Epstein Accuser Isn’t Sold on Process for Compensating Victims

(Bloomberg) -- At least one of Jeffrey Epstein’s alleged victims isn’t sold on the procedure the deceased financier’s estate has chosen to resolve the claims of sexual assault against him.

Executors have outlined plans for a victim-compensation fund run by dispute-resolution expert Kenneth Feinberg’s firm. A lawyer for the estate, Bennett Moskowitz, said at a court hearing Wednesday that the process is moving “full steam ahead” with multiple victims expressing interest in participating.

But Roberta Kaplan, who represents a woman whom Epstein allegedly assaulted when she was 14 years old, said she doubted her client would agree to settle her claims. The attorney urged U.S. District Judge Katherine Polk Failla to allow her lawsuit against the estate to move forward.

Kaplan told the judge it was “very, very troubling” that there is no specific amount from Epstein’s $577 million estate set aside to compensate victims. Epstein hanged himself in a federal jail in Manhattan in August after he was arrested on child sex-trafficking charges. He had pleaded not guilty.

The estate wants to prevent Kaplan’s client from seeking punitive damages in the case, arguing that New York law bars such claims against estates. Kaplan contended the estate lawyers are trying to delay the proceedings.

Moskowitz said he would prefer to wait to see if the resolution procedure works, noting that the protocol for the process will be issued soon and that victims will then be able to choose whether or not to participate. But he said it was “very important” that the estate move to dismiss the punitive claims of Kaplan’s client, which would make it a “very different” case.

To contact the reporter on this story: Chris Dolmetsch in Federal Court in Manhattan at cdolmetsch@bloomberg.net

To contact the editors responsible for this story: David Glovin at dglovin@bloomberg.net, Steve Stroth

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