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FBI VOL00009
EFTA00230786
1131 pages
Page 401 / 1131
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CIVIL COVER SHEET
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EFTA00231186
Page 402 / 1131
e. LEGAL RECYCLED PAPER 170, == TO REORDER CALL 954-10.9399 ry EFTA00231187
Page 403 / 1131
Case 9:08-cv-80736-KAM
Document 26
Entered on FLSD Docket 08/21/2008
Page 1 of 2
UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
SOUTHERN DISTRICT OF FLORIDA
NO. 08-80736-CIV-MARRA/JOHNSON
IN RE: JANE DOES 1 AND 2,
Petitioners.
I
ORDER TO COMPEL PRODUCTION AND PROTECTIVE ORDER
THIS CAUSE comes before the Court on the Petitioners' ore tenus motion seeking the
production of the Non-Prosecution Agreement between the United States Attorney's Office for the
Southern District of Florida ("USAO") and Jeffrey Epstein ("Epstein"). After consideration of the
Motion, the arguments of the parties, and the record, it is ORDERED AND ADJUDGED that the
Petitioners' Motion is GRANTED. The USAO shall produce the Non-Prosecution Agreement,
including any modifications and addenda thereto, in accordance with the following procedures:
(a)
The USAO shall produce a copy of the Non-Prosecution Agreement,
including any modifications and addenda thereto (collectively referred to as the "Agreement"), to
the attorneys for Petitioners.
(b)
Petitioners and their attorneys shall not disclose the Agreement or its terms
to any third party absent further court order, following notice to and an opportunity for Epstein's
counsel to be heard.
(e)
Before counsel for petitioners show the Agreement to their clients or discuss
the specific terms with them, they must provide a copy of this Order to petitioners, who must review
and acknowledge their receipt of, and agreement to abide by, the terms of the Order. Counsel for
petitioners must promptly provide a copy of that acknowledgment to the USAO.
(d)
If any individuals who have been identified by the USAO as victims of
EFTA00231188
Page 404 / 1131
Case 9:08-cv-80736-KAM Document 26 Entered on FLSD Docket 08/21/2008 Page 2 of 2 Epstein and/or any attomey(s) for those individuals request the opportunity to review the Agreement, then the USAO shall produce the Agreement to those individuals, I long as those individuals also agree that they shall not disclose the Agreement or its terms to any third party absent further court order, following notice to and an opportunity for Epstein's counsel to be heard (e) Prior to producing the documents to any other individuals who have been identified by the USAO as victims of Epstein and/or any attomey(s) for those individuals, a copy of this Order must be provided to said individuals, who must review and acknowledge their receipt of, and agreement to abide by, the terns of this Order. Counsel for petitioners must promptly provide a copy of that acknowledgment to the USAO. DONE and ORDERED in Chambers, in West Palm Beach, Palm Beach County, Florida, this 21" day of August, 2008. Copies furnished to: all counsel of record Order. Dated: ,e, KENNETH A. MARRA UNITED STATES DISTRICT JUDGE By signing below, I certify that I have reviewed and agree to be bound by the terms of this Signed by: Printed Name: 2 EFTA00231189
Page 405 / 1131
RECYCLED PAPER TO REORDER CALL 954446-9199 CL.) EFTA00231190
Page 406 / 1131
Case 9:08-cv-80736-KAM
Document 28
Entered on FLSD Docket 09/25/2008
Page 1 of 8
UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
SOUTHERN DISTRICT OF FLORIDA
CASE NO.: 08-80736-CIV-MARRA/JOHNSON
JANE DOE #1 AND JANE DOE #2,
Petitioners,
v.
UNITED STATES OF AMERICA,
Respondent
VICTIM'S MOTION TO UNSEAL NON-PROSECUTION AGREEMENT
COMES NOW the Petitioners, Jane Doe #1 and Jane Doe #2, by and through their
undersigned attorneys, pursuant to the Crime Victim's Rights Act, 18 U.S.C. Section 3771
•
("CVRA"), and file this motion to unseal the non-prosecution agreement that has been provided
to their attorneys under seal in this case. The agreement should be unsealed because no good
cause exists for sealing it. Moreover, the Government has inaccurately described the agreement
in its publicly-filed pleadings,.creating a false impression that the agreement protects the victims.
