Court Records
Case 9:09-cv-80656-KAM Document 61 Entered on FLSD Docket 11/28/2009 Page 1 of 8
UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
SOUTHERN DISTRICT OF FLORIDA
CASE NO.: 08-CV-80119-MARRA
JANE DOE NO. 2.
Plaintiff,
vs.
JEFFREY EPSTEIN,
Defendant.
Related Cases:
08-80232, 08-08380, 08-80381, 08-80994,
08-80993, 08-80811, 08-80893, 09-80469,
09-80591, 09-80656, 09-80802, 09-81092
PLAINTIFF RESPONSE TO THIRD PARTY WITNESS,
IGOR ZINOVIEW'S, MOTION FOR PROTECTIVE ORDER AND INCORPORATED
MEMORANDUM OF LAW
Plaintiff, by and through her undersigned counsel, hereby
files her Response Third Party Witness, Igor Zinoview's, Motion For Protective Order
and Incorporated Memorandum of Law (D.E. 402), and in support thereof states as
follows:
1. Third party witness, Igor Zinoview, seeks to have this Court enter an order
preventing his deposition from going forward at all, or, in the alternative, limiting the
scope of permissible questioning during same. Mr. Zinoview's deposition is presently
scheduled to be taken on December 18, 2009.
2. Mr. Zinoview has been employed by Defendant, Jeffrey Epstein, as his
"driver, bodyguard, and trainer" since November of 2005. See Affidavit of Igor Zinoview
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(D.E. 402) dated November 9, 2009. Mr. Zinoview argues that his deposition should not
go forward as scheduled because Defendant Epstein has never discussed nor
attempted to discuss with him "any facts or information related to any legal matters in
which he [Jeffrey Epstein] is involved." Id. From Mr. Zinoview's vague assertion springs
the bold yet erroneous argument that "Mr. Zinoview cannot possibly have any
knowledge or information that is presently germane to this action."
3. It should initially be noted that a "complete prohibition of a deposition is an
extraordinary measure which should be resorted to only in rare occasions." Jennings v.
Family Management, 201 F.R.D. 272 (D.D.C. 2001); See also, Salter v. Upjohn Co.,
593 F.2d 649, 651 (59) Circ. 1979)(It is very unusual for trial court to prohibit the taking
of a deposition altogether, and absent extraordinary circumstances, such order would
likely be in error.)• Inv. Properties Intern., Ltd. v. IOS, Ltd., 459 F.2d. 705, 708 (2d Circ.
1972)("an order to vacate a notice of taking deposition is generally regarded as both
unusual and unfavorable . . . "). Neither Mr. Zinoview's conclusory affidavit nor his
Motion provide anything even approaching the "extraordinary circumstances" necessary
to justify the entry of order precluding his deposition from going forward at all.
4. Additionally, Mr. Zinoview's vague assertion that he and Defendant
Epstein have never discussed any facts or information related to any legal matters that
Mr. Epstein is involved in does not give rise to requisite "extraordinary circumstances"
either. Detweiler Bros, Inc. v John Graham and Company, 412 F.Supp. 416 (E.D. Wash,
1976)(Plaintiff could not properly seek to prohibit defendant from deposing plaintiff's
employee via a protective order on grounds that employee had no knowledge of matters
at issue.) See also 8 Fed. Prac. & Proc. Civ. §2037, and "A witness
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Case 9:09-cv-80656-KAM Document 61 Entered on FLSD Docket 11/28/2009 Page 3 of 8
ordinarily cannot escape examination by denying knowledge of any relevant facts, since
the party seeking to take the deposition is entitled to test the witness's lack of
knowledge.")
5. The undersigned, as well as counsel for all of the other victims of Jeffrey
Epstein, are entitled to question and challenge Mr. Zinoview on his purported lack of
knowledge. Mr. Zinoview and plaintiffs' counsel very well might have a difference of
opinion on what constitutes "facts and information related to any legal matters" in which
Defendant Epstein is involved. The victims of Jeffrey Epstein ought not to be forced to
accept Mr. Zinoview's opinion as to what constitutes "facts and information related to
any legal matters" involving Jeffrey Epstein. Instead, plaintiffs should be able to explore
these relevant matters directly with Mr. Zinoview, rather than being forced to rely on his
twenty seven (27) word claim of lacking any knowledge.
