and attorneys' fees.
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2. Plaintiff, EPSTEIN, is an adult and currently is residing and works in Palm Beach
County, Florida.
3. Defendant, SCOTT ROTHSTEIN ("ROTHSTEIN"), is an individual residing in
Broward County, Florida, and was licensed to practice law in the State of Florida. In
November 2009, ROTHSTEIN voluntarily relinquished his law license in the midst of the
implosion of Rothstein, Rosenfeldt and Adler, P.A. ("RRA"). He was disbarred by the
Florida Supreme Court on November 20, 2009. On December 1, 2009, ROTHSTEIN
was arrested and arraigned in Federal Court in Broward n , Florida.
4. At all times relevant hereto, ROTHSTEIN naging partner and CEO of
RRA.
5. Defendant, ROTHSTEIN and Stuall osenfeldt, are and were the principal
owners of equity in RRA and each co-founded RRA.
6. Defendant, BRADLEY J. EDWARDS ("EDWARDS"), is an individual residing in
Broward County, Florida and is licensed to practice law in the State of Florida. At all
times relevant hereto, EDWARDS was an employee, agent, associate, partner,
shareholder, and/or other representative of RRA.
7. Defendant, L.M. ("L.M."), is an individual residing in Palm Beach County, Florida.
At all times relevant hereto, L.M. was represented by RRA, ROTHSTEIN and
EDWARDS in a civil lawsuit against Epstein and was an essential participant in the
scheme referenced infra by, among other things, substantially changing prior sworn
testimony, so as to assist the Defendants in promoting their fraudulent scheme for the
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promise of a multi-million dollar recovery relative to the Civil Actions (defined below)
involving Epstein, which was completely out of proportion to her alleged damages.
8. Non-party, RRA is a Florida Professional Service Corporation, with a principal
address of 401 East Las Olas Blvd., Suite 1650, Fort Lauderdale, FL 3340144ddition
to its principal office, RRA also maintained seven offices in Florida, Cv York, and
Venezuela, and employed over 70 attorneys and 200 support staff. RRA also maintains
an office at 1109 NE 2d Street, Hallendale Beach, Florida 33009-85'15. RRA, through
its attorneys, including those named as Defendant n, conducted business
throughout Florida, and relevant to this action, coryft jusiness and filed lawsuits on
behalf of clients in Palm Beach County, a. (RRA is currently a debtor in
A
bankruptcy. RRA is not named as a Deferidant
FACTUAL ALLEGATIONS
9. The United States in United States of America v. Scott W. Rothstein Case No.
09-60331CR-Cohn, United States District Court, Southern District of Florida, has
brought an action for Racketeering Conspiracy, 18 U.S.C. § 1962(d) against Scott W.
Rothstein wh as the chief executive officer and chairman of RRA. Within the
informati h as filed, the United States of America has identified the enterprise
as bein law firm, RRA, through which Rothstein in conjunction with "his co-
conspirators" (not yet identified by the USA) engaged in the pattern of racketeering
through its base of operation at the offices of RRA from sometime in 2005 up through
and continuing into November of 2009. Through various criminal activities, including
mail fraud, wire fraud and money laundering, the United States of America asserts that
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Rothstein and his co-conspirators unlawfully obtained approximately $1.2 billion from
investors by fraud in connection with a Ponzi scheme. The USA further alleges that
"Rothstein and co-conspirators initiated the criminal conduct alleged in the instant
Information in order to personally enrich themselves and to supplement the income and
sustain the daily operation of RRA." In essence, in the absence of Rothstein and his co-
conspirators conducting the Ponzi scheme, the daily operation of RRA, which included
payroll (compensation to lawyers, staff, investigators, etc.), accounts' payable including
unlimited improper, harassing and potential illegal in ig ion on cases, including
Epstein-related matters, would in all likelihood wo e been sustainable. A copy
of the information is attached as Exhibit 1 to thC act
10. As more fully set forth herein, RRA held itself out as legitimately and properly
engaging in the practice of law. In reality, ROTHSTEIN and others in RRA were using
RRA to market investments, as described below, so as to bilk investors out of hundreds
of millions of dollars. ROTHSTEIN and others in RRA devised an elaborate plan
through which were sold purported confidential assignments of a structured pay-out
settlements, supposedly reached on behalf of RRA for clients, in exchange for
immediate payments to these clients of a discounted lump sum amount. Investors were
being promised in excess of a 30% return on their investment which was to be paid out
to the investors over time. While some of the cases relied upon to induce investor
funding were existing filed cases, it is believed that the confidential, structured pay-out
settlements were all fabricated.