Finally, the agreement should be unsPaled to facilitate consultation by victims' counsel with
others involved who have information related to the case.
BACKGROUND
As the court is aware, this action was brought by two crime victims (hereinafter referred
to as "the victims") seeking protection of their rights under the Crime Victim's Rights Act, 18
U.S.C. § 3771. At the center of this action is an agreement between the United States and Jeffrey
Epstein that (as described in earlier court pleadings publicly filed by the Government) involved
EFTA00231191
Page 407 / 1131
Case 9:08-cv-80736-KAM Document 28 Entered on FLSD Docket 09/25/2008 Page 2 of 8 Epstein's entry of guilty pleas to various state charges and an 18-month jail sentence, in exchange for which the U.S. Government apparently agreed to defer all federal prosecution — including any federal prosecution for the federal crimes committed against the victims. At a hearing held on August 14, 2008, the court ordered the Government to produce to counsel for the victims the non-prosecution agreement. That production, however, was to be done under protective order in the first instance. The agreement has now been produced. At the earlier hearing, the court recognized that the victims' counsel might at a later date seek to have the sealing lifted. That date has now arrived. ARGUMENT As the court envisioned might well happen, counsel for the victims now believe that sealing of the agreement is no longer appropriate. The non-prosecution agreement should now be unsealed for three reasons. 1. No Good Cause Has Been Shown for Sealing the Agreement. Having now reviewed the agreement, counsel for the victims can find no legitimate basis for the document to be sealed. Because it stands at the center of this litigation (as well as several related civil suits), the burden should fall on those who would keep the document sealed to show cause for doing,. No good cause has yet been shown. Cf United . States v. Ochoa-Vasque, 428 F.3d 1015 (11* Cir. 2005) (to justify sealing of court records "a court must articulate the overriding interest along with findings specific enough that a reviewing court can determine whether the closure order was properly entered"). 2. The Government Has Inaccurately Described the Agreement. In its publicly-filed pleadings in this case, the Government has inaccurately 2 EFTA00231192
Page 408 / 1131
Case 9:08-cv-80736-KAM
Document 28
Entered on FLSD Docket 09/25/2008
Page 3 of 8
described the non-prosecution agreement, creating the false impression that it is more favorable
to the victims than it actually is. Accordingly, the non-prosecution agreement should be unsealed
that the true state of affairs is reflected in the court's file.
In its response to the victims' petition, the Government states that the non-
prosecution agreement contains the following provision:
Any person, who while a minor, was a victim of a violation of an
offense enumerated in Title 18, United states Code, Section 2255;
will have the same rights to proceed under Section 2255 as she
would have had, if Mr. Epstein had been hied federally and
convicted of an enumerate offense. For purposes of implementing
this paragraph, the United States shall provide Mr. Epstein's
attorneys with a list of individuals whom it was prepared to name
in an Indictment as victims of an enumerated offense by Mr.
Epstein.
Any judicial authority interpreting this provision,
including any authority determining which evidentiary burdens if
any a plaintiff must meet, shall consider that it is the intent of the
parties to place these identified victims in the same position as they
would have been bad Mr. Epstein been convicted at trial. No
more; no less.
