Tämä on FBI:n tutkinta-asiakirja Epstein Files -aineistosta (FBI VOL00009). Teksti on purettu koneellisesti alkuperäisestä PDF-tiedostosta. Hae lisää asiakirjoja →
FBI VOL00009
EFTA00194687
135 sivua
Sivu 101 / 135
' Case 9:10-cv-80309-WJZ Document 1 Entered on FLSD Docket 03/09/2010 Page 14 of 19 loss of educational opportunities, loss of self-esteem, loss of dignity, invasion of her privacy, separation from her family, and other damages associated with Defendant's manipulating and luring her into a perverse and unhealthy way of life. The then minor Plaintiff incurred medical and psychological expenses, and Plaintiff will in the future incur additional medical and psychological expenses. Plaintiff has suffered a loss of income, a loss of the capacity to earn income in the future, and a loss of the capacity to enjoy life. These injuries are permanent in nature, and Plaintiff will continue to suffer these losses in the futurc. WHEREFORE, Plaintiff demands judgment against Defendant for all damages available under 18 U.S.C. § 2255, including, without limitation, actual and compensatory damages, attorney's fees, costs of suit, and such other further relief as this Court deems just and proper, and hereby demands trial by jury on all issues triable as of right by a jury. COUNT FIVE (Cause of Action for Transport of Child Pornography pursuant to 18 U.S.C. 4 2255 in Violation of 18 U.S.C. G 2252A(a)(1)) 44. Plaintiff hereby adopts, repeats, realleges, and incorporates by reference the allegations contained in paragraphs 1 through 26 above. 45. Defendant knowingly mailed, transported, shipped, or sent via computer and/or facsimile in or affecting interstate and/or foreign commerce child pornography, in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 2252A(a)(l). 46. Defendant transported lewd photographs of Plaintiff and other victims elsewhere using a facility or means of interstate and/or foreign commerce. 47. Plaintiff was a victim of one or more offenses enumerated in 18 U.S.C. § 2255, and, as such, asserts a cause of action against Defendant pursuant to this Section of the United States Code. Podhurst Orseck, P.A. 14 25 West Flagler Street, Suite 800, Miami, FL 33130, Miami 305.358.2200 Fax 305.358.2382 • Fort Lauderdale 954.163.4346 www.podhurst.com EFTA00194787
Sivu 102 / 135
Case 9:10-cv-80309-WJZ Document 1 Entered on FLSD Docket 03/09/2010 Page 15 of 19 48. As a direct and proximate result of the offenses enumerated in 18 U.S.C. § 2255 being committed against the then minor Plaintiff by Defendant, Plaintiff has in the past suffered, and will in the future continue to suffer, physical injury, pain and suffering, emotional distress, psychological and/or psychiatric trauma, mental anguish, humiliation, confusion, embarrassment, loss of educational opportunities, loss of self-esteem, loss of dignity, invasion of her privacy, separation from her family, and other damages associated with Defendant's manipulating and luring her into a perverse and unhealthy way of life. The then minor Plaintiff incurred medical and psychological expenses, and Plaintiff will in the future incur additional medical and psychological expenses. Plaintiff has suffered a loss of income, a loss of the capacity to earn income in the future, and a loss of the capacity to enjoy life. These injuries are permanent in nature, and Plaintiff will continue to suffer these losses in the future. WHEREFORE, Plaintiff demands judgment against Defendant for all damages available under 18 U.S.C. § 2255, including, without limitation, actual and compensatory damages, attorney's fees, costs of suit, and such other further relief as this Court deems just and proper, and hereby demands trial by jury on all issues triable as of right by a jury. COUNT SIX (Cause of Action for Engaging, in a Child Exploitation Enterprise pursuant to 18 U.S.C. § 2255 in Violation of 18 U.S.C. a 2252A(a)) 49. Plaintiff hereby adopts, repeats, realleges, and incorporates by reference the allegations contained in paragraphs 1 through 26 above and Counts One through Five above. 50. Defendant knowingly engaged in a child exploitation enterprise, as defined in 18 U.S.C. § 2252A(g)(2), in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 2252A(g)(l). As more fully set forth above, Defendant engaged in actions that constitute countless violations of 18 U.S.C. § 1591 (sex trafficking of children), Chapter 110 (sexual exploitation of children in violation of 18 U.S.C. §§ Podhurst Orseck, P.A. 15 25 West Flatter Street, Suite 880, Miami, FL 33130, Maud 305.358.2800 Fax 305358.2382 • Fort Lauderdale 954.463.4346 I www.podhurst.com EFTA00194788
