Court Records
Case 9:09-cv-80802-KAM Document 8 Entered on FLSD Docket 07/14/2009 Page 1 of 6
UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
SOUTHERN DISTRICT OF FLORIDA
CASE NO.: 09-CV-80802-MARRA
JANE DOE NO. 8
Plaintiff,
v.
JEFFREY EPSTEIN,
Defendant.
DEFENDANT EPSTEIN'S MOTION TO DISMISS PLAINTIFF'S COMPLAINT
Defendant, JEFFREY EPSTEIN ("Epstein"), by and through his attorneys, moves
to dismiss Counts I and III of Plaintiffs Complaint as the causes of action are barred by
the applicable statute of limitations.1an° 2 Rule 12(b)(6); Local Gen. Rule 7.1 (S.D. Ma.
2009). In support of dismissal, Defendant states:
Plaintiffs Complaint attempts to allege three Counts; the first two counts are
pursuant to state common law, and the third count is brought pursuant to 18 U.S.C.
§2255. Civil remedy for personal injuries. Count I attempts to allege a cause of action
for "Sexual Assault and Battery," Count II for "Intentional Infliction of Emotional
Plaintiffs Complaint attempts to assert both state common law claims and a claim pursuant to 18
U.S.C. §2255. Since Jane Doe 8 did not relinquish her state claims and correspondingly did not file her
complaint relying, exclusively, on 18 USC 2255, she is not entitled to the litigation benefits including
certain waivers that directly or indirectly accrue to other civil plaintiffs from the defendant's fulfilling
obligations resulting from his separate confidential agreement with the United Staes Attorneys Office.
Plaintiffs counsel conceded that the provisions of the NPA are not implicated where a plaintiff brings
additional causes of action and does not proceed exclusively under §2255. See June 12, 2009, Hearing
Transcript in Jane Doe, et al v. Epstein, Case No. 08.80119-Civ-Marra, p. 29, line 19-25, p. 30, line 1.
2 Undersigned counsel provided the United States Attorneys' Office a copy of this Motion on July 9,
2009. We requested confirmation that this motion did not involve any aspect of the Non Prosecution
Agreement and advised of our required filing date. No response was received from the USAO.
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Jane Doe No. 8 v. Epstein
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Distress;" and Count III for "Coercion and Enticement to Sexual Activity in Violation of
18 U.S.C. §2422," pursuant to 18 U.S.C. §2255.
Pursuant to the allegations on the face of Plaintiffs complaint, Count I, based on
Florida's common law of assault and battery, and Count III, brought pursuant to 18
U.S.C. §2255, are barred by the applicable statute of limitations. Although a statute of
limitations bar to a claim is an affirmative defense, and a plaintiff is not required to
negate an affirmative defense in her complaint, a Rule 12(b)(6) dismissal on statute of
limitations grounds is appropriate where, as here, "it is 'apparent from the face of the
complaint' that the claim is time-barred." See generally, La Grasta v. First Union
Securities, Inc., 358 F.3d 840, 845 -846 (11th Cir. 2004).
Count I is barred by the applicable statute of limitations.
As to Count I, which is plead pursuant to state law, it is well settled that this Court
is to apply Florida law. Erie R.Co. v. Tompkins, 58 S.Ct. 817 (1938). Pursuant to
Florida law, the statute of limitations for assault and battery is four years, §95.11(3)(o).,
Fla. Stat. §95.11(3)(o), Fla. Stat., provides—
Actions other than for recovery of real property shall be commenced as
follows:
(3) Within four years.—
*
(o) An action for assault, battery, false arrest, malicious prosecution,
malicious interference, false imprisonment, or any other intentional tort,
except as provided in subsections (4), (5), and (7).
In her Complaint, Plaintiff alleges in relevant part that -
9. ... In or about 2001, Jane Doe, then approximately 16 years old, fell
into Epstein's trap and became one of his victims.
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Jane Doe No. 8 v. Epstein
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According to the allegations of the Complaint, Jane Doe had one encounter with
Defendant at his Palm Beach mansion in or about 2001 when Jane was approximately
16 years old. See Complaint, ¶13, endnote 1 hereto.' Based on the allegations of the
Complaint, it has been at least 8 years since the alleged conduct by EPSTEIN, well past
the four year statute of limitations, thus requiring dismissal of Count I. Based on the
allegations, Plaintiff is now at least 24 years old.
Subsections (4) and (5) referenced in §95.11(3)(o) are not applicable. Plaintiff
may attempt to argue that subsection (7) of §95.11, Fla. Stat. applies. See endnote 2
hereto for statutory text of subsection (7), including statutes referenced therein.2
However, a review of Plaintiff's allegations in Count I establish that Plaintiff is attempting
to assert a cause of action based on the elements of Florida's common law assault and
battery to which a four year statute of limitation applies. (Compare Count II, ¶24,
wherein Plaintiff tracks the language §39.01(2), Fla. Stat. (2001), pertaining to "abuse.").
Pursuant to Florida law, although the term "assault and battery" is most
commonly referred to as if it were a legal unit, or a single concept, "assault and battery
are separate and distinct legal concepts, assault being the beginning of an act which, if
consummated, constitutes battery." 3A Fla.Jur.2d Assault §1. An assault and battery
are intentional acts. See generally, Spivey v. Battaglia 258 So.2d 815 (Fla. 1972); and
Travelers Indem. Co. v. PCR, Inc. 889 So.2d 779 (Fla. 2004).