Govt's Resp. to Victim's Emergency Petition for Enforcement of Crime Victim's Right at 4. The
sworn declaration of the Assistant U.S. Attorney handling this matter also recounts the same
language. See Declaration of
in Support of United States' Response to
Victims' Emergency Petition at 3-4. The sworn declaration also states that victims were told
about this language in October 2007. See Declaration of
at 4 ("In October
2007, shortly after the agreement was signed, four victims were contacted and these provisions
were discussed"). On July 9, 2008, the victims received notice from the Government that the
above-described provision was negotiated on behalf of the victims for their protection and was
3
EFTA00231193
Page 409 / 1131
Case 9:08-cv-80736-KAM Document 28 Entered on FLSD Docket 09/25/2008 Page 4 of 8 thus contained in the non-prosecution agreement.1 Having now reviewed the non-prosecution agreement, the Government's response to the victims' motion and the accompanying sworn declaration are simply untrue. The above- quoted provision simply does not appear fn the agreement anywhere. It is true that the non- prosecution agreement contains a provision bearing on the same subject However, this provision has a number of qualifying provisos that make it far less favorable to the victims than the above-described provision. (To avoid filing a separate, sealed pleading laying out the differences, counsel for the victims have simply described the differences in general terms. We trust that the Government, in its response, will agree that it has erroneously described the agreement to the court and the victims.) The Government should be required to correct its previously-filed pirwlings to accurately recount the non-prosecution agreement that it reached with Epstein. Moreover, the Government should also be required to state forthrightly whether through the last nine months, it gave the victims (like the court) inaccurate information about what the non-prosecution agreement entailed. But most important, because the current sealing of the non-prosecution agreement creates a false and deceptive appearance about the agreement that the Government has actually reached with Epstein, the agreement should be unsealed. Indeed, it should be noted that sealing of materials in this case appears to operate in a rather peculiar fashion. The Government apparently feels free to disclose to the victims one provision in the non-prosecution agreement that it believes it is to its advantage to disclose, but not others. The Government should not be permitted to pick and choose, particularly where it I The Government has recently provided a new notice to the victim; containing different language. 4 EFTA00231194
Page 410 / 1131
Case 9:08-cv-80736-KAM Document 28 Entered on FLSD Docket 09/25/2008 Page 5 of 8 has inaccurately described the provision that it has chosen to disclose. 3. The Non-Prosecution Agreement Should be Unsealed To Facilitate Effective Renresemation of the Victims in this Action and Related Civil Actions. The sealing order bars the victims' counsel from "disclos[ing] the Agreement or its terms to any third party absent further court order, following notice to and an opportunity for Epstein's counsel to be heard." Order to Compel Production and Protective Order at I. Victims' counsel have scrupulously abided by that restriction. Victims' counsel would, hoWever, now like to discuss the terms of the non-prosecution agreement with third parties in making a determination about how best to proceed in this action, including what remedies to seek for the violations of victims' rights that have occurred. Counsel, therefore, respectfully seek the "further court order" that the sealing order envisions. In particular, victims' counsel would like to discuss the agreement with other victims of Epstein and their attorneys to determine whether they were likewise provided with inaccurate information about the nature of the plea agreement. Victims' counsel would also like to discuss possible legal responses to the Government with other victims' rights attorneys, including in particular the National Alliance of Victims' Rights Attorneys for possible legal approaches. See httni/www.ncvli.ont/navra.html. The sealing order would apparently block these forms of consultation, or perhaps require such burdensome non-disclosure obligations as to make the consultation difficult or impractical. Finally, victims' counsel would like to refer to the non-prosecution agreement in a parallel civil suit that is pending before this court. See Jane Doe v. Jeffrey Epstein, United States District Court, Southern District of Florida, Case No.: 08-CIV- 80893-MARILWOFINSON. To €acilitate all these discussions, the non-prosecution agreement 5 EFTA00231195