Sivu 103 / 135
' Case 9:10-cv-80309-WJZ Document 1 Entered on FLSD Docket 03/09/2010 Page 16 of 19 2251, 2252(a)(1), and 2252(A)(a)(I)), and Chapter 117 (transportation for illegal sexual activity in violation of 18 U.S.C. §§ 2421. 2422(b), and 2423(b)). As more fully set forth above in paragraphs I through 26, Defendant's actions involved countless victims and countless separate incidents of sexual abuse, which he committed against minors, including Plaintiff, in concert with at least three other persons. 51. Plaintiff was a victim of one or more offenses enumerated in 18 U.S.C. § 2255, and, as such, asserts a cause of action against Defendant pursuant to this Section of the United States Code. 52. As a direct and proximate result of the offenses enumerated in 18 U.S.C. § 2255 being committed against the then minor Plaintiff by Defendant, Plaintiff has in the past suffered, and will in the future continue to suffer, physical injury, pain and suffering, emotional distress, psychological and/or psychiatric trauma, mental anguish, humiliation, confusion, embarrassment, loss of educational opportunities, loss of self-esteem, loss of dignity, invasion of her privacy, separation from her family, and other damages associated with Defendant's manipulating and luring her into a perverse and unhealthy way of life. The then minor Plaintiff incurred medical and psychological expenses, and Plaintiff will in the future incur additional medical and psychological expenses. Plaintiff has suffered a loss of income, a loss of the capacity to earn income in the future, and a loss of the capacity to enjoy life. These injuries are permanent in nature, and Plaintiff will continue to suffer these losses in the future. WHEREFORE, Plaintiff demands judgment against Defendant for all damages available under 18 U.S.C. § 2255, including, without limitation, actual and compensatory damages, Podhurst Orseck, P.A. 16 25 West Fiagler Street, Suite 800, MILS, FL 33130, Miami 305.3582800 Fax 305358.2382 • Fort Lauderdale 954.4634316 www.podhurst.com EFTA00194789
Sivu 104 / 135
Case 9:10-cv-80309-WJZ Document 1 Entered on FLSD Docket 03/09/2010 Page 17 of 19 attorney's fees, costs of suit, and such other further relief as this Court deans just and proper, and hereby demands trial by jury on all issues triable as of right by a jury. Date: C44.ArtatA4-1.2)-3 , 2010. Respectfully Submitted, By: iRreat fia—Plef'-b W4P/ Robert C. Jose erg Bar No. 040856 Katherine W. Ezell Bar No. 114771 Podhurst Orseck, P.A. 25 West Flagler St., Suite 800 Miami, Florida 33130 Telephone: (305) 358-2800 Fax: (305) 358-2382 [email protected] kezell@podhurslcom Attorneys for Plaintiff Podhurst Orseck, P.A. 17 25 West Plaster Street Suite 800, Miami, Ft. 33130, Miami 305356.2800 Fax 305358.2382 • Fort Lauderdale 954.463.4346 I www.podhuntxom EFTA00194790
Sivu 105 / 135
' Case 9:10-cv-80309-WJZ Document 1 Entered on FLSD Docket 03/09/2010 Pag 18 of 19 036 - - 1 D 1 ..413 4t, elov. CIVIL COVER SHEET ros ThoJS44 civil cover sheet saddle information herein neither rotplacenor supplement the filing and 'mice ofyleadin or otherpapers as required bylaw, except asprovided by local rules of coon. This fans, approved by theJudkial Cooke:awe of theUnited fies In Septanber 1974,1$ required fort o he 'kik ofCourt for the purpose of initiating the civil docket Acct. (SEE INSTRUCTIONS ON THE REVERSE OF THE FORM.) NOTICE: Attorneys MUST Indica led Cases Below. I. (a) PLAINTIFFS Jane Doe No. 103 1 0 - 80 (b) County of Residency of First Listed Plaintiff West Palm Beach (EXCEPT IN U.S. PLAINTIPP CASES) S int. NTS 0 it Fey stein (c) Attorney's (Tina Nam, Address. nod Telephone Hornbill) Robert C..losefsbag, Esq./Katherine W. Ezell, Esq. Podhurst Orseck, P.A. 25 W. Flag' er St., Suite 800 Miami Pf 1111(1 FILED b . County of Residence of Drst LiSted Dekria m nt U tales Virgin/ Iamb (IN U.S. PLAINT (CASES ONLY) NOTE: IN LAND CONDEMNATION OASES. fEi3. 