Civil complaint against Jeffrey Epstein by an alleged underage victim, February 2008

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UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT SOUTHERN DISTRICT OF FLORIDA¶

CASE NO.:¶

08-CV-80119-MARRA-JOHNSON¶

JANE DOE NO. 2,¶

vs.¶

Plaintiff,¶

JEFFREY EPSTEIN,¶

Defendant.¶

COMPLAINT¶

Plaintiff, Jane Doe No. 2 (“Jane” or “Jane Doe”), brings this Complaint against Jeffrey Epstein, as follows:¶

Parties, Jurisdiction and Venue¶

1. Jane Doe No. 2 is a citizen and resident of the Commonwealth of Virginia, and is sui juris.

2. This Complaint is brought under a fictitious name to protect the identity of the Plaintiff because this Complaint makes sensitive allegations of sexual assault and abuse upon a minor.

3. Defendant Jeffrey Epstein is a citizen and resident of the State of New York.

4. This is an action for damages in excess of $50 million.

5. This Court has jurisdiction of this action and the claims set forth herein pursuant to 28 §1332(a), as the matter in controversy (i) exceeds $75,000, exclusive of interest and costs; and (ii) is between citizens of different states.

6. This Court has venue of this action pursuant to 28 . $ \§1391(a) $ as a substantial

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part of the events or omissions giving rise to the claim occurred in this District.¶

Factual Allegations¶

7. At all relevant times, Defendant Jeffrey Epstein (“Epstein”) was an adult male, 52 years old. Epstein is a financier and money manager with a secret clientele limited exclusively to billionaires. He is himself a man of tremendous wealth, power and influence. He maintains his principal home in New York and also owns residences in New Mexico, St. Thomas and Palm Beach, FL. The allegations herein concern Epstein’s conduct while at his lavish estate in Palm Beach.

8. Upon information and belief, Epstein has a sexual preference and obsession for underage minor girls. He engaged in a plan and scheme in which he gained access to primarily economically disadvantaged minor girls in his home, sexually assaulted these girls, and then gave them money. In or about 2004-2005, Jane Doe, then approximately 16 years old, fell into Epstein’s trap and became one of his victims.

9. Upon information and belief, Jeffrey Epstein carried out his scheme and assaulted girls in Florida, New York and on his private island, known as Little St. James, in St. Thomas.

10. Epstein’s scheme involved the use of young girls to recruit underage girls. (Upon information and belief, the young girl who brought Jane Doe to Epstein was herself a minor victim of Epstein, and will therefore not be named in this Complaint). Under Epstein’s plan, underage girls were recruited ostensibly to give a wealthy man a massage for monetary compensation in his Palm Beach mansion. The recruiter would be contacted when Epstein was planning to be at his Palm Beach residence or soon after he had arrived there. Epstein or someone on his behalf would direct the recruiter to bring one or more underage girls to the residence. The recruiter, upon information and belief, generally sought out economically disadvantaged underage girls from western Palm Beach

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County who would be enticed by the money being offered - generally $200 to $300 per “massage” session - and who were perceived as less likely to complain to authorities or have credibility if allegations of improper conduct were made. This was an important element of Epstein’s plan.¶

11. Epstein’s plan and scheme reflected a particular pattern and method. Upon arrival at Epstein’s mansion, the underage victim would be introduced to [ ] , Epstein’s assistant, who gathered the girl’s personal information, including her name and telephone number. Ms. [ ] would then bring the girl up a flight of stairs to a bedroom that contained a massage table in addition to other furnishings. There were photographs of nude women lining the stairway hall and in the bedroom. The girl would then find herself alone in the room with Epstein, who would be wearing only a towel. He would then remove his towel and lie naked on the massage table, and direct the girl to remove her clothes. Epstein would then perform one or more lewd, lascivious and sexual acts, including [ ] and [ ]

12. Consistent with the foregoing plan and scheme, Jane Doe was recruited to give Epstein a massage for monetary compensation. Jane was brought to Epstein’s mansion in Palm Beach. Once at the mansion, Jane was introduced to who led her up the flight of stairs to the room with the massage table. In this room, Epstein told Jane to take off her clothes and give him a massage. Jane kept her panties and bra on and complied with Epstein’s instructions. Epstein wore only a towel around his waste. After a short period of time, Epstein removed the towel and rolled over exposing his. Epstein began to masturbate and he sexually assaulted Jane.

13. After Epstein had completed the assault, Jane was then able to get dressed, leave the room and go back down the stairs. Jane was paid $200 by Epstein. The young girl who recruited Jane was paid $100 by Epstein for bringing Jane to him.

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14. As a result of this encounter with Epstein, Jane experienced confusion, shame, humiliation and embarrassment, and has suffered severe psychological and emotional injuries.

COUNT I Sexual Assault¶

15. Plaintiff Jane Doe repeats and realleges paragraphs 1 through 14 above.

16. Epstein tortiously assaulted Jane Doe sexually. Epstein’s acts were intentional, unlawful, offensive and harmful.

17. Epstein’s plan and scheme in which he committed such acts upon Jane Doe were done willfully and maliciously.

18. This sexual assault was in violation of Chapter 800 of the Florida Statutes, which recognizes as a crime the lewd and lascivious acts committed by Epstein upon Jane.

19. As a direct and proximate result of Epstein’s assault on Jane, she has suffered and will continue to suffer severe and permanent traumatic injuries, including mental, psychological and emotional damages.

WHEREFORE, Plaintiff Jane Doe No. 2 demands judgment against Defendant Jeffrey Epstein for compensatory damages, punitive damages, costs, and such other and further relief as this Court deems just and proper.¶

COUNT II¶

Intentional Infliction of Emotional Distress¶

20. Plaintiff Jane Doe repeats and realleges paragraphs 1 through 14 above.

21. Epstein’s conduct was intentional or reckless.

22. Epstein’s conduct was outrageous, going beyond all bounds of decency.

23. Epstein’s conduct caused severe emotional distress to Jane Doe. Epstein knew or had

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reason to know that his intentional and outrageous conduct would cause emotional trauma and damage to Jane Doe.¶

24. As a direct and proximate result of Epstein’s intentional or reckless conduct, Jane Doe, has suffered and will continue to suffer severe mental anguish and pain.

WHEREFORE, Plaintiff Jane Doe No. 2 demands judgment against Defendant Jeffrey Epstein for compensatory damages, costs, punitive damages, and such other and further relief as this Court deems just and proper.¶

JURY TRIAL DEMAND¶

Plaintiffs demand a jury trial in this action.¶

Dated: February 2008¶

Respectfully submitted,¶

HERMAN & MERMELSTEIN, P.A.¶

Attorneys for Plaintiffs¶

18205 Biscayne Blvd.¶

Suite 2218¶

Miami, Florida 33160¶

Tel: 1¶

Fax: 3¶

By:¶

Jeffrey M. Herman¶

Florida Bar No. 521647¶

Stuart S. Mermelstein¶

Florida Bar No. 947245¶

Adam D. Horowitz¶

Florida Bar No. 376980¶

HERMAN & MERMELSTEIN, P. A.¶

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