Text extracted via OCR from the original document. May contain errors from the scanning process.
CASE NO.: 08-CIV-80993-MARRA-JOHNSON
JANE DOE NO. 7,
Plaintiff,
v.
Defendant.
DEFENDANT EPSTEIN'S MOTION FOR SUMMARY JUDGMENT,
Defendant, JEFFREY EPSTEIN, ("EPSTEIN"), by and through his undersigned
counsel, seeks summary judgment determining that under the undisputed material facts,
(1) the version of 18 U.S.C. §2255, effective 1999 to Jul. 26, 2006, the period of time
during which EPSTEIN's alleged conduct occurred, applies to Plaintiff JANE DOE NO.
7's claim brought pursuant to §2255 in Count III of the Amended Complaint [D.E. 19];
(2) Plaintiff has failed to and cannot establish a predicate act — under 18 U.S.C. §2422 as
plead in her complaint, in order to state a cause of action pursuant to 18 U.S.C. §2255
(2004); (3) 18 U.S.C. §2255 allows for a single recovery of the presumptive minimum
damages amount against a single Defendant, and not a multiplication thereof based on the
number of statutory predicate act violations; and (4) the version of 18 U.S.C. § 2255 in
effect when the predicate acts allegedly were committed allow only "minors" to file suit.
Rule 56, Fed.R.Civ.P. (2010); Local Gem Rules 7.1, and 7.5 (S.D. Fla. 2010). In support
of his motion, Defendant states:
Introduction
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Defendant, without waiving any affirmative defense or grounds which may entitle
him to summary judgment in this action or in any other actions brought by other plaintiffs
in multiple civil actions asserting §2255 and other claims against EPSTEIN, seeks
summary judgment regarding the proper application of 18 U.S.C. §2255. Based on the
undisputed material facts and applicable law relevant to the summary judgment sought,
Defendant is entitled as a matter of law to the entry of summary judgment determining
that (1) the version of 18 U.S.C. §2255, effective 1999 to Jul. 26, 2006, the period of time
during which EPSTEIN's alleged conduct occurred, applies to Plaintiff's claim brought
pursuant to §2255; (2) Plaintiff has not and cannot establish the requisite elements to
state a claim under 18 U.S.C. §2255, which she attempts to assert in Count III of her
Amended Complaint [D.E. 19]. In particular, the undisputed material facts show that
Plaintiff has failed to and cannot establish a predicate act — either under violation of 18
U.S.C. §2422 as plead in her complaint, in order to state a cause of action pursuant to 18
U.S.C. §2255 (2004); (3)
18 U.S.C. §2255 allows for a single recovery of the
presumptive minimum damages amount against a single Defendant, and not a
multiplication thereof based on the number of statutory predicate act violations or
incidents or counts; and (4) the version of 18 U.S.C. § 2255 in effect when the predicate
acts allegedly were committed allow only "minors" to file suit. The pleadings and the
discovery materials on file show that there is no genuine issue as to any material fact
establishing that EPSTEIN is entitled as a matter of law to the summary judgments
sought.
Statement of Material Facts in Support of Summary Judgment. Loc.Cenitule 7.5
Statement of the Case
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1. Plaintiff JANE DOE NO, 7's Amended Complaint [D.E. 19), dated February 27,
2009, attempts to assert three causes of action. Count I and Count II, respectively,
attempt to allege state law claims under Florida law for "Sexual Assault and Battery,"
and "Intentional Infliction of Emotional Distress." Count HI, which is the subject of this
motion, is entitled "Coercion and Enticement to Sexual Activity in Violation of 18 U.S.C.
§2422," and attempts to assert a claim pursuant to 18 U.S.C. §2255. (Plaintiff JANE
DOE NO. 7 shall be referred to as "JD7" or "Jane" or "Jane Doe." Plaintiffs Amended
Complaint shall be referred to as "Am Comp," and is attached hereto as Exhibit A.).
2. According to the allegations - "In or about 2004, Jane Doe, then approximately
16 years old, fell into Epstein's trap and became one of his victims." [Am Comp, 19].
Plaintiff further alleges that —
..., when Jane Doe was 16 years old, she was recruited by
to
give Epstein a massage for monetary compensation. Jane was brought to
ifit
's mansion in Palm Beach. Once there, Jane was introduced to
who led her up the flight of stairs to the room with the maqq.gge table.
In this room, Jane was directed by Epstein to give him a massage. During
this massage, Epstein sexually assaulted Jane and masturbated. Epstein then
paid Jane money. [Am Comp, 113].
Jane returned on many occasions to the Palm Beach mansion to provide
Epstein with massages for money. On those occasions, Epstein engaged in
sexual contact and activity with Jane, ... . This sexual abuse continued over
a period of approximately 18 — 24 months. (Am Comp, 114).
3. Material to this motion, in attempting to assert a claim in Count III pursuant to 18
U.S.C. §2255, Plaintiff alleges in material part that —
29. Epstein used a facility or means of interstate commerce to knowingly
persuade, induce or entice Jane Doe, when she was under the age of
18 years, to engage in prostitution or sexual activity for which any
person can be charged with a criminal offense.
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30. On June 30, 2008, Epstein entered a plea of guilty to violations of
Florida §§796.07 and 796.03, in the 156 Judicial Circuit in and for
Palm Beach County (Case Nos. ...), for conduct involving the same
plan or scheme as alleged herein.
31. As to Plaintiff Jane Doe, Epstein could have been charged with
criminal violations of Florida Statute §796.07(2Xincluding subsections
(c), (d), (e), (f), (g), and (h) thereof), and other criminal offenses
including violations of Florida Statutes §§798.02 and 800.04 (including
subsections (5), (6) and (7) thereof).
32. Epstein's acts and conduct are in violation of 18 U.S.C. §2422.
33. As a result of Epstein's violation of 18 U.S.C. §2422, Plaintiff has
suffered personal injury, including mental, psychological and
emotional damages.
4. In the "WHEREFORE" clause of Count III, Plaintiff "demands judgment against
Jeffery Epstein for all damages available under 18 U.S.C. §2255(a),
." See Am Comp,
Count III, Exhibit A hereto.
5. In trying to assert a violation of the federal criminal statute 18 U.S.C. 2422 as the
requisite predicate act for a claim pursuant to 18 U.S.C. §2255(a)', Plaintiff generally
tracks the language of subsection (b) of 18 U.S.C. 2422 (eff. Apr. 30, 2003), which states
in relevant part —
(b) Whoever, using the mail or any facility or means of interstate or foreign
commerce, or within the special maritime and territorial jurisdiction of the United
States knowingly persuades, induces, entices, or coerces any individual who has
not attained the age of 18 years, to engage in prostitution or any sexual activity for
which any person can be charged with a criminal offense, or attempts to do so, shall
be fined under this title and imprisoned not less than 5 years and not more than 30
years.
See endnote 2 for complete text of statute.
(See endnote 1 hereto for foil text of 18 U.S.C. §2255, the version that applied in 2004,
and the amended version effective July 27, 2006.)
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6. Epstein never, using a facility or means of interstate commerce, knowingly
persuaded, induced or enticed JD7, when she was under the age of 18 years, to engage in
prostitution or