Page 411 / 1131
Case 9:08-cv-80736-KAM Document 28 Entered on FLSD Docket 09/25/2008 Page 6 of 8 should be unsealed. NOTICE TO EPSTEIN It is possible that Jeffrey Epstein will object to the unsealing of the agreement. Accordingly, the court should provide notice of this motion to Jeffrey Epstein, through counsel. Jeffrey Epstein's counsel has entered an appearance in several related civil suits, including Jane Doe v. Jeffrey Epstein, United States District Court, Southern District of Florida, Case No.: 08- CIY-80893-MARRA-JOMVSON. Although Epstein's counsel has not entered an appearance in this matter, as a courtesy to them, counsel for the victims' will provide a copy of this pleading at the address indicated in the related civil suit. CONCLUSION The non-prosecution agreement should be unsealed. DATED this 25th day of September 2008. Respectfully Submitted, THE LAW OFFICE OF BRAD EDWARDS & ASSOCIATES, LLC By: s/ Brad Edwards Brad Edwards, Esquire Attorney for Petitioners Florida Bar No. 542075 2028 Harrison Street Suite 202 Hollywood, Florida 33020 Telephone: Facsimile: E-Mail: 6 EFTA00231196
Page 412 / 1131
Case 9:08-cv-80736-KAM Document 28 Entered on FLSD Docket 09/25/2008 Page 7 of 8 Paul G. Cassell Attorney for Petitioners Pro Hac Vice 332 S. 1400 E. Salt Lake City, UT 84112 Telephone: Facsimile: E-Mail: Jay C. Howell, Esquire Attorney for Petitioners Pro Hac Vice 644 Cesery Boulevard Suite 250 Jacksonville, Florida 32211 Telephone: Facsimile: E-Mail: CERTIFICATE OF SERVICE I HEREBY CERTIFY that on September 25, 2008, I electronically filed the foregoing document with the Clerk of the Court using CM/ECF. SERVICE LIST Jane Doe 1 and Jane Doe 2 Case No.: 08-80736-CIV-MARRA/JOHNSON United States District Cowl, Southern District of Florida =ME Assistant U.S. Attorney 99 N.E. 4th Street Miami, Florida 33132 Telephone: Facsimile: 7 EFTA00231197
Page 413 / 1131
Case 9:08-cv-80736-KAM Document 28 Entered on FLSD Docket 09/25/2008 Page 8 of 8 AUSA United States Attorneys Office 500 South Australian Avenue West Palm Beach, Florida 33401 s/ Brad Edwards Brad Edwards, Esquire Attorney for Petitioner Florida Bar No. 542075 I HEREBY FURTHER CERTIFY that on September 25, 2008, a true and correct copy of the above and foregoing document is being provided by United States mail to: Jack Alan Goldberger, Esquire Atterbtuty, Goldberger & Weiss, P.A. 250 Australian Avenue South Suite 1400 W Beech Florida 33401 Michael R. Tein, Esquire Lewis Tein, P.L. 3059 Grand Avenue Suite 340 Coconut Grove. Florida 33133 Robert D. Critton, Jr., Esquire Michael J. Pike, Esquire Burman, Critton, Luttier & Coleman, LLP 515 North Flagler Drive West Palm Beac Florida 33401 s/ Brad Edwards Brad Edwards, Esquire Attorney for Petitioner Florida Bar No. 542075 8 EFTA00231198
Page 414 / 1131
Case 9:08-cv-80736-KAM Document 28-2 Entered on FLSD Docket 09/25/2008 Page 1 of 1 UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT SOUTHERN DISTRICT OF FLORIDA CASE NO.: 08-80736-CIV-MARRAZIOHNSON JANE DOE #1 AND JANE DOE #2, Petitioners, v. UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, Respondent ORDER TO UNSEAL NON-PROSECUTION AGREEMENT THIS CAUSE comes before the Court on the Petitioners' Motion to Unseal Non- Prosecution Agreement between the United States Attorneys Office for the Southern District of Florida and Jeffrey Epstein. After consideration of the Motion and the record, it is ORDERED AND ADJUDGED that the Petitioners' Motion is GRANTED and the Non- Prosecution Agreement between the United States Attorneys Office for the Southern District of Florida and Jeffrey Epstein is hereby ordered to be unsealed. DONE AND ORDERED in Chambers, in West Palm Beach, Palm Beach County, Florida, this day of , 2008. KENNETH A. MARRA UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT Copies furnished to: all counsel of record EFTA00231199
Page 415 / 1131
RECYCLED PAPER TO REORDER CALL 954446-9399 EFTA00231200
Page 416 / 1131