6. Additionally, Mr. Zinoview worked for Defendant Epstein during portions of
the Palm Beach Police Department's months' long investigation which spanned from
March 15, 2005 through February 2006 into the illegal sexual contact committed by
Defendant Epstein against these minor plaintiffs. Accordingly, Mr. Zinoview certainly
might have direct knowledge about what was going on in and around the Epstein
residence during the time period in which he was employed by Defendant Epstein as his
"driver, bodyguard, and trainer" while his employer was being investigated by law
enforcement. Given the Defendant's voracious invocation of his Fifth Amendment
privilege, the plaintiffs have consistently been denied the opportunity to seek any
relevant information directly from Defendant Epstein himself. Rather, plaintiffs have
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Case 9:09-cv-80656-KAM Document 61 Entered on FLSD Docket 11/28/2009 Page 4 of 8
been forced to build their cases against Mr. Epstein by other discovery methods,
including deposing his employees who may have relevant information.
7. Third party witness Igor Zinoview has failed to meet his very high burden
of establishing "extraordinary circumstances." Mr. Zinoview has failed to demonstrate
the "good cause" required by Rule 26(c) to protect a person from "annoyance,
embarrassment, oppression, or undue burden or expense" to overcome the liberal
scope of permissible discovery. The above proposed lines of inquiry of Mr. Zinoview
are certainly reasonably calculated to lead to the discovery of admissible evidence.
Accordingly, to the extent that it seeks to preclude his deposition from going forward at
all, Mr. Zinoview's Motion should be denied
8. Next, Mr. Zinoview also seeks to prevent questions being posed to him
wherein he is first asked to "assume certain facts about which he has no knowledge,"
and then be asked about his "opinions about certain facts." First, it remains to be seen
exactly what facts about which Mr. Zinoview has no knowledge. Second, Mr. Zinoview's
opinions and beliefs about the factual matters surrounding plaintiffs' claims are relevant
to exploring any potential bias and prejudice in favor of his employer and against
Defendant Epstein's victims. For example, if Mr. Zinoview believes that these plaintiffs
are simply inventing their claims against his employer that they were sexually victimized
by Defendant Epstein while they were minor children, it very well might impact his
impartiality as a witness. Third, the undersigned has no present intention of engaging in
this line of questioning unless the proverbial "door" has been opened by Mr. Zinoview
first. Lastly, counsel for Mr. Zinoview is certainly free to invoke the privileges afforded to
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him by the applicable procedural rules should he feel that his client is being asked
inappropriate questions during the deposition.
9. In conclusion and for the reasons cited above, Mr. Zinoview's Motion For
Protective Order should be denied in its entirety.
WHEREFORE, Plaintiff, respectfully requests that
this Court deny Third Party Igor Zinoview's Motion For Protective Order.
Respectfully submitted,
/s/Jack P ■
JACK SCAROLA
Florida Bar No. 169440
JACK P.
Florida Bar No.: 0547808
Searcy Denney Scarola Barnhart & Shipley, P.A.
2139 Palm Beach Lakes Boulevard
West Palm Beach, Florida 33409
Phone: ([Phone Redacted]
Fax: ([Phone Redacted]
Attorneys for Plaintiff
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Case 9:09-cv-80656-KAM Document 61 Entered on FLSD Docket 11/28/2009 Page 6 of 8
CERTIFICATE OF SERVICE
I HEREBY CERTIFY that on November 281h, 2009, I electronically filed the
foregoing document with the Clerk of Court using CM/ECF. I also certify that the
foregoing document is being served this day on all counsel of record identified below via
transmission of Notices of Electronic Filing generated by CM/ECF.
icklar:k P ■
Jack Scarola
Florida B No.: 169440
Jack P.
Florida Bar No.: 0547808
Searcy Denney Scarola Barnhart & Shipley, P.A.