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11. Based on media reports, Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) press
conferences and releases and the Information the massive Ponzi scheme and pattern of
criminal activity meant to lure investors began sometime in 2005 and continued through
the fall of 2009, when the scheme was uncovered by some of the investors and the FBI.
As of November of 2009, civil lawsuits were and continue to be filed against various
Defendants as result of their massive fraudulent and criminal scheme.
12. This fraudulent and illegal investment scheme is also evidened by the filing of
Amended Complaint For Dissolution And For Emergen nsfer of Corporate Powers
to Stuart A. Rosenfeldt, Or, In The Alternative, FAt Adpointment of A Custodian or
Receiver by ROSENFELDT, and RRA, agai st
s sT TEIN, individually. (Case No. 09
k
059301, In the Circuit Court of the 'I‘Sevent nth Judicial Circuit, Broward County,
Florida, Complex Business Div.)4 k'nler "RRA dissolution action, and attached
hereto as Exhibit 2).
13. Plaintiff references e PRA dissolution action for the sole purpose that it
acknowledges that RRA And ROTHSTEIN were in fact conducting an illegal and
improper inv ent or Ponzi scheme based on promises of financial returns from
settleme outcomes of supposed legal actions, including the actions brought
against Plaintiff EPSTEIN. The RRA dissolution action alleges in part that —
"ROTHSTEIN, the managing partner and CEO of the firm (RRA), has, according to
assertions of certain investors, allegedly orchestrated a substantial misappropriation of
funds from investor trust accounts that made use of the law firm's name (RRA). The
investment business created and operated by ROTHSTEIN centered around the sale of
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interests in structured settlements." See Preliminary Statement of RRA dissolution
action, Exhibit 2 hereto.
14. In furtherance of the scheme, RRA's letterhead was used in communications
regarding investment opportunities in purported structured settlements. RRA's trust
account was used to deposit hundreds of millions of dollars or wire transfer of monies
from duped investors and other victims. RRA personally guaranteed payments.
15. Rothstein's scheme went so far as to manufacture false and fraudulent Court
opinions/orders including forging the signatures of U. rict Judge, Kenneth A.
Marra and U.S. Circuit Court Judge, Susan H. Bla rcuit in other cases. It is not
yet known if he forged similar documents in n elated matters. See Composite
Exhibit 3 hereto.
16. The details of this fraudulent scheme are being revealed on a daily basis through
various media reports and court documents. The most recent estimate of the financial
scope of the scheme is that it exceeds $1.2 billion dollars.
17. Relevant to this action, EPSTEIN is currently named as a defendant in three civil
actions alleging, inter alia, sexual assault and battery that were handled by RRA and its
attorneys including EDWARDS prior to its implosion — one of which is filed in federal
court (Jane Doe v. Epstein, Case No. 08-CIV-80893, U.S.D.C. S.D. Fla.)(Jane Doe is a
named Defendant herein), and two of which have been filed in state court in the 15th
Judicial Circuit Court, Palm Beach County, State of Florida, (L.M. v. Epstein, Case No.
502008CA028051XXXXMB AB; E.W. v. Epstein, Case No. 502008CA028058XXXXMB
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AB), (hereinafter collectively referred to as the "Civil Actions," and L.M is a named
Defendant herein). The Civil Actions were all filed in August and September of 2008.
18. What is clear is that a fraudulent and improper investment or Ponzi scheme was
in fact conducted and operated by RRA and certain of the named Defendants, which
scheme directly impacted EPSTEIN as a named defendant in the Civil Actions.
