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Thursday June 25, 2020 at 6:30am EST
CONTACT
Jeff Solnet
[email protected]
561-926.0909
Renowned Claims Resolution Experts Announce Commencement of the
Epstein Victims' Compensation Program
New York, NY — Today, individuals who were sexually abused by Jeffrey Epstein may begin the
process of filing claims with the Epstein Victims' Compensation Program ("Epstein VCP" or
"Program"). The Epstein VCP is a voluntary, non-adversarial, confidential claims resolution program
that has been established to compensate victims-survivors and resolve their sexual abuse claims
against Jeffrey Epstein and the Epstein Estate. The Epstein VCP will operate entirely independently
of the Epstein Estate.
The Program was designed over the last several months by nationally recognized independent
claims administration experts Kenneth R. Feinberg, Camille S. Biros and Jordana ("Jordy") H.
Feldman ("Co-Designers") with input from attorneys representing over 70 victims, the Attorney
General of the Virgin Islands, the Epstein Estate and other interested parties. The Program will be
administered by Ms. Feldman (the "Administrator"), the former Deputy Special Master of the
September 11th Victim Compensation Fund, the litigation-alternative program administered by the
U.S. Department of Justice that compensates victims who have become sick or died as a result of
their September 11th-related exposure.
"This Program provides victims of Jeffrey Epstein the opportunity to be heard outside the glare of
public courtroom proceedings, and to receive acknowledgment by an independent third party as to
the legitimacy of their experience and the long-term suffering it has wrought," said Ms. Feldman.
"Treating victims with dignity and respect and providing them with appropriate compensation is
central to our work with the Program, even as we recognize that no amount of money will erase the
years of pain these victims have endured."
"These programs are as much about offering validation as providing fair compensation," said Mr.
Feinberg who, along with Ms. Biros, has designed and administered similar compensation programs
for the Catholic Church sexual abuse claims, the Penn State sexual abuse claims, and the
September 11th Victim Compensation Fund, among others.
The Program provides victims with an attractive alternative to litigation by offering a process that is
speedy and cost-effective. The Program also removes barriers to pursue claims in civil courts,
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including statutes of limitations and prior settlements, and applies more relaxed evidentiary
requirements.
Important features of the Program include:
1. The Program is independent of and entirely free from any interference or control by
the Epstein Estate. The Administrator has complete autonomy and decision-making
authority to determine individual claimant eligibility and compensation. The Estate has no
authority to modify or reject the Administrator's decisions on any basis or as to any claim,
and the Estate will pay all eligible claims based on the Administrator's determination.
2. The Program is purely voluntary; no individual claimant is required to participate. A
victim's legal rights are not impacted unless the victim accepts the compensation offered by
the Administrator and signs a release, agreeing not to engage in any further litigation against
the Epstein Estate and related entities and/or individuals.
3. The Program is confidential. Protecting Claimant privacy is of paramount importance to
the Program. The Program will maintain strict confidentiality of all information submitted, but
will not impose any limitations on the Claimant's ability to share information with law
enforcement, or anyone else.
"Our work with victims of Catholic Church abuse, September 11th and other similar programs has
provided us with invaluable insight into how to calculate the incalculable, and take into account the
life-long effects of trauma," said Ms. Biros, who co-designed the Program. Mr. Feinberg added,
"The role of the Administrator is to apply a certain level of objectivity while taking into account the
specific circumstances presented by each individual claim. It is a challenging task, but one that
Jordy is uniquely qualified to undertake. Her empathetic and judicious style, and her long-time
claims experience and service to victims in the 9/11 community will serve this Program and
Epstein's victims well."
Beginning today, the Administrator will provide a Claim Form and other relevant Program information
to individuals who have filed a lawsuit, legal action or claim of sexual abuse against Jeffrey Epstein
and/or the Estate may begin the process of filing a claim with the Program, or have otherwise been
identified by counsel. Other individuals may also be eligible to participate in the Program by
registering on the Program website. The claims filing period will run through March 25, 2021.
The Program was initially proposed to the Probate Court of the U.S. Virgin Islands ("Probate Court")
on November 14, 2019. The Co-Designers solicited feedback from various interested parties,
including victims' counsel, and that feedback was incorporated into a draft protocol that was
presented to the Probate Court on February 4, 2020. The final protocol was approved by the
Probate Court on June 3, 2020.
"We are pleased to get this Program up and running after months of considered and collaborative
design. My staff is deeply sensitive to the unique circumstances involved and is committed to
processing the victims' claims in a prompt, fair and effective manner," said Ms. Feldman.
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For more information, visit: www.eosteinvco.com email ClaimantSeNices(@EosteinVCP.com or call
the toll-free helpline at (877) 312-3055.
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