244019 THE'S ACT LAND INVOLVED. STIPPE IS ES-LIWIESOETE AllOmon Of Kann) CLERK U.S. DIST. CT. Robert D. Ctitlon, Esq., Burman, 0 — kaat" r hil614-‘ P, u 303 Banyan Blvd., Suite 400, West Palm Beach, FL 33401 (0 Cheek County Wheso Action Masa co MIAMI. DADS 0 MONROE 0 DROP/MID 4 PALM BEACH 0 MARTIN 0 ST. LUCIE 0 INDIAN RIVER 0 OKEECHOBEE HIGHLANDS II. BASIS OF JURISDICTION (lime err' Nom Box than III. C TIZENSIIIP OF PRINCIPAL PARTIES:rm. ea "X' In One Bet ro, annum En Danny Caen Oak) mad Ono flos foe Defeedaat) PT, DEY PIP DEP MUIR (US. °nommen Not i• Patty) Cila a of This Sato Of I 0 I Inerpariad or Piincipal Pine 0 4 04 of Insincti In This Sate O I U.S. OOMMItal teJ ) Fetal olindo• O 2 U.S. Gortinmen 3 4 Danny Deanne Indicala fl ash* of Panics I. Nem 111) n China of Anent! Sok 3 2 P 2 nempormed end Pek<Ipil Plan 0 $ 0 or A anneal I. Anther State Ceske* or Sabject of. 0 1 0 1 Pastan Nation Fmk. Country 0 6 0 6 I CONTRACT TORTS z011FZITURYNENALTY BANKRUPTCY ' OTHER STATUTES I 0 I10 Intronact 0 I20 Marin 0 130 Act 0 140 Noankble Intimate' O ISO Itecetny of Ovapayeem & Elikhletalittl of Thdtalcal 0 151 Modica,. Act O IP Recency of Donned Sivelant Leans Man Winne) 0 I 53 Snowy of Onipgrun of Veteren's Serena O use sierssossen• Sun 0 190 Other Canaan O 195 Confect Indent Liability 0 196 irsachite PERSONAL INJURY 0 310 Akplene 0 315 Airplin hetet Liability 0 320 Amok Libel A Sancta 0 330 Pekin Pena no Liability 0 MO Montt 0 245 PA UM* Produel Liability 0 1.30 Mom Vehicle 0 355 Motet Valais Product Liability II 3600110 Personal DINKY PERSONA I. INJURY 0 )02 Potiontl 'awry 0 6I0Agelcolturs 0 020 06et Feel A Den 0 621 Drop Eased Seine of hung 21 USC Ut 0 610 L6voc Li-s 0 640 R.R. A Trek - 0 630 AMU Rom. 0 660 Osman:teal Safinyincelth 0 HO Othel 0 122 Appal 2$ USC 13$ 0 423 0/ thaneal 20 USC I57 0 400 Stale Reapportionment 0 410 Antenna 0 4)0 Oinks and Ban tag a 00 Comnotts 0 400 Deportation 0 470 Renewer Inflocrind aid Comm Organizations 0 450 Coalman Credit 0 490 C.bIOS.t TV 0 010 Scanat Sankt, 0 SP) SnorillostCoremoditk it Exchange CI MS Canner Chansega 12 USC 3410 0 190 Other Statutory Action 0 $91 Astkollinal Acts 0 192 Ecceomic Sabana,* Act 0 It ) Enitenmoatal Menem 0 MII enmity Alloci0o5 An 0 0f1 Froodera aInfamies. Act 0 900 Appol of in Dfieroslancioa than Sail Anon to nuke 950 Consilienonalay of Suit 0 Swats • Med. Mokinalco 3 16$ Pinson' Inkso • 14,4•01,1411IO 0 nal Annan Preload Injury Piedial LabiNey PERSONAL PROPERTY 0 370 Oibee Fool 0 37: Tools In Luau 0 /SO Own Parental Propony Dann 0 365 trepan Damage Product Lability PROPERTY RIGflT9 0 020 Co:tyrant 0 030 Paten 0 540 Unmask LABOR SOCIAL SECURITY 3 710 Pole Lan Standard. Ael 0 920 tabula pa Ration 0 730 labocalgret.Ropories A Disclosures Acr 0 744 Railway Labor An 0 79001st Lane Litigadon 0 791 Empl. Rm. Ina. Untie) AN 0 $61 HIA (139301 0 162 Baal Loos (923) 0 (16) DIWOD la W (401(101 0 544 SSID TIN XVI 0 $63 SSI (MOH REAL PROPERTY CIVIL RIGHTS PRISONER PETITIONS FEDERAL TAX SUITS 0 210 land Conilannation O 220 Porcalopen O 210 Rent Luso A Wootton 0 240 Torte to Lan 0 245 Ton Padua Lability 3 290 AU 0th, Reel Piesteill 0 441 Venn 0 442 Employent 0 443 Huai& Mosamodniato 0 444 Wotan m 443 Anna. iw/Distbinke - O •-• Eftqadpifitiertl 0 446 Amer. wiDisabilitiet - 0 Other 3 440 Odin Oink Rilna 0 $10 Moines to Vacant Sunoco Hahn. Corpus 0 330 Onersl 0 135 Death Peaky 340 Memnon • Ohms " 0 civil Rol, 0 335 Pekoe Ccediein 0 170 (U.S. Plata or Dehadam) 0 $71 IRS—Thkd Pony 26 USC 7409 I wsICRannto 0 462 1244424444664 A pplkilloll 3 46) Hobos Counit.Alks 0414649 40 Other tembigeselea 0 Aeneas I. ORIGIN 4z- isob.Box °oily) 40 I Original Cl 2 Rommed from 0 3 Re-fled- Proceeding Sate Court (see VI below) Tranaltrred from LI 4 Reins/alai or el 5 another distrid 6 multidiale( Reopened (ape Litigation Appeal to Distria liWge from O ' Magistrate Judgment VI. RELATED/RE-FILED CASE(S). (See IMIniCliole second pale): a) Re-filed Case 0 YES 473 NO b) Related Cases 01 YES ONO JUDGE Kenneth A. Marra DOCKET NUMBER See Attached. VII. CAUSE OF ACTION Cite the U.S. Civil Statute under which you are filing and Write a Brief Statement of Cause (Do not cite jurisdictional statutes unless diversity): 18 U.S.C. 2255 (Predicate Statutes 18 U.S.C. 2422(b), 2423(b), 2423(e), 2251, 2252, 2252A(aK1), 2252A(g)(1) LENGTH OF TRIAL via if days estimated (for bah sides lo try claim cue) VIII. REQUESTED IN 0 CHECK IF THIS IS A CLASS ACTION DEMANDS CHECK YES only if demenckd in complaint: r./.1 eytt f. CS OF W 7900.7 JURY DEMANDS Aida No fil 44.4... (A . FOR OEFICE USE ONLY DfiTE 2:3 SIGNATURE OP ATTORNEY OF RECORD AMOUNT 3CG .00 RECEIPTS /0/ COMPLAINT: UNDER P.R.C.P. 23 ABOVE INFORMATION IS TRUE & CORRECT TO THE BEST OP MY KNOWLEDGE 24 EFTA00194791