19. Miami attorney and developer, Alan Sakowitz, was quoted in a November 2009
article as saying that he had met with ROTHSTEIN as a potential investor in August of
2009, but became suspicious. He stated "I was convin was all a Ponzi scheme
and I notified the FBI in detail how Scotty ROTH s hiding behind a legitimate
law firm to peddle fake investments." Atto,r ak3witz was also quoted as saying
ROTHSTEIN had sophisticated eavesdropping equipment and former law enforcement
officers who would sift through a potential defendants' garbage looking for damaging
evidence to use with investors to show how potential defendants could be in essence
blackmailed into paying settlement that far exceeded the value of any legitimate
damage claim.
20. Ft. Lauderdale attorney William Scherer represents multiple Rothstein related
investors. He indicated in an article that RRA/Rothstein had used the "Epstein Ploy ...
as a showpiece as bait. That's the way he raised all the money. He would use. . .cases
as bait for luring investors into fictional cases. All the cases he allegedly structured
were fictional. I don't believe there was a real one in there." In fact, on November 20,
2009, William Scherer, on behalf of certain clients, filed a 147 page Complaint against
ROTHSTEIN, David Boden, Debra Villegas, Andrew Barnett, TD Bank, N.A., Frank
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Spinosa, Jennifer Kerstetter, Rosanne Caretsky and Frank Preve asserting various
allegations that further prove the massive Ponzi scheme behind the RRA facade; and
as of November 25, 2009, a 249 page Amended Complaint naming additional
Defendants was filed.
21. In addition, and upon information and belief, ROTHSTEIN, David an, ebbie
Villegas, Andrew Barnett, Michael Fisten and Kenneth Jenne (all employees of RRA)
through brokers or middlemen would stage regular meetings during which false
statements were made about the number of cases/cl at existed or RRA had
against EPSTEIN and the value thereof. They w and share actual case files
from the EPSTEIN actions with hedge fund mCige Thus, the attorneys and clients
have waived any attorney-client or work- product privileges that otherwise may have
existed.
22. Because potential investors were given access to some of the actual Civil Action
files, investor-third parties may have became aware of a name of an existing Plaintiff
who had filed anony #,ly against Epstein and had opposed disclosure of her legal
name. c,
23. In III dttterinstances, by RRA, ROTHSTEIN and EDWARDS claiming the need
for anonymity with regard to existing or fabricated clients, they were able to effectively
use initials, Jane Doe or other anonymous designations which was a key element in the
fraudulent scheme. Fictitious names could be created to make the investors believe
many other cases existed against Epstein.
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24. In each of RRA's Civil Actions, the Plaintiffs are or were represented by RRA and
its attorneys, including ROTHSTEIN and EDWARDS.
25. In addition, investors were told that in addition to the Civil Actions another fifty
(50) plus anonymous females were represented by RRA, with the potential for hundreds
of millions of dollars in settlements, and that RRA and its attorneys would sue Epstein
unless he paid exorbitant-settlement amounts to protect his high-profile friends.
26. Upon information and belief, EDWARDS knew or should 'have known that
ROTHSTEIN was utilizing RRA as a front for the mass nzi scheme and/or were
selling an alleged interest or investment in the Ci • (and other claims) involving
Epstein.
27. Further evidencing that EDWARDA possibly other attorneys of RRA) knew
or should have known and participated in the continuation of the massive Ponzi
scheme, a front-page Palm Beach Post article, dated November 24, 2009, reported on
the recent filing of an amended 'forfeiture complaint by prosecutors against "dozens of
ROTHSTEIN's real estate properties, foreign cars, restaurants and other assets —
including $12 million in the lawyer's bank account in Morocco, along with millions more
donated to political campaigns and charitable funds." The article further reported that -
Attorney Scott ROTHSTEIN tapped into millions of dollars from his massive
investment scam to cover payroll costs at his expanding Fort Lauderdale
law firm, federal authorities said in court records released Monday.
ROTHSTEIN's law firm (RRA) generated revenue of $8 million in one
recent year, yet his 70-lawyer law firm had a payroll of $18 million,
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prosecutors said. ROTHSTEIN, who owned half of RRA used investors'
money from his Ponzi scheme to make up the shortfall, they said.
