Lawyers: PB billionaire sex offender violated agreement, owes $2 million

Lawyers: PB billionaire sex offender violated agreement, owes $2 million Page I of 2 The Palm Beach Post Print this page Close Lawyers: PB billionaire sex offender violated agreement, owes $2 million By JANE MUSGRAVE Palm Beach Post Staff Writer Updated: 2:09 p.m. Tuesday. May 18. 2010 Posted: 2:08 p.m. Tuesday. May 18. 2010 Billionaire sex offender Jeffrey Epstein has violated an agreement he signed to avoid federal prosecution for paying young girls to give him sexually-charged massages at his Palm Beach mansion, according to a lawsuit filed this week. The Miami law firm, Podhurst Orseck, filed suit in federal court, claiming Epstein has refused to pay its $2 million legal bill for representing more than a dozen young women who were abused by the 57-year-old money manager. When Epstein cut a deal with the federal government, he agreed to pay for an attorney to handle claims involving 33 women who told prosecutors he had lured them to his mansion for sex. Robert Josefsberg, a member of the firm, was appointed by a judge to help the women who wanted to pursue monetary settlements with Epstein but didn't want to file suit. Epstein's failure to pay the legal tab constitutes "a material breach" of the agreement that allowed Epstein to avoid federal charges and receive a light sentence in Palm Beach Circuit Court, Podhurst attorney Steven Marks said today. After waiting for more than 20 months for Epstein to pay up, the firm had no choice but to file suit, he said. "It has become abundantly clear that Epstein, having obtained the benefits of the (agreement) and having escaped federal criminal prosecution, now believes that he can simply ignore - without consequence - the obligations imposed under the (agreement)," he wrote in the suit. "Put simply, Epstein believes he is above the law." Neither his criminal attorney Jack Goldberger or his civil attorney Robert Critton was immediately available to comment on Podhurst's suit. Podhurst isn't the first to accuse Epstein of being uncooperative and violating the spirit, if not the letter, of the non- prosecution agreement. Attorneys who are representing more than a dozen women who have filed lawsuits against Epstein said he is harassing the women who chose to stand up to him. He has hired investigators to tail them and quizzed them, their family members and friends about their sexual histories and decisions to have abortions or work in strip clubs. The agreement, prosecutors once told a federal judge, was to protect the women from such humiliation. Marks said it is up to either the U.S. attorney or Palm Beach County State Attorney Michael McAuliffe to enforce the non- prosecution agreement. Federal prosecutors declined comment and McAuliffe wasn't immediately available. But, Marks said, a clear breach has occurred. In meetings to collect the fee, Marks said he has been amazed at Epstein's attitude. "He clearly has no remorse and acts like he has been a victim in this entire process," he said. "It's remarkable? Thanks to the agreement, instead of facing federal charges, Epstein served 13 months of an 18-month sentence after pleading guilty to procuring a minor for prostitution and soliciting prostitution in state court. Epstein, who last week admitted in court papers that he was a billionaire, hasn't argued that he can't afford to pay the $2 million bill, Marks said. "His finances are very suspicious, but it was clear during a meeting when we asked him (to pay), he said, 'Don't worry I can make quick decisions. I trade 100 million blocks of stock every day."' Find this article at: Print this page Close http://wwv,cpalmbeachpost.com/news/lawyers-pb-bi llionai re-sex-offender-violated-agreement-owes-69477... 5/18/2010 EFTA00190244 Lawyers: PB billionaire sex offender violated agreement, owes $2 million httplAvww.palmbeachpost.cominews/lawyers-pb-billionaire-sex-offender-violated-agreement-owes-694770.html Page 2 of 2 http://www.palmbeachpost.com/news/lawyers-pb-billionaire-sex-offender-violated-agreement-owes-69477... 5/18/2010 EFTA00190245