Sivu 106 / 135
Case 9:10-cv-80309-WJZ Document 1 Entered on FLSD Docket 03/09/2010 Page 19 of 19 UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT SOUTHERN DISTRICT OF FLORIDA WEST PALM BEACH DIVISION ATTACIIMENT TO CIVIL COVER SIIEET FOR: Jane Doe 1031 Jeffrey Epstein VI. RELATED PENDING CASES 08-80119 - KAM 08-80232 - KAM 08-80380 - KAM 08-80381 - KAM 08-80811 - KAM 08-80893 - KAM 08-80993 - KAM 08-80994 - KAM 09-80469 - KAM 09-80802 - KAM 09-81092 - KAM EFTA00194792
Sivu 107 / 135
, -17 Roy BLACK HOWARD M. SREBNICK Scan A. KORNSPAN LARRY A. STUMPP MARIA NEYRA JACKIE PERCZEK MARK A.J. SHAPIRO JARED O M Jeff Sloman, Esq. United States Attorney 99 N.E. 4th Street Miami, FL 33132 BLACK SREBNICK KORNSPAN &STUMPF March 29, 2010 Bob Senior, Esq. Assistant United States Attorney 99 N.E. 4al Street Miami, FL 33132 RE: Jeffrey Epstein Dear Counsel: JESSICA FONSECA-NADER Woman P. PHILLIPS AARON ANThON MARCOS BEATON, JR. MATTHEW P. O'BRIEN JENIPER J. SOULIKIAS NOAH Fox RalocklaRoyalackeom A. Marie Villafana, Esq. Assistant United States Attorney 500 South Australian Avenue West Palm Beach, FL 33401-6223 Jeffrey Epstein has an April 5, 2010 deadline for the filing of a Motion to Dismiss, and thereafter an Answer, to claims brought by Jane Doe 103 pursuant to 18 USC P255 that were referenced in our earlier letter to you dated March 5, 2010, to which there has been no response. We firmly believe that the issues raised in the draft motion that is appended to this letter do not conflict with, nor, if filed, breach Mr. Epstein's obligations under the NPA. Please advise if any of the issues in the draft motion authored by his civil counsel Robert Critton are, from your perspective, in conflict with the §2255 provisions of the NPA so that we may reassess our legal opinion that Mr. Epstein's civil counsel can litigate the legal issues contained in the draft motion without fear that the litigation will be construed by your office as being in violation of the NPA. If the government believes that any of the issues intended to be raised in defense of the Jane Doe 103 lawsuit are in breach of Mr. Epstein's obligations under the NPA, we request notice so that we could decide before any filing whether to file a 201 S. Biscayne Boulevard, Suite 1300. Miami. Florida 33131. Phone: 305-371-6421• Fax: 30S-1M-2DM • mw.RoyBlack.coni EFTA00194793
Sivu 108 / 135
Jeff Sloman, Esq. Bob Senior, Esq. A. Marie Villafana, Esq. March 29, 2010 Page 2 Declaratory Judgment action asking the Court presiding over the Jane Doe 103 lawsuit to determine whether the raising of the issue by motion or defense would be in conflict with Mr. Epstein's contractual duties under the NPA or to withdraw the issue to the extent we become convinced that your position, if in conflict with ours, is correct. Again, Mr. Epstein's paramount priority, and ours, is that the terms of Mr. Epstein's agreement with the government be followed and fulfilled. Your truly, MARTIN WEINBERG, ESQ. ROY 1AACK, ESQ. /wg By Black, Srebnick, Komspan & Stumpf, P.A. EFTA00194794
Sivu 109 / 135
•
UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
SOUTHERN DISTRICT OF FLORIDA
CASE NO. 10-80309-CIV-
JANE DOE No. 103,
Plaintiff,
vs.
JEFFERY EPSTEIN,
Defendant.
DEFENDANT EPSTEIN'S MOTION TO DISMISS, & FOR MORE
DEFINITE STATEMENT & STRIKE DIRECTED TO PLAINTIFF
JANE DOE NO. 103'S COMPLAINT !dated 2/23/20101
Defendant, JEFFREY EPSTEIN, ("EPSTEIN"), by and through his undersigned
counsel, moves to dismiss Counts One through Six of Plaintiff JANE DOE 103's
Complaint for failure to state a cause of action, as specified herein. Rule 12(b)(6),
Fed.R.Civ.P. (2009); Local Gen. Rule 7.1 (S.D. Fla. 2009). Defendant further moves for
more definite statement and to strike. Rule I2(e) and (f), In support of his motion,
Defendant states:
"Ike Complaint attempts to allege 6 counts, all of which are purportedly brought
pursuant to 18 U.S.C. §2255 — Civil Remedies for Personal Injuries. Dismissal is
required on the following grounds: (1) 18 U.S.C.A. §2255 allows for a single recovery of
"actual damages."