Subsequent articles and court filings have reflected ROTHSTEIN received
compensation in excess of $35.7 million in 2008 and $10.5 million in 2009, w He
his partner Rosenfeldt received greater than $6 million in 2008.
28. ROTHSTEIN attempted to lure the entity known as D3 Capita , -C, ("D3"),
by offering D3 "the opportunity" to invest in a pre-suit $30,000y000.1 urt settlement
L
against EPSTEIN; yet this supposed settlement never exiitid.)and was entirely
fabricated. To augment his concocted story, ROTHSTEIN, upon information and belief,
invited D3 to his office to view thirteen (13) bankers boxes of case files in Jane Doe
(one of the Civil Actions)' in an attempt to sit rbate that the claims against EPSTEIN
4
were legitimate and that the evidence ob against him by RRA, ROTHSTEIN, and
EDWARDS (the "Litigation Tea
29. Upon information andlbe y)OTHSTEIN and others offered other investors like
the entity D3 fabricated investment opportunities in the Civil Actions involving EPSTEIN.
Fisten (a former Dade County police officer with a questionable police record and RRA
investigator nne (a former attorney, Broward County Sheriff and felon) assisted
ROTH
+ making these offers by providing confidential, privileged and work-
produ info
information to prospective third-party investors.
' It appears that 13 out of the 40 boxes seized by the FBI as part of its investigation at RRA
consisted of files relating to the Civil Actions involving EPSTEIN, as reported by counsel for the
Bankruptcy Trustee. Until those boxes can be reviewed, as well as other discovery, Epstein will
not know the depth of the fraud and those involved.
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30. By using the Civil Actions against EPSTEIN as "bait" and fabricating settlements
regarding same, ROTHSTEIN and others were able to lure investors into
ROTHSTEIN'S lair and bilked them of millions of dollars which, in turn, was used to fund
the litigation against EPSTEIN for the sole purpose of continuing the massive Ponzi
scheme.
31. As part of this scheme, ROTHSTEIN and the Litigation Team, individually and in
a concerted effort, may have unethically and illegally:
a. Sold, allowed to be sold and/or assisted whale of an interest in non-
settled personal injury lawsuits ( 1 r non-assignable and non-
transferable) or sold non-existeitruc red settlements (including those
cases involving Epstein);
b. Reached agreements to share attorneys fees with non-lawyers;
c. Used investor money to pay plaintiffs (i.e., L.M., E.W. and Jane Doe) "up
front" money such that plaintiffs would refuse to settle the Civil Actions;
d. Conducted searches, wiretaps or intercepted conversations in violation of
ISe or
, federal laws and Bar rules; and
~Itili ed the judicial process including, but not limited to, unreasonable and
` unnecessary discovery, for the sole purpose of furthering the Ponzi
scheme.
32. Any such actions by ROTHSTEIN, and other attorneys, including the Litigation
Team, directly or indirectly, would potentially be a violation of various Florida Bar Rules,
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including prohibiting the improper sharing of fees or costs and various conflicts of issues
rules.
33. Evidencing that the Litigation Team knew or should have known of the improper
purpose that ROTHSTEIN was pursuing in the continuation of thMheme,
ROTHSTEIN used RRA's Litigation Team in the EPSTEIN cases to put issues and
evidence unrelated to and unnecessary to the claims pled in th Actions, but
significantly beneficial to lure investors into the Ponzi schEn6 orchestrated by
ROTHSTEIN and other co-conspirators.
34. Upon information and belief, ROTHSTEIN claimed their investigators
discovered that there were high-profile individas, offboard Epstein's private jet where
sexual assaults took place and showed D3 (and possibly others) copies of a flight log
purportedly containing names of celebrities, dignitaries, and international figures.
35. For instance, the Litigation Team relentlessly and knowingly pursued flight data
and passenger manifests regarding flights EPSTEIN took with these famous individuals
knowing full well that no underage women were onboard and no illicit activities took
place. ROTHSTEIN and the Litigation Team also inappropriately attempted to take the
depositions of these celebrities in a calculated effort to bolster the marketing scam that
was taking place.