2139 Palm Beach Lakes Boulevard
West Palm Beach, Florida 33409
Phone: ([Phone Redacted]
Fax: ([Phone Redacted]
Attorneys for Plaintiff
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Case 9:09-cv-80656-KAM Document 61 Entered on FLSD Docket 11/28/2009 Page 7 of 8
Certificate
Jane Doe No. 2 v.
Case No. 08-CV-80119
Stuart S. Mermelstein, Esq.
Adam D. Horowitz, Esq.
Mermelstein & Horowitz, P.A.
18205 Biscayne Boulevard
Suite 2218
Miami, FL 33160
[Phone Redacted]
Fax: [Phone Redacted]
ssm©sexabuseattornev,com
ahorowitz®sexabuseattornev.corn
Counsel for Plaintiffs
In related Cases Nos. 08-80069, 08-80119,
08-80232, 08-80380, 08-80381, 08-80993,
08-80994
Richard Horace Willits, Esq.
Richard H. Willits, P.A.
2290 10th Avenue North
Suite 404
Lake Worth, FL 33461
[Phone Redacted]
Fax: [Phone Redacted]
Counsel for Plaintiff in Related Case No.
08-80811
reelrhw(ahotmail.com
Jack Scarola, Esq.
Jack P. M, Esq.
Searcy Denney Scarola Barnhart & Shipley,
P.A.
2139 Palm Beach Lakes Boulevard
West Palm Beach, FL 33409
[Phone Redacted]
Fax: [Phone Redacted]
[Email Redacted]
[Email Redacted]
Counsel for Plaintiff C.M.A.
Bruce Reinhart, Esq.
Bruce E. Reinhart, P.A.
250 S. Australian Avenue
Suite 1400
West Palm Beach, FL 33401
of Service
Jeffrey E stein
-MARRA
Brad , Esq.
Rothstein Rosenfeld' Adler
401 East Las Olas Boulevard
Suite 1650
Fort Lauderdale, FL 33301
Phone: [Phone Redacted]
Fax: [Phone Redacted]
bedwards©rra-law.com
Counsel for Plaintiff in Related Case No.
08-80893
Paul G. Cassell, Esq.
Pro Hac Vice
332 South 1400 E, Room 101
Salt Lake City, UT 84112
[Phone Redacted]
[Phone Redacted] Fax
cassellp©law.utah.edu
Co-counsel for PlainiiffJane Doe
Isidro M. Esq.
Law Firm, P.A.
224 Datum Street, Suite 900
West Palm Beach, FL 33401
[Phone Redacted]
[Phone Redacted] F
isidrogarcia©bellsouth.net
Counsel for Plaintiff in Related Case No.
08-80469
Robert C. Josefsberg, Esq.
Katherine W. Ezell, Esq.
Podhurst Orseck, P.A.
25 West Flagler Street, Suite 800
Miami, FL 33130
[Phone Redacted]
Fax: [Phone Redacted]
riosefsberCepodhurstcom
kezell®podhurst.com
Counsel for Plaintiffs in Related Cases
Nos. 09-80591 and 09-80656
Jack Alan Goldberger, Esq.
EFTA02739117
Case 9:09-cv-80656-KAM Document 61 Entered on FLSD Docket 11/28/2009 Page 8 of 8
[Phone Redacted]
Fax: 56]-828-0983
ecf©brucereinhartlaw. om
Counsel for Defendant
Theodore J. Leopold, Esq.
Spencer T. Kuvin, Esq,
Leopold, Kuvin, P.A.
2925 PGA Blvd., Suite 200
Palm Beach Gardens, FL 33410
[Phone Redacted]
Fax: [Phone Redacted]
skuvingeonoldkuvin.com
Counsel for Plaint!, In Related Case No.
08-08804
Atterbury Goldberger & Weiss, P.A.
250 Australian Avenue South
Suite 1400
West Palm Beach, FL 33401-5012
[Phone Redacted]
Fax: [Phone Redacted]
[Email Redacted]
Counsel for Defendant Jeffrey Epstein
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