Case 9:08-cv-80736-KAM Document 29 Entered on FLSD Docket 10/08/2008 Page 1 of 7 UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT SOUTHERN DISTRICT OF FLORIDA Case No. 08-80736-Civ-Mana/Jolinson JANE DOES #1 and #2 Petitioners, v. UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, Respondent. RESPONDENT'S OPPOSITION TO VICTIMS' MOTION TO UNSEAL NON-PROSECUTION AGREEMENT Respondent, by and through its undersigned counsel, files its Opposition to Victims' Motion to Unseal Non-Prosecution Agreement, and states: I. THE MOTION TO UNSEAL SHOULD BE DENIED BECAUSE THE NON-PROSECUTION AGREEMENT HAS NEVER BEEN FILED UNDER SEAL IN THIS COURT. Petitioners have filed their motion to unseal the non-prosecution agreement, claiming that no good cause exists for sealing it. As an initial matter, the motion should be denied because the non-prosecution agreement entered into between the United States Attorney's Office and Jeffrey Epstein was never filed in the instant case by the United Slates, eitherunderseal or otherwiseOrr August 14, 2008, this Court held a telephonic hearing to discuss petitioners' request for a copy of the non-prosecution agreement. The United States advised the Court that the Agreement had a confidentiality provision, EFTA00231201
Page 417 / 1131
Case 9:08-cv-80736-KAM Document 29 Entered on FLSD Docket 10/08/2008 Page 2 of 7 which the United States was obligated to honor. The United States requested that, if the Agreement was to be produced to petitioners, it should be done pursuant to a protective order, to ensure that further dissemination of the Agreement would not occur. At that time, petitioners had no objection to such a procedure. On August 21, 2008, this Court entered its Order to Compel Production and Protective Order (DE 26). Subpart (b) of the Order provides that, "Petitioners and their attorneys shall not disclose the Agreement or its terms to any third party absent further court order, following notice to and an opportunity for Epstein's counsel to be heard." (DE 26 at 1.) Presumably, petitioners' motion to unseal is an effort to modify the terms of the Protective Order, to enable them to disclose the Agreement to third parties. Since the Agreement has not been filed under seal with this Court, the legal authority cited by petitioners regarding sealing of documents, United States'. Ochoa- Vasque 428 F.3d 1015 (11th Cir. 2005), is inapposite. The parties who negotiated the Agreement, the United States Attorney's Office and Jeffrey Epstein, determined that the Agreement should remain confidential. They were free to do,, and violated no law in making such an agreement. Since the Agreement has become relevant to the instant lawsuit, petitioners have been given access to it, upon the condition that it not be disclosed further} Petitioners have no legal right to disclose the Agreement to third parties, or standing to challenge the confidentiality provision. `It is unclear whether the Petitioners themselves (as opposed to their attorneys) have actually reviewed the Non-Prosecution Agreement. The Court's Order to Compel Production required petitioners' counsel to review and agree to the Protective Order and to do the same with 2 EFTA00231202
Page 418 / 1131
Case 9:08-cv-80736-KAM Document 29 Entered on FLSD Docket 10/08/2008 Page 3 of 7 In order to have standing, petitioners must show: (1) an injury in fact, meaning an injury that is concrete and particularized, and actual or imminent (2) a causal connection between the injury and the causal conduct; and (3) a likelihood that the injury will be redressed by a favorable decision. Granite State Outdoor Advertising. Inc. v. City of Clearwater, Fla., 351 F.3d 1112, 1116 (11th Cir. 2003). Petitioners already have obtained access to the agreement,, they cannot claim a denial of access as an injury in fact. Their motion to unseal refers to their stated desire to confer with other victims of Epstein and their attorneys "to determine whether they were likewise provided with inaccurate information about the nature of the plea agreement." WE 28 at 5.) This asserted reason for needing to unseal the Agreement is baseless given that the Protective Order, at the Court's direction, specifically provides for a very simple procedure to allow other victims and their lawyers to see the Agreement. (See DE 26 at 1-2, subpart (d).) MI that is required is for any victims and/or their attorneys to review and agree to the terms of the Protective Order, and to provide the signed acknowledgment of that agreement to the United States. Petitioners' claim that they wish to discuss with others the "possible legal responses" to the Government, including the National Alliance of Victims' Rights Attorneys, also provides no basis for vacatur of the Protective Order. Petitioners contend that the "sealing order would apparently block these forms of consultation . . ." (DE 28 at their clients. Copies of those signed acknowledgements to abide by the Protective Order were then to be provided "promptly" to the United States. To date, only Attorney Brad Edwards has provided a signed acknowledgement. 3 EFTA00231203