36. One of Plaintiffs' counsel, EDWARDS, deposed three of EPSTEIN'S pilots, and
sought the deposition of a fourth pilot (currently serving in Iraq). The pilots were
deposed by EDWARDS for over twelve (12) hours, and EDWARDS never asked one
question relating to or about E.W., L.M., and Jane Doe (RRA clients) as it related to
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transportation on flights of RRA clients on any of EPSTEIN'S planes. But EDWARDS
asked many inflammatory and leading irrelevant questions about the pilots' thoughts
and beliefs (which will never be admissible at trial) which could only have been asked
for the purposes of "pumping" the cases and thus by using the depositioniiii‘ sell the
cases (or a part of them) to third parties.
#4S
37. Because of these facts, ROTHSTEIN claimed that Epste wanted to make
certain none of these individuals would be deposed and therefoie he had offered
$200,000,000.00 to settle the claims of RRA female die v 'ous potential plaintiffs in
actions against EPSTEIN. The offer of a $200As i t lar settlement by EPSTEIN
was completely fabricated; no such offer had 4 -be made.
38. EDWARDS' office also notified Defendant that he intended to take the
depositions of and was subpoenaing:
(i) Donald Trump (real-estate magnate and business mogul);
(ii) Alan Dershowiti (noted Harvard Law professor, constitutional attorney
and one of EPSTEIN'S criminal defense attorneys);
ill Clinton (Former President of the United States);
T mmy Mottola (former President of Sony Record); and
(v) David Copperfield (illusionist).
39. The above-named individuals were friends and acquaintances of EPSTEIN with
whom he knew through business or philanthropic work over the years. None of the
above-named individuals had any connection whatsoever with any of the Litigation
Team's clients, E.W., L.M. or Jane Doe.
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40. EDWARDS filed amended answers to interrogatories in the state court matters,
E.W. and L.M., and listed additional high profile witnesses that would allegedly be called
at trial, including, but not limited to:
(i) Bill Richardson (Governor of New Mexico, formerly U.S.
Representative and Ambassador to the United Nations); and
(ii) Any and all persons having knowledge of EPSTEIN'S charitable,
political or other donations;2
41. The sole purpose of the scheduling of these d sitions or listing high profile
friends/acquaintances as potential witnesses w , to "pump" the cases to
investors. There is no evidence to date tha f ese individuals had or have any
knowledge regarding RRA's Civil Action
n? r
42. In furtherance of their i O w
a fraudulent scheme against EPSTEIN,
ROTHSTEIN, EDWARDS (who either know or should have known) and, at times, L.M.
in her Civil Action against EPSTEIN:
a)
rces ded claims for damages in Jane Doe's federal action in
s of $50,000,000.00 rather than simply alleging the
jurisdictional limits.
b) Organized a Jane Doe TV media interview without any legitimate
legal purpose other than to "pump" the federal case for potential
2
These high-profile celebrity "purported" witnesses have no personal knowledge regarding the facts on
these "Three Cases", but were being contacted, subpoenaed or listed to harass and intimidate them and
Epstein, and to add "star" appeal to the marketing effort of the Ponzi scheme.
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investors or to prejudice Epstein's right to a fair trial in Palm
Beach County.
c) EDWARDS, Berger and Russell Adler (another named partner in
RRA) all attended EPSTEIN's deposition. At that time,
outrageous questions were asked of EPSTEIN which had no
bearing on the case, but so that the video and questions could be
shown to investors.
d) Conducted and attempted to completely irrelevant
discovery unrelated to the gi\i re r subject matter of the Civil
Actions for the purpos ra sing and embarrassing witnesses
and EPSTEIN and caus n&EPSTEIN to spend tens of thousands
of dollars in unnecessary attorneys' fees and costs defending
what appeared to be discovery related to the Civil Actions but was
entirely related to the furtherance of the Ponzi scheme.