(A.) Statutory Considerations: the statute does not allow for the
Plaintiff to allege multiple counts, six in this case, or multiple predicate act violations or
incidents, in an effort to multiply or seek duplicate recoveries of her "actual damages"
EFTA00194795
Sivu 110 / 135
based on the number of predicate act violations or incidents. The statutory minimum is
just that — a minimum; nothing prevents a plaintiff from proving and recovering "actual
damages" in excess of the minimum amount. (B.) Constitutional Considerations: in
the alternative, constitutional principles require that the statute be interpreted as allowing
for a single recovery of one's damages. Thus, to the extent Plaintiff is seeking to
improperly multiply or seek duplicate recoveries of her actual damages, the action is
required to be dismissed. (2) The statute in effect during the time of the alleged conduct
applies — the version in effect from 1999 to July 26, 2006, not the statute as amended in
2006, effective July 27, 2006. 'lb the extent Plaintiff is attempting to rely on the
amended version of the statute, such reliance is improper and also requires dismissal of
the entire action. (3) Count VI is also subject to dismissal because the predicate act relied
upon by Plaintiff did not come into effect until July 27, 2006, well after the conduct
alleged by Plaintiff occurred.
Supporting Memorandum of Law
Principles of Statutory Interpretation
It is well settled that in interpreting a statute, the court's inquiry begins with the
plain and unambiguous language of the statutory text. CBS, Inc.'. Prime Time 24
Venture, 245 F.3d 1217 (11" Cir. 2001); U.S.
Castroneves 2009 WL 528251, *3 (S.D.
Fla. 2009), citing Reeves
Astrue, 526 F.3d 732, 734 (11th Cir. 2008); and Smith I.
Husband, 376 F.Supp.2d at 610 ("When interpreting a statute, [a court's] inquiry begins
with the text."). "The Court must first look to the plain meaning of the words, and
scrutinize the statute's `language, structure, and purpose.' Id. In addition, in construing
a statute, a court is to presume that the legislature said what it means and means what it
said, and not add language or give some absurd or strained interpretation. As stated in
2
EFTA00194796
Sivu 111 / 135
CBS. Inc., supra at 1228 — "Those who ask courts to give effect to perceived legislative intent by interpreting statutory language contrary to its plain and unambiguous meaning are in effect asking courts to alter that language, and `[c]purls have no authority to alter statutory language.... We cannot add to the terms of [the] provision what Congress left out.' Merritt, 120 F.3d at 1187." See also Dodd . U.S., 125 S.Ct. 2478 (2005); 73 Am Jur.2d Statutes §124 . Title 18 of the U.S.C. is entitled "Crimes and Criminal Procedure." §2255 is contained in "Part I. Crimes, Chap. 110. Sexual Exploitation and Other Abuse of Children." 18 U.S.C. §2255 (2002), is entitled Civil remedy for personal injuries, and provides: (a) Any minor who is a victim of a violation of section 2241(c), 2242, 2243, 2251, 2251A, 2252, 2252A, 2260, 2421, 2422, or 2423 of this title and who suffers personal injury as a result of such violation may sue in any appropriate United States District Court and shall recover the actual damages such minor sustains and the cost of the suit, including a reasonable attorney's fee. Any minor as described in the preceding sentence shall be deemed to have sustained damages of no less than $50,000 in value. (b) 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. See endnote 1 hereto for statutory text as amended in 2006, effective July 27, 2006. Prior to the 2006 amendments, the version of the statute quoted above was in effect beginning in 1999.1 1 The above quoted version of 18 U.S.C. §2255 was the same beginning in 1999 until amended in 2006, effective July 27, 2006. EFTA00194797
Sivu 112 / 135
Motion to Dismiss The remedy afforded pursuant to 18 U.S.C. 82255 allows for a single recovery of "actual damages" by a plaintiff against a defendant. The recovery afforded is not on a per violation or per incident or per count basis.2 (A.) Statutory Considerations. 18 U.S.C.A. §2255 - Civil Remedy for Personal Injuries, creates a federal cause of action or "civil remedy" for a minor victim of sexual, abuse, molestation and exploitation, and allows for a single recovery of the "actual damages" sustained and proven by a "minor who is a victim of a violation" of an enumerated predicated act and who suffers personal injury as a result of such violation." "18 U.S.C. §2255 gives victims of sexual conduct who are minors a private right of action." Martinez'. White, 492 P.Supp.2d 1186, 1188 (N.D. Cal. 2007). 18 U.S.C.A. §2255 "merely provides a cause of action for damages in `any appropriate United States District Court.'" Id, at 1189. Under the plain meaning of the statute, §2255 does not allow for the actual damages sustained to be duplicated or multiplied on behalf of a plaintiff against a defendant on a "per violation" or "per incident" or "per count" basis. No where in the 2 In other §2255 actions filed against Defendant, Defendant has previously asserted the position that 18 U.S.C. §2255's creates a single cause of action on behalf of a plaintiff against a defendant, as opposed to multiple causes of action on a per violation basis or as opposed to an allowance of a multiplication of the statutory presumptive minimum damages or "actual damages." EPSTEIN asserts his position regarding the single recovery of damages in order to properly preserve all issues pertaining to the proper application of §2255 for appeal. EPSTEIN will fully honor his obligations as set forth in the Non-Prosecution Agreement with the United States Attorney's Office; principally, as related to the claims made in this case by Jane Doe 103, the obligations as set forth in paragraph 8 of that Agreement. In particular, EPSTEIN will not contest the allegation that he committed at least one predicate offense as alleged by Jane Doe 103, a waiver sufficient to satisfy the 2255 statutory condition that Jane Doe 103 was a victim of the commission of one of the enumerated predicate violations as required. 4 EFTA00194798
Sivu 113 / 135
statutory text is there any reference to the recovery of damages afforded by this statute as
being on a "per violation" or "per incident" or "per count" basis. 18 U.S.C. 2255(a)
creates a civil remedy for "a minor who is a victim of a violation of section 2241(c),
2242, 2243, 2251, 2251A, 2252, 2252A, 2260, 2421, 2422, or 2423 of this title and who
suffers personal injury as a result of such violation ... ." The statute speaks in terms of
the recovery of the "actual damages such minor sustains and the cost of suit, including
attorney's fees." See 18 U.S.C. §2255(a) (2002). See Smith'. Husband. 428 F.Supp.2d
432 (ED. Va. 2006); Smith I Husband, 376 F.Supp.2d 603 (E.D. Va. 2006); Doe'.