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Case 9:08-cv-80736-KAM Document 29 Entered on FLSD Docket 10/08/2008 Page 4 of 7 5.) First, there is no sealing order. Second, the Protective Order does not prevent petitioners from consulting with anyone; it only prevents them from disclosing the Agreement. Petitioners fail to mention why it is necessary for the National Alliance of Victims' Rights Attorneys to have the Agreement in hand, in order to meaningfully consult with them. Petitioners also assert that they would like to be able to reference the Agreement "in a parallel civil suit that is pending before this Court." (DE 28 at 5.) Given that the suit names Jeffrey Epstein as a defendant and is pending before the same district judge, it seems that litigation regarding the production and use of the Agreement should occur in that case, where the true party in interest, Jeffrey Epstein, is present and represented by counsel, rather than in a suit that was originally filed in July as an "Emergency Petition" under the various victims' rights laws. IL THE GOVERNMENT ACCURATELY DESCRIBED THE PROVISIONS OF THE AGREEMENT, AT THE TIME THE RESPONSES WERE FILED WITH THE COURT. Petitioners castigate the Government for inaccurately describing the non- prosecution agreement. (DE 28 at 2-5.) They contend a particular provision cited by the Government does not appear in the copy of the Agreement produced to them. During the telephonic hearing on August 14, 2008, Government counsel advised the Court and petitioners' counsel that there was an ongoing dispute between the Government-and p o eys over what-cons d the Agreement. Government counsel advised that, in its opinion, the Agreement had three parts. The first part was 4 EFTA00231204
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Case 9:08-cv-80736-KAM
Document 29
Entered on FLSD Docket 10/08/2008
Page 5 of 7
executed in September 2007, the second part, an addendum, was executed in October
2007, and the third part was a December 2007 letter from the United States Attorney to
Epstein's attorneys, suggesting a further modification of the Agreement. The
Government advised the Court that it believed that all three parts comprised the
Agreement, while it appeared that Epstein's attorneys were contending the Agreement
was comprised only of parts one and two.
At the commencement of the instant litigation, in July 2008, the Government
believed the Agreement was comprised of all three parts mentioned above. This belief
was expressed in victim notification letters, including one sent to Jane Doe #1,2 the
Government's July 9, 2008 response to the Emergency Petition for Enforcement of
Victims Rights Act, as well as the Declaration of
Assistant U.S.
Attorney, which accompanied the Government's response. This belief continued until
August 2008, when the Government advised Epstein's attorneys that the victims had
2The victim notification letter was provided to Epstein's attorneys prior to being sent,
who approved the language of which the petitioners now complain. Thus, petitioners' repeated
assertions that the Government made these errors intentionally and/or negligently are meritless.
(See, e.a., DE 28 at 4-5 ("The Government apparently feels free to disclose to the victims one
provision in the non-prosecution agreement that it believes it is to its advantage to disclose, but
not others. The Government should not be permitted to pick and choose, particularly where it
has inaccurately described the provision that it has chosen to disclose.") The Government seeks
no "advantage" in this suit brought by the two victims. Furthermore, the petitioners' original
emergency petition focused on their concern about the amount of jail time that Epstein would
serve. The provision that they complain of now has no relation to jail time. Furthermore,
petitioners aver that the October 2007 disclosure to Jane Doe #1 contained inaccurate
information, but that disclosure was made before the December 2007 letter and, therefore, did
not include anything related to the U.S. Attorney's now-defunct proposed amendment to the
Agreement.
5
EFTA00231205