EDWARDS was recruited and joined RRA in the spring of
09, the tone and tenor of rhetoric directed to cases against
EPSTEIN used by Attorney EDWARDS and Berger changed
dramatically in addressing the court on various motions from
being substantive on the facts pled to ridiculously inflammatory
and sound-bite rich such as the July 31, 2009, transcript when
EDWARDS stated to the Court in E.W./L.M.: "What the evidence
is really going to show is that Mr. Epstein — at least dating back as
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far as our investigation and resources have permitted, back to
1997 or '98 — has every single day of his life, made an attempt to
sexually abuse children. We're not talking about five, we're not
talking about 20, we're not talking about 100, we're not talking
about 400, which, I believe, is the number known to law
enforcement, we are talking about thousands of children. . . and it
is through a very intricate and complicated system that he devised
where he has as many as 20 peo ing underneath him that
he is paying well to schedu pointments, to locate these
girls."
f) As an example, EthV S filed an unsupportable and legally
deficient Motion for Injunction Restraining Fraudulent Transfer of
Assets, Appointment of a Receiver to Take Charge of Property of
\4 7/
Epst 1 dn to Post a $15 million Bond to Secure Potential
ent, in Jane Doe v. Epstein Case No. 08-CV-80893-
arra/Johnson. The motion was reported in the press as was the
ultimate goal (i.e., to "pump" the cases for investor following).
However, the Court found "Plaintiff's motion entirely devoid of
evidence . . . ", and denied the motion in toto.
g) ROTHSTEIN told investors he had another 52 females that he
represented, and that Epstein had offered $200 million to resolve,
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but that he could settle, confidently, these cases for $500 million,
separate and apart from his legal fees.
h) ROTHSTEIN and the Litigation Team knew or should have known
that their three (3) filed cases were weak and had minimal value
for the following reasons:
(I) L.M. — testified she never had type of sex with
Epstein; worked at numerous,)strip clubs; is an
admitted prostitut II girl; has a history of
illegal drug ainkillers, Xanax, Ecstasy);
* r asserted the 5th Amendment
and conCiballS
during her depositions in order to avoid answering
vent but problem questions for her;
(ii) k — testified she worked at eleven (11)
separate strip clubs, including Cheetah which
RRA represented and in which ROTHSTEIN may
have owned an interest; and E.W. also worked at
Platinum Showgirls in Boynton Beach, which was
the subject of a recent police raid where dancers
were allegedly selling prescription painkillers and
drugs to customers and prostituting themselves.
(iii) Jane Doe (federal case) seeks $50 million from
Epstein. She and her attorneys claim severe
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emotional distress as a result of her having
voluntarily gone to Epstein's home. She testified
that there was never oral, and or sexual
intercourse; nor did she ever touch his genitalia.
Yet, Jane Doe suffered extreme emotional distress
a result of having
well prior to meeting Epstein\echfr,
witnessed her father murderitils girlfriend's son.
She was required ve sworn testimony in that
matter and d that she has lied in sworn
testimo alanTDoe worked at two different strip
du including Platinum Showgirls in Boynton
.
i) Conduct culous and irrelevant discovery such as
subpoenaihg records from an alleged sex therapist, Dr. Leonard
in Massachusetts, when the alleged police report reflected
t at EPSTEIN had only seen a chiropractor in Palm Beach named
Dr. Bard. No records relating to EPSTEIN existed for this alleged
sex therapist, Dr. Bard, and the alleged subpoena for records was
just another mechanism to "pump" the cases for investor appeal;
j) Allowed a Second Amended Complaint to be filed on behalf of
L.M. alleging that EPSTEIN forced the minor into "oral sex," yet
L.M. testified that she never engaged in oral, anal, or vaginal
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intercourse with EPSTEIN and she had never touched his
genitalia.
k) Told investors, as reported in an Associated Press article, that
celebrities and other famous people had flown on EPSTEIN'S
plane when assaults took place. Therefore, even though none
(zero) of RRA's clients claim they flew of EPSTEIN'S planes, the
Litigation Team sought pilot and plane logs. I Why? Again, to
prime the investment "pump" w money without any
relevance to the existing cla y the RRA clients.