Liberatore. 478 F.Supp.2d 742, 754 (M.D. Pa. 2007); and the recent cases in front of this
court on Defendant's Motions to Dismiss and For More Definite Statement — Doe No. 2
Epstein, 2009 WL 383332 (S.D. Fla. Feb. 12, 2009); Doe No. 3'. Epstein, 2009 WL
383330 (S.D. Fla. Feb. 12, 2009); Doe No. 4 1. Epstein 2009 WL 383286 (S.D. Fla. Feb.
12, 2009); and Doe No. 5'. Epstein, 2009 WL 383383 (S.D. Fla. Feb. 12, 2009); see also
U.S.
Scheidt, Slip Copy, 2010 WL 144837, fn. I (E.D.Cal. Jan. 11, 2010); U.S.
Reim, 2009 WL 2579103, fn. 1 (E.D. Cal. Aug. 19, 2009); U.S.'. Ferenci, 2009 WL
2579102, fn. 1 (E.D. Cal. Aug. 19, 2009); U.S. I. Monk, 2009 WI, 2567831, fn. 1 (E.D.
Cal. Aug. 18, 2009); U.S. I. Zane, 2009 WL 2567832, fn.1 (E.D. Cal. Aug. 18 2009).
As to the meaning of "actual damages," the Eleventh Circuit in McMillian
F.D.I.C. 81 F.3d 1041, 1055 (11th Cir.1996)3, succinctly explained:
3 In McMillian the 11th Circuit was faced with the task of the interpretation of the
statutory term "actual direct compensatory damages" under FIRREA, 12 U.S.C.
§1821(2)(3)(0. In doing so, the Court began with the plain meaning of the phrase. See
Perrin I United States, 444 U.S. 37, 4243, 100 S.Ct. 311, 314, 62 L.Ed.2d 199 (1979)
("A fundamental canon of statutory construction is that, unless otherwise defined, words
will be interpreted as taking their ordinary, contemporary common meaning."); United
States I. McLvmont, 45 F.3d 400, 401 (11th Cir.), cert. denied, 514 U.S. 1077, 115 S.Ct.
5
EFTA00194799
Sivu 114 / 135
... "Compensatory damages" are defined as those damages that "will
compensate the injured party for the injury sustained, and nothing more; such
as will simply make good or replace the loss caused by the wrong or injury."
Black's Law Dictionary (6th Ed.1991). "Actual damages," roughly
synonymous with compensatory damages, are defined as "Meal,
substantial and just damages, or the amount awarded to a complainant
in compensation for his actual and real loss or injury as opposed ... to
'nominal' damages [and] 'punitive' damages." Id.nii Finally, "[d]irect
damages are such as follow immediately upon the act done." Id. Thus,
"actual direct compensatory damages" appear to include those damages,
flowing directly from the repudiation, which make one whole, as opposed
to those which go farther by including future contingencies such as lost
profits and opportunities or damages based on speculation. [Citation
omitted]. ...
FN15. According to Corpus furls Secundum," 'Compensatory damages'
and 'actual damages' are synonymous terms ... and include( ] all
damages other than punitive or exemplary damages." 25 C.J.S.
Damages § 2 (1966).
(Emphasis added).
See also, Fanini. U.S. Dept. of Veteran Affairs, 2009 WL 1677233 (11th Cir. June
17, 2009), citing Fitzpatrick,. IRS 665 F.2d 327, 331 (I Id' Cir. 1982), abrogated on
other grounds by Poet Chao, 540 U.S. 614, 124 S.Ct. 1204 (2004\ "Actual damages"
recoverable under the Privacy Act are "proven pecuniarylosses and not for generalized
mental injuries, loss of reputation, embarrassment or other non-qualified injuries;" and
the statutory minimum of $1,000 under the Privacy Act is not available unless the
plaintiff suffered some amount of "actual damages.").
Considering the plain meaning of "actual damages" and the purpose of such
damages is to "make one whole," to allow a duplication or multiplication of the actual
damages sustained is in direct conflict with the well entrenched legal principle against
duplicative damages recovery. See generally, E.E.O.C. I. Waffle House. Inc. 534 U.S.
1723, 131 L.Ed.2d 581 (1995) ("[T]he plain meaning of this statute controls unless the
language is ambiguous or leads to absurd results.").