On the face of the Complaint, the applicable four year statute of limitations has
expired, and accordingly, Count I is barred an required to be dismissed.
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Jane Doe No. 8 v. Epstein
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Count III —18 U.S.C. 42255
As to the applicable statute of limitations for Count III which is brought pursuant to
18 U.S.C. §2255, §2255(b), (both the 2001 version, which Defendant asserts is the
applicable statute, and the amended version, effective July 27, 2006), provides:
(b) Statute of limitations. -Any action commenced under this section
shall be barred unless the complaint is filed within six years after the right
of action first accrues or in the case of a person under a legal disability,
not later than three years after the disability.
As noted above, according to the allegations of the Complaint, Jane Doe had one
encounter with Defendant at his Palm Beach mansion in or about 2001 when Jane was
approximately 16 years old. See Complaint, ¶13, endnote 1 hereto. Based on the
allegations of the Complaint, it has been at least 8 years since the alleged conduct by
EPSTEIN, well past the six year statute of limitations, thus requiring dismissal of Count
III. Based on the allegations, Plaintiff is now at least 24 years old, well pass the age of
majority. (The age of majority under both federal and state law is 18 years old. See 18
U.S.C. §2256(1), defining a "minor" as "any person under the age of eighteen years:"
and §1.01, Definitions, Fla. Stat., defining "minor" to include "any person who has not
attained the age of 18 years."). Thus, on the face of the Complaint, Count III is timed
barred and required to be dismissed.
Conclusion
Accordingly, Counts I and III of Plaintiff's Complaint are subject to dismissal. On
the face of the Complaint, the causes of action which Plaintiff attempts to allege are
barred by the applicable statute of limitations of 4 and 6 years, respectively.
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Jane Doe No. 8 v. Epstein
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WHEREFORE, Defendant requests that this Court dismiss Counts I and III of
Plaintiffs Complaint with prejudice.
Certificate of Service
I HEREBY CERTIFY that a true copy of the foregoing was electronically filed with
the Clerk of the Court using CM/ECF. I also certify that the foregoing document is being
served this day on all counsel of record identified on the following Service List in the
manner specified by CM/ECF on this 14th day of July 2009:
Stuart S. Mermeistein, Esq.
Adam D. Horowitz, Esq.
18205 Biscayne Boulevard
Suite 2218
Miami, FL 33160
[Phone Redacted]
Fax: [Phone Redacted]
ahorowitzabermanlaw.com
Iriveraahermanlaw.com
Counsel for Plaintiff Jane Doe #8
Jack Alan Goldberger, Esq.
Atterbury Goldberger & Weiss, P.A.
250 Australian Avenue South
Suite 1400
West Palm Beach, FL 33401-5012
[Phone Redacted]
Fax: [Phone Redacted]
jaqesqabellsouth.net
Counsel for Defendant Jeffrey Epstein
Respectfully submitted,
BURMAN, CRITTON, LUTTIER
& COLEMAN, LLP
515 N. Flagler Drive, Suite 400
West Palm Beach, FL X3401
([Phone Redacted]
By:
Robert D. ritton, Jr.
Florida B #224162
Michael . Pike
Florida Bar #617296
Counsel for Defendant Jeffrey Epstein
rcritabcIclaw.com
mpikeabcIclaw.com
Complaint, ¶13 alleges in relevant part —
... Jane Doe was recruited by another girl, who told her that she could make some
money, but did not tell her what was involved. At all relevant times, the girl who
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Jane Doe No. 8 v. Epstein
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recruited Jane Doe was acting on behalf of and as an agent for Epstein. Jane was contacted by this girl by telephone. Jane was then picked up and brought to Epstein's mansion in Palm Beach. Once there, she was lead up a flight of stairs to the room with the massage table. Epstein came into the room and directed Jane to remove her clothes and give him a massage. Jane was frightened and felt trapped. As directed by Epstein, Jane removed her clothes. Epstein then during
the massage touched Jane on her breasts and vagina, and he grabbed her hand and placed it on his penis. Epstein masturbated himself during the massage.
Epstein then left money for Jane.
2 §95.11(7), Fla. Stat. -
(7) For intentional torts based on abuse.--An action founded on alleged abuse, as defined in s. 39.01, s. 415.102, or s. 984.03, or incest, as defined in s. 826.04, may be commenced at any time within 7 years after the age of majority, or within 4 years after the injured person leaves the dependency of the abuser, or within 4 years from the time of discovery by the injured party of both the injury and the causal relationship between the injury and the abuse, whichever occurs later.
§39.01(2), Fla. Stat. (2001) —
(2) "Abuse" means any willful act or threatened act that results in any physical, mental, or sexual injury or harm that causes or is likely to cause the child's physical, mental, or emotional health to be significantly impaired. Abuse of a child includes acts or omissions. Corporal discipline of a child by a parent or legal custodian for disciplinary purposes does not in itself constitute abuse when it does not result in harm to the child.
§415.102(1), Fla. Stat. (2001) —
(1) "Abuse" means any willful act or threatened act that causes or is likely to cause significant impairment to a vulnerable adult's physical, mental, or emotional
health. Abuse includes acts and omissions.
§984.03 (2), Ha. Stat. (2001) —
"Abuse" means any willful act that results in any physical, mental, or sexual injury that causes or is likely to cause the child's physical, mental, or emotional health to be significantly impaired. Corporal discipline of a child by a parent or guardian for disciplinary purposes does not in itself constitute abuse when it does not result in harm to the child as defined in s. 39.01.
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