41
4
/
I) After EDWARDS joined RRA, EDWARDS and former Circuit
Judge William Berger filed and argued motion to make the Non-
Prosecution Agreement (NPA) between Epstein and USAO
public. But, RRA, EDWARDS and Berger, and their three clients,
already had a copy of the NPA. They knew what it said and they
1
4, the civil provisions in the agreement had no impact
atsoever on the three pending Civil Actions.
The concept behind certain civil provisions in the NPA was
to allow an alleged victim to resolve a civil claim with Epstein,
maintain her complete privacy and anonymity and move on with
her life. As an assistant United States Attorney stated at a
hearing in federal court, the NPA was not designed "to hand them
a jackpot or a key to a bank."
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43. ROTHSTEIN, with the intent and improper motive to magnify his financial gain
so continue to fund the fraudulent and illegal investment and/or Ponzi scheme, had
EDWARDS demand excessive money from EPSTEIN in the Civil Actions.
44. The actions described in paragraph 42 above herein had no legitimate purpose in
pursuing the Civil Actions against EPSTEIN, but rather were meant to further the
fraudulent scheme and criminal activity of ROTHSTEIN so that he and others could
fraudulently overvalue the settlement value of the existing and_non-existent
nOn-existent claims
against EPSTEIN to potential investors.
45. As a result of the fraudulent investme zi) scheme, RRA and its
fr.,
attorneys in the Civil Actions against EPSTEIN ma
S have compromised their clients'
interests. ROTHSTEIN and the Litigation Team would have been unable to give
unbiased legal counsel because outside investor(s) had been promised a financial
interest in the outcome of the actions. Additionally, if a plaintiff received payments from
investment monies while her action is pending, this clearly could impact the plaintiffs
decision of whether or not to settle the current litigation or shade their testimony (i.e.
commit perjury) to gain the greatest return on the investment and to further promote the
Ponzi Scheme.
46. The truthfulness of L.M.'s allegations and testimony in L.M.'s state civil
action have been severely compromised by the need to seek a multi-million dollar
payout to help maintain RRA's massive fraud. Because fictitious settlements of tens of
millions of dollars in cases relating to EPSTEIN were represented to "investors" in this
Ponzi scheme, RRA and the attorneys in the Civil Actions needed to create a fiction that
EFTA00795608
Epstein v. RRA, et al.
Page 22
included extraordinary damages. However, the actual facts behind her action would
never support such extraordinary damages. Therefore, extraordinary measures were
undertaken to create an entirely inflated value of her claims against EPSTEIN.
a. Though she held herself out as a "victim" of Epstein, she admitted to having
returned over and over again to him despite her current claim of abuse. She
has now admitted, under oath, to being a call girl/escort lit ce the age of 15.
(in her deposition September 24, 2009 Transcript 280:16-19). She
testified "Well, I lived life as a prostitute," 1'T 156:7) and "I am a
prostitute when I make money" (see hl> 2-13). L.M. admitted her
activity with men other than Epstei'nin
y g $1,000 a day from prostitution
on maybe more than 20 occasions one year alone (DT 157:11-158:21).
L.M. admitted under oa _keeping a list of amounts she collected from
(
"Johns" in "two or th' d books including a book of "Psalms" that she
obtained from a religidus store (DT 152:1-14). Under the circumstances, her
claim for damages against EPSTEIN, one of L.M.'s many "Johns" during that
same period, would be so incredible and certainly not likely to produce the
extraordinary settlements promised to "RRA's investors."
47. In April 2007, before she was represented by EDWARDS, and RRA, L.M.
gave sworn taped recorded testimony to the agents of the FBI. She was represented
by a lawyer other than EDWARDS at that statement. She spoke of EPSTEIN in a very
positive and friendly terms and directly contradicted the central allegations on which
L.M.'s civil action against Epstein is now based. However, once in the hands of
EFTA00795609
Epstein v. RRA, et al.