6
EFTA00194800
Sivu 115 / 135
279, 297, 122 S.Q. 754, 766 (2002\"As we have noted, it `goes without saying that the courts can and should preclude double recovery by an individual."), citing General Telephone 446 U.S., at 333, 100 S.Ct. 1698. The purpose of damages recovery where a Plaintiff has suffered personal injury as a result of Defendant's misconduct is to make the plaintiff whole, not to enrich the plaintiff. See 22 Am.Jur.2d Damages §36, stating the settled legal principle that — The law abhors duplicative recoveries, and a plaintiff who is injured by a defendant's misconduct is, for the most part, entitled to be made whole, not enriched. Hence, for one injury, there should be one recovery, irrespective of the availability of multiple remedies and actions. Stated otherwise, a party cannot recover the same damages twice, even if recovery is based on different theories. , a plaintiff who alleges separate causes of action is not permitted to recover more than the amount of damages actually suffered. There cannot be a double recovery for the same loss, even though different theories of liability are alleged in the complaint. .... See also, 22 Am.Jur.2d Damages § 28 — The law abhors duplicative recoveries; in other words, a plaintiff who is injured by reason of a defendant's behavior is, for the most part, entitled to be made whole, not to be enriched. The sole object of compensatory damages is to make the injured party whole for losses actually suffered; the plaintiff cannot be made more than whole, make a profit, or receive more than one recovery for the same harm. Thus, a plaintiff in a civil action for damages cannot, in the absence of punitive or statutory treble damages, recover more than the loss actually suffered. The plaintiff is not entitled to a windfall, and the law will not put him in a better position than he would be in had the wrong not been done or the contract not been broken. See also recent case of U.S. Baker. 2009 WL 4572, at *8, (ED. 11 Dec. 7, 2009), wherein the Court was inclined to agree with the defendant's interpretation of §2255(a) of allowing for a single recovery of the statutory minimum damages amount as opposed to the government's argument that "the minimum amount of damages mandated by 18 U.S.C. §2255(a) applies to each of (pornographic) image produced by 7 EFTA00194801
Sivu 116 / 135
[defendant]." The government attempted to argue that restitution should be equal to the statutory minimum amount times the 55 photos produced by defendant. In rejecting the government's argument, the Court reiterated that the statutory minimum is a floor for damages — in other words, a mandated minimum. Nothing prevents a plaintiff from proving that he or she suffered damages in a greater amount. In attempting to bring six counts pursuant to §2255, Plaintiff's complaint alleges in part that "Plaintiff was merely a seventeen year old high school student when she was first lured into Defendant's sexually exploitive world in or about January 2004." Complaint, ¶17. According to the allegations, Plaintiff "was recruited while at work by a co-worker, one of the minor victims Defendant paid to procure underage females." Id. The Complaint further alleges, ¶¶17-26, that Defendant "sexually abused and/or battered and/or exploited Plaintiff at least 100 times between January 2004 and May 2005." If Plaintiff were 17 in January, 2004, she was at least 18 (the age of majority) in January 2005, if not sooner.4 Plaintiff alleges identical damages in each of the six counts. Complaint, ¶¶30, 34, 38, 43, 48, and 52. See endnote 2 hereto for Complaint allegations? In other words, Plaintiff is alleging and seeking recovery of duplicative damages in each of the six counts. To the extent Plaintiff is seeking to duplicate her "actual damages" on a per incident or per violation or per count basis, Plaintiff's action is required to be dismissed for failure to state a cause of action. 4 Defendant is moving for more definite statement requiring Plaintiff to specifically state her date of birth because her age and when she reached the age of majority may impact her ability to even pursue a §2255 claim. 8 EFTA00194802
Sivu 117 / 135
Had Congress wanted to write in a multiplier of actual damages recoverable it could have easily done so. For an example of a statute wherein the legislature included the language "for each violation" in assessing a "civil penalty," see 18 U.S.C. §216, entitled "Penalties and injunctions," of Chapter 11 — "Bribery, Graft, and Conflict of Interests," also contained in Title 18 "Crimes and Criminal Procedure." Subsection (b) of §216 gives the United States Attorney General the power to bring a "civil action ... against any person who engages in conduct constituting an offense under" specified sections of the bribery, graft, and conflicts of interest statutes. The statute further provides in relevant part that "upon proof of such conduct by a preponderance of the evidence, such person shall be subject to a civil penalty of not more than $50,000 for each violation or the amount of compensation which the person received or offered for the prohibited conduct, which ever amount is greater." As noted, 18 U.S.C. §2255 does not include such language. B. Constitutional Considerations? As set forth above, it is Defendant's position that the text of 18 U.S.C. §2255 does not allow a Plaintiff to pursue the recovery of actual damages or the minimum afforded under the statute on a "per violation" or "per incident" basis by attempting to allege multiple counts thereunder. In the alternative, if one were to assume that the language of §2255 were vague or ambiguous, under the constitutional based protections of due process, judicial restraint, and the rule of lenity applied in construing a statute, Defendant's position as to the meaning of the statute would prevail. See United States'. Santos 128 S.Ct. 2020, 2025 (2008). As summarized by the United States Supreme Court in Santos, supra, at 2025: 5 See argument in sections (2) and (3) that follow which represent the predicate for the rule of lenity issue discussed in B. 9 EFTA00194803
Sivu 118 / 135
