The Prince Andrew and Jeffrey Epstein Controversy 2010-2023

[Alison H]

I don't know who's bankrolling Virginia Giuffre, but I gather that she's using some very expensive lawyers, so presumably she's also using some very expensive process servers who, if necessary, will hang around the house 24/7 until Andrew comes out and they can serve the papers on him in person. He can't avoid them indefinitely, so he may as well accept the papers, have done, and decide where he goes from here.

[sophie25]

If I was accused if the things he has been accused of and I knew I was 100'% innocent I would be running to the courts to clear my name and that would surely be the reaction of any innocent person. As I said earlier, the ducking and diving has to stop for his own sake. If he is innocent he should help the authorities as an innocent person has nothing to fear.

[Roslyn]

Originally Posted by Alison H

I don't know who's bankrolling Virginia Giuffre, but I gather that she's using some very expensive lawyers, so presumably she's also using some very expensive process servers who, if necessary, will hang around the house 24/7 until Andrew comes out and they can serve the papers on him in person. He can't avoid them indefinitely, so he may as well accept the papers, have done, and decide where he goes from here.

I agree. Her advisors are not inexperienced lightweights who are going to be put off by Andrew's ducking and weaving to try to avoid service. I am sure that all necessary steps are being taken to effect service, including laying the groundwork for an application for an order for substituted service if necessary. It shouldn't be necessary though because no way in the wide world can this man realistically claim he has not been made aware of the proceedings against him. By playing these games and hiding behind Mummy's skirts he is not endearing himself to anyone.

[sophie25]

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-9979079/Prince-Andrews-lawyers-claim-court-papers-Virginia-Roberts-rape-case-NOT-properly-served.html

Oh here we go, his legal team are indeed going down the route of the papers not being served correctly. They are also hoping to get the case thrown out on a technicality rather than have to defend him against the charges.

[Tatiana Maria]

Originally Posted by sophie25

If he is innocent he should help the authorities as an innocent person has nothing to fear.

As you are applying your statement generally to every person who has ever been declined to be interviewed by authorities, I will reply to it as a general statement (not related to this case): It is not true, even in democratic countries, that an innocent person never has anything to fear from the police.

See here

[PrincessKaimi]

Originally Posted by Alison H

I don't know who's bankrolling Virginia Giuffre, but I gather that she's using some very expensive lawyers, so presumably she's also using some very expensive process servers who, if necessary, will hang around the house 24/7 until Andrew comes out and they can serve the papers on him in person. He can't avoid them indefinitely, so he may as well accept the papers, have done, and decide where he goes from here.

In the US, civil cases are generally handled on contingency. That means that unless the plaintiff wins, the lawyers get nothing. So, lawyers are quite careful to select cases that will make them money - in this case, the PR is worth a lot.

Plus, the firm might well win a judgment and that will be worth millions in PR.

It's a gamble, sure. I bet some of these lawyers are getting speaking engagements to instruct others on filing this kind of federal case, from first hand experience.

[Moonmaiden23]

Originally Posted by Alison H

I don't know who's bankrolling Virginia Giuffre, but I gather that she's using some very expensive lawyers, so presumably she's also using some very expensive process servers who, if necessary, will hang around the house 24/7 until Andrew comes out and they can serve the papers on him in person. He can't avoid them indefinitely, so he may as well accept the papers, have done, and decide where he goes from here.

The head of her legal team is David Boies. To describe him as a heavy hitter is kind of an understatement. He successfully sued Bill Gates and Microsoft for anti-trust violations if memory serves.

[Leopoldine]

People close to Andrew were describing him as "stir-crazy" being stuck inside Royal Lodge while process servers swarmed all over Windsor.

Perhaps Andrew will give a thought to people around the UK and elsewhere who have had to sequester in their homes during the last year and a half due to Covid, a good many not having a 30 room secured mansion to swan around in.

[UglyAmerican]

He doesn't have to avoid them forever. There's a time limit for how long the plaintiff has to serve them after the complaint is filed. Giuffre filed this lawsuit just before the statute of limitations ran out, so if her team can't get it served before that deadline, then in theory she wouldn't be able to pursue it further. They'll undoubtedly have a lot of arguments about why that shouldn't happen, with his obvious service-dodging being at the forefront, so that may not be the end of the matter.

[sophie25]

Originally Posted by UglyAmerican

He doesn't have to avoid them forever. There's a time limit for how long the plaintiff has to serve them after the complaint is filed. Giuffre filed this lawsuit just before the statute of limitations ran out, so if her team can't get it served before that deadline, then in theory she wouldn't be able to pursue it further. They'll undoubtedly have a lot of arguments about why that shouldn't happen, with his obvious service-dodging being at the forefront, so that may not be the end of the matter.

It's virtually impossible to approach a member of the royal family as their homes and themselves are constantly shielded by security as are many rich and famous people. If no exception can be made for when it's these kind of people papers are being served to then we would basically be saying they are above the law so I'm sure the courts would need to accept the serving of papers to their lawyers, for example, as being acceptable.