Page 23
EDWARDS and RRA, L.M.'s story changed dramatically. All of a sudden she wanted to
sue EPSTEIN and like other RRA clients, sought tens of millions of dollars.
a. For example, in her sworn statement to the FBI, L.M. was insistent that
"Jeffrey is an awesome man." (p. 21 — FBI); At the conclusion of she
stated: "I hope Jeffrey, nothing happens to Jeffrey because he's an
awesome man and it really would be a shame. It's a shame that he has to
go through this because he's an awesome guy and he didn't do nothing
wrong, nothing." (pp. 57-58 - FBI). I .M. spoke so highly of
EPSTEIN and her interactions wit t the US Attorney's office
informed a federal court in J 0 that the US Attorney could not
consider L.M. a victim. A1
4/
Yet, by S@pterrlber 24, 2009, the date on which L.M. began her
deposition i he civil action and now represented by RRA and
EDWARDS, 1.M.'s new and very different tale about purported sexual
misconduct under the supposed influence of EPSTEIN had been
thoroughly rehearsed and her role into the ROTHSTEIN scam was
complete. In her deposition in her civil action, L.M. declared that:
"I, I don't really care about money." (DT 206:8)
"He needs time in jail. He doesn't want to be — this is not right for
him to be on the streets living daily . . ." (DT 219:21-23)
EFTA00795610
Epstein v. RRA, et al.
Page 24
"You don't think my whole life I have lived that shifty life because of
Jeffrey Epstein?" (DT 222:7-8)
b. In her sworn FBI testimony (pre-EDWARDS and RRA), L.M. was
emphatic that her interactions with Epstein involved no iraropriate
sexual touching in any way. In fact, it was exactly the opp
Q: Did he at any point kiss you, touch you any kind of
affection towards you?
A: Never, never. (p. 21 — FBI) . .
Q: So he never pulled you do t in a sexual way?
A: I wish. No, no, ney eve ever, no, never. Jeffrey is an
awesome man, no., BI)
her second amended complaint in April 2009,
after EDWARDS joined RRA, the allegations against EPSTEIN in
complaint became even more salacious. In paragraph 12 of
<SL7 .'s Second Amended Complaint, L.M. alleges among other
things, that:
"Jeffrey Epstein coerced, induced, or enticed . . .the then minor
Plaintiff to commit various acts of sexual misconduct. These acts
included, but were not limited to, fondling and inappropriate and
illegal sexual touching of the then minor Plaintiff, forcing or inducing
the then minor plaintiff into oral sex or other sexual misconduct..."
EFTA00795611
Epstein v. RRA, et al.
Page 25
c. In her sworn FBI statement (pre-EDWARDS and RRA), L.M. testified that
the individual who first brought L.M. to EPSTEIN's
home, told L.M. "make sure you're 18 because Jeffrey doesn't want any
underage girls." (p. 8 - FBI).
#4 4IC
Yet at her September, 2009 deposition 0 resented by
EDWARDS and RRA, L.M. told a very different st •
Q: My question was what did Carolr lI you to tell Mr. Epstein
about your age?
A: She said it didn't matt •
0: That's your recollection about what she said?
A: Yes, she said — I remember her saying it doesn't matter. Don't
worry about it.
(DT 199:20-25)
d. Pre-EDWARDS and RRA, L.M. testified to the FBI : "I always made
sure - I had a fake ID, anyways saying that I was 18." (p. 8 - FBI).
Yet, when questioned about her fake ID at her September 2009 depo, she
stated:
Q: And did you have a fake ID?
A: No.
Q: Have you ever had a fake ID?
EFTA00795612
Epstein v. RRA, et al.
Page 26
A: No.
(DT 300:5-8)
e. In her FBI statement (pre-EDWARDS and RRA), L.M. testified
about others L.M. brought to the Epstein home. L.M. testified that women she
brought to EPSTEIN's home were eager for the opportunity and content with their
experiences:
A: None of my girls ever had a problem and they6d call me. They'd
beg me, you know, for us to go t y's house because they
love Jeffrey. Jeffrey is a res . He really is. I mean, and
he all thought we were of6 a ays. This is what's so sad about
it. (p 30 - FBI).
O: Did any of the girls complain about what happened after they left
there?
Aclitik, You asked me that question. No, everybody loved Jeffrey.
<S e(p. 44 - FBI)
+so A: Every girl that I brought to Jeffrey, they said they were fine with
ℹ️ Document Details
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