Prince Andrew of Britain‘s attorneys on Tuesday will ask a U.S. decide to dismiss a lawsuit by a girl who has accused him of forcing her to have intercourse 20 years in the past when she was 17.
Andrew has referred to as the lawsuit by Virginia Giuffre, now 38, baseless. Giuffre additionally sued Andrew’s good friend, the late financier Jeffrey Epstein, in 2009 accusing him of sexually assaulting her in 1998 when she was 15.
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Prince Andrew argues Epstein, Giuffre settlement ought to bar new lawsuit
A civil settlement settlement between Epstein and Giuffre was made public in federal courtroom in Manhattan on Monday, a deal that would affect her lawsuit in opposition to the prince.
The next is a abstract of the lawsuit and what it means for Andrew:
What are Giuffre’s claims in opposition to Andrew?
Giuffre, also called Virginia Roberts, sued Andrew in New York in 2021 claiming that he sexually assaulted and battered her. Giuffre mentioned Andrew pressured her to have intercourse on the London residence of Ghislaine Maxwell, a British socialite and Epstein’s longtime affiliate and at properties owned by Epstein.
Epstein died by suicide in a Manhattan jail cell in 2019 on the age of 66 whereas awaiting trial on intercourse abuse fees. Maxwell, 60, was convicted on Dec. 29 of intercourse trafficking and different crimes.
How has Andrew responded?
Andrew’s attorneys have referred to as the lawsuit “baseless” and accused her in search of a payday. They’ve argued that Giuffre signed away her proper to sue the prince in her 2009 settlement with Epstein.
Andrew, 61, instructed the BBC in November 2019 that he couldn’t have had intercourse with Giuffre at Maxwell’s residence as a result of he had returned to his home that evening after a youngsters’s occasion.
What’s the standing of the lawsuit?
The litigation is at an early stage. Any trial within the civil case would doubtless start between September and December 2022 if Andrew and Giuffre don’t attain a settlement earlier than then.
Why does Giuffre’s settlement with Epstein matter?
The settlement settlement mentioned “another particular person or entity who might have been included as a possible defendant from all, and all method of, motion and actions of Virginia Roberts” was launched from legal responsibility.
David Boies, a lawyer for Giuffre, on Monday referred to as the legal responsibility launch within the 2009 settlement “irrelevant” to the case in opposition to Andrew.
Might the lawsuit hurt Andrew legally or his repute?
If the case goes to trial and Giuffre wins, Andrew may very well be ordered to pay Giuffre damages. She has requested for an unspecified quantity.
The prince’s repute already took a success when Giuffre’s allegations first surfaced. Critics mentioned he failed to deal with key questions throughout his November 2019 interview with the BBC, and Andrew stepped down from public duties days after the interview aired.
Might the lawsuit result in felony jeopardy for Andrew?
No. Andrew has not been charged criminally, and no felony fees might end result from Giuffre’s lawsuit since it’s a civil case.
Andrew repeatedly declined requests by federal prosecutors in the US for an interview about their probe into Epstein’s intercourse trafficking, former U.S. Legal professional for the Southern District of New York Geoffrey Berman mentioned in June 2020.
A spokesman for the U.S. Legal professional’s workplace declined to touch upon Monday. It was not clear if prosecutors nonetheless need to speak to Andrew.
Is Giuffre’s lawsuit associated to Maxwell’s conviction?
No. Giuffre didn’t testify in Maxwell’s felony trial, and her allegations didn’t type the idea of any of the six intercourse abuse counts in opposition to her.
Does Andrew’s royal standing have any affect on the case?
Diplomats are sometimes entitled to a sure diploma of authorized immunity within the nations wherein they’re posted. Heads of state – equivalent to Andrew’s mom, Queen Elizabeth II – are entitled to a level of immunity as effectively.
Andrew doesn’t seem to suit both class, mentioned Craig Barker, a legislation professor at London South Financial institution College.
“There’s nothing I can see within the legislation that might recommend that he would have any entitlement to immunity in any respect, whether or not that be in civil or certainly in felony issues,” Barker mentioned.