Jonathan Stempel

NEW YORK, (Reuters) – A settlement agreement signed by Virginia Giuffre and Jeffrey Epstein in 2009, directly addressing Giuffre’s civil case against Prince Andrew in Britain, will become public next week.

U.S. district judges Lewis Kaplan and Loretta Preska in Manhattan issued an order jointly on Wednesday ordering the agreement to be released on or before January 3, 2022. There was no reason why it should remain sealed.

Kaplan oversees Giuffre’s lawsuit accusing https://www.reuters.com/legal/government/prince-andrew-is-sued-by-jeffrey-epstein-accuser-over-alleged-sexual-abuse-2021-08-09 Andrew of forcing her to have sex more than two decades ago when she was under 18 at the London home of former Epstein associate Ghislaine Maxwell, and abusing her at two of Epstein’s homes.

Andrew denies Giuffre’s claims.

Preska is in charge of Giuffre’s lawsuit against Alan Dershowitz, a Harvard Law School Professor. He was accused of defaming Giuffre when she denied that he was one the men Epstein forced her to have sex.

The prince’s lawyer, Andrew Brettler, has contended https://www.reuters.com/world/uk/prince-andrew-seeks-dismissal-accuser-giuffres-lawsuit-2021-10-29 that the 2009 settlement with Epstein released the Duke of York from liability from Giuffre’s lawsuit because it covered “royalty,” and Epstein insisted it cover anyone Giuffre might sue.

David Boies (Giuffre’s attorney) countered by saying that the settlement only applied to Florida residents involved in litigation. Epstein was a Florida resident and that Prince Andrew shouldn’t use it as an “get out jail free” card.

Andrew was not charged with any crimes. Giuffre files a civil suit seeking unspecified damages.

Kaplan will hear oral arguments from Giuffre on January 4, 2022, regarding whether or not to dismiss Andrew’s suit against him.

In a filing on Tuesday, Brettler called for the case to be halted or thrown out https://www.reuters.com/world/uk/prince-andrew-questions-accuser-giuffres-ability-pursue-sex-abuse-lawsuit-2021-12-28 because Giuffre has long lived in Australia, depriving the Manhattan court of jurisdiction, and cannot support her claim that she is a Colorado resident.

Sigrid McWley, another Giuffre attorney, called this argument “another one in a series if tired attempts by Prince Andrew, to duck or dodge the legal merits the serious case Virginia Giuffre is bringing.”

In 2019, Epstein committed suicide while waiting for his trial on charges of sex trafficking. Maxwell was found guilty https://www.reuters.com/world/us/maxwell-jury-resume-deliberations-after-judge-warns-omicron-risk-2021-12-29 by a U.S. jury on Wednesday of helping Epstein sexually abuse teenage girls.