... The rule of lenity requires ambiguous criminal laws to be interpreted in favor of the defendants subjected to them. See United States I . Gradwell, 243 U.S. 476, 485, 37 5.O. 407, 61 L.Ed. 857 (1917); McBoyle . United States, 283 U.S. 25, 27, 51 S.Ct. 340, 75 L.Ed. 816 (1931); United States'. Bass, 404 U.S. 336, 347-349, 92 S.Ct. 515, 30 L.Ed.2d 488 (1971). This venerable rule not only vindicates the fundamental principle that no citizen should be held accountable for a violation of a statute whose commands are uncertain, or subjected to punishment that is not clearly prescribed. It also places the weight of inertia upon the party that can best induce Congress to speak more clearly and keeps courts from making criminal law in Congress's stead. ... In Santos, the Court was faced with the interpretation of the term "proceeds" in the federal money laundering statute, 18 U.S.C. §1956. "The federal money-laundering statute prohibits a number of activities involving criminal 'proceeds."' Id, at 2023. Noting that the term "proceeds" was not defined in the statute, the Supreme Court stated the well settled principle that "when a term is undefined, we give it its ordinary meaning." Id, at 2024. Under the ordinary meaning principle, the government's position was that proceeds meant "receipts," while the defendant's position was that proceeds meant "profits." The Supreme Court recognized that under either of the proffered "ordinary meanings," the provisions of the federal money-laundering statute were still coherent, not redundant, and the statute was not rendered "utterly absurd." Under such a situation, citing to a long line of cases and the established rule of lenity, "the tie must go to the defendant." Id, at 2025. See portion of Court's opinion quoted above. "Because the 'profits' definition of 'proceeds' is always more defendant friendly that the 'receipts' definition, the rule of lenity dictates that it should be adopted." Id. The recent case of United States'. Berdeal, 595 F.Supp.2d 1326 (S.D. Fla. 2009), further supports Defendant's argument that the "rule of lenity" requires that the Court resolve any statutory interpretation conflict in favor of Defendant. Assuming for the sake of argument that Plaintiff's multiple counts, leading to a multiplication of the statutory 10 EFTA00194804
Sivu 119 / 135
damages amount, is a reasonable interpretation, like Defendant's reasonable interpretation, under the "rule of lenity," any ambiguity is resolved in favor of the least draconian measure. In Berdeal applying the rule of lenity, the Court sided with the Defendants' interpretation of the Lacey Act which makes illegal the possession of snook caught in specified jurisdictions. The snook had been caught in Nicaraguan waters. The defendants filed a motion to dismiss asserting the statute did not encompass snook caught in foreign waters. The United States disagreed. Both sides presented reasonable interpretations regarding the reach of the statute. In dismissing the indictment, the Court determined that the rule of lenity required it to accept defendants' interpretation. To allow a duplication or multiplication would subject Defendant EPSTEIN to a punishment that is not clearly prescribed — an unwritten multiplier of the "actual damages" or the presumptive minimum damages. The rule of lenity requires that Defendant's interpretation of the remedy afforded under §2255 be adopted. In addition, under the Due Process Clause's basic principle of fair warning - ... a criminal statute must give fair warning of the conduct that it makes a crime ... . As was said in United States'. Harriss, 347 U.S. 612, 617, 74 S.Ct. 808, 812, 98 L.Ed. 989, 'The constitutional requirement of definiteness is violated by a criminal statute that fails to give a person of ordinary intelligence fair notice that his contemplated conduct is forbidden by the statute. The underlying principle is that no man shall be held criminally responsible for conduct which he could not reasonably understand to be proscribed.' Thus we have struck down a [state] criminal statute under the Due Process Clause where it was not 'sufficiently explicit to inform those who are subject to it what conduct on their part will render them liable to its penalties.' Connally General Const. Co., 269 U.S. 385, 391, 46 S.Ct. 126, 127, 70 L.Ed. 322. We have recognized in such cases that 'a statute which either forbids or requires the doing of an act in terms so vague that men of common intelligence must necessarily guess at its meaning and differ as to its application violates the first essential of due process of law,' ibid., and that 11 EFTA00194805
Sivu 120 / 135
'No one may be required at peril of life, liberty or property to speculate as to the meaning of penal statutes. All are entitled to be informed as to what the State commands or forbids.' Lanzetta I. New Jersey, 306 U.S. 451, 453, 59 S.Ct. 618, 619, 83 L.Ed. 888. Thus, applying the statutory analysis, in A. and these well-entrenched constitutional principles of statutory interpretation and application in B., Plaintiff's cause of action — Counts One through Six — to the extent Plaintiff is attempting to multiply actual damages or the presumptive amount of damages, is required to be dismissed for failure to state a cause of action. (2) In addition, if Plaintiff is relying on the amended version of 18 U.S.C. 62255, such reliance is improper and requires dismissal of the entire action. It is Defendant's position (hat 18 U.S.C. 62255 in effect prior to the 2006 amendments applies to this action. (3) Further, Count Six is also required to be dismissed as it relies on a predicate act that was not in effect al the lime of the alleged conduct.' Plaintiff does not specifically allege in her Complaint on which version of 18 U.S.C. §2255 she is relying. However, in the purported Count Six of her Complaint, ¶50, she alleges that Defendant "knowingly engaged in a child exploitation enterprise, as defined in 18 U.S.C. §2252A(g)(2), in violation of 18 U.S.C. §2252A(g)(1)." §2252A is one of the specified predicate acts under 18 U.S.C. §2255. However, subsection (g) of §2252 was not added to the statute until 2006. Thus, to the extent that Plaintiff is relying on the amended version, such reliance is improper and the entire action is required to be dismissed. Further, in the alternative, Count Six is required to be dismissed as it relies on a statutory predicate act that did not exist at the time of the alleged conduct. The statute in effect during the time the alleged conduct occurred is 18 U.S.C. §2255 (2005) — the version in effect prior to the 2006 amendment, eff. Jul. 27, 2006, *Points (2) and (3) are addressed together as the legal arguments overlap. 12 EFTA00194806