[Mirabel]

Originally Posted by Osipi

One thing for sure is that if Andrew does decide to face this head on, any talking to the press or the public should be done by his legal team and *not* himself.

I think Andrew is finding out that this isn't going to go away anytime soon. The sooner it's resolved, the better.

I'm not certain it can ever be truly resolved.
It sounds as if it will come down to his word against hers, with no real evidence to go by.

[Lori138]

Whether or not he is innocent or guilty, I am appalled that Ms. Guiffre has decided that Andrew is the ONLY person who has ever sexually assaulted her. I am sure that she was handed around to several powerful men (a former president?) and why are they not being sued as well. All about the publicity in this case, I think.

To make her case more legitimate she should have sued all the men that she supposedly was forced to have sex with.

(Have eliminated the name I put in here, sorry everyone).

[Leopoldine]

Originally Posted by Lori138

Whether or not he is innocent or guilty, I am appalled that Ms. Guiffre has decided that Andrew is the ONLY person who has ever sexually assaulted her. I am sure that she was handed around to several powerful men (Bill Clinton?) and why are they not being sued as well. All about the publicity in this case, I think.

To make her case more legitimate she should have sued all the men that she supposedly was forced to have sex with.

She has been most emphatic that Bill Clinton was not one of the men she had sexual activity with. The ones she did name are very prominent figures, including a former prime minister (not UK), a former senator and a former governor. I don't think the moderators would want their names listed here.

Andrew is probably the least careful and circumspect of the group. His odious sense of entitlement, tarnished reputation and the probability that his family organization will pay to stay out of court make him a ripe target.

[Alison H]

Originally Posted by Lori138

Whether or not he is innocent or guilty, I am appalled that Ms. Guiffre has decided that Andrew is the ONLY person who has ever sexually assaulted her. I am sure that she was handed around to several powerful men (Bill Clinton?) and why are they not being sued as well. All about the publicity in this case, I think.

To make her case more legitimate she should have sued all the men that she supposedly was forced to have sex with.

Publicity and money. I don't think she realises that the Royal Family are probably considerably less well off than some of the others allegedly involved.

All the same, it's been very poorly handled. Surely Prince Andrew's lawyers must realise how bad it looks for him to be skulking about and trying to avoid the case on a technicality?

[ladongas]

Originally Posted by Lori138

Whether or not he is innocent or guilty, I am appalled that Ms. Guiffre has decided that Andrew is the ONLY person who has ever sexually assaulted her. I am sure that she was handed around to several powerful men (Bill Clinton?) and why are they not being sued as well. All about the publicity in this case, I think.

To make her case more legitimate she should have sued all the men that she supposedly was forced to have sex with.

Is it perhaps unfair to expect a victim of sex-trafficking and rape to be in charge of rounding up all the men who victimized her? Chances are good that she never knew the names of many of them. I’m sure her present team of lawyers are prudently handling the case for maximum
effectiveness.

And since Ms. Guiffre has indicated that former President Clinton was not among those who harmed her, it might be wise to avoid accusing him.

[Leopoldine]

So now Virginia Giuffre's lawyer and his firm are under heavy artillery fire. I wonder who instigated this?

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/art...Weinstein.html

[Harald]

Originally Posted by Leopoldine

I wonder who instigated this?

That is very much not anyone's guess!

[Osipi]

Originally Posted by Leopoldine

So now Virginia Giuffre's lawyer and his firm are under heavy artillery fire. I wonder who instigated this?

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/art...Weinstein.html

I think it's been a steady exodus of personnel due to many different things and really has nothing to do with Andrew whatsoever. It doesn't help Andrew's case much in the court of public opinion to be represented by a firm notorious for taking on "seedy" and "disgraced" clientele.

Still, the law is the law and that's what any lawyer needs to stick to.

[Lord_Royal]

A lawyer's job in a case like Prince Andrew's is to extricate the client in the fastest, least intrusive, and most certain way possible.

That means you take every single opportunity for your client, even if it is a technicality like the service of originating pleadings. The argument that's being discussed in the media, that an agreement Ms. Giuffre signed years ago precludes her from taking action against anyone else associated with Mr. Epstein, is technical in nature.

However, if it is open to Prince Andrew's legal counsel to pursue this avenue they would be negligent to do anything else. If that is unsuccessful then they have to look at what would occur in a trial. But a trial has risks and even a person in the right could pull the unlucky straw, get the wrong judge, and be found liable.

What we will be seeing from Prince Andrew's legal counsel is a vigorous defence in as many ways, and down as many avenues, as possible.

[victor1319]

Originally Posted by Lord_Royal

That means you take every single opportunity for your client, even if it is a technicality like the service of originating pleadings.

Well, the whole world does know, that the papers were delivered to Prince Andrew's house - everybody but him, at least "technically".

This makes him look a bit unfortunate. I mean, this is not the Wild West anymore! The idea of the norm is surely not, that rich folks can hide out in their keeps ...

In short: It makes Andrew look guilty and damages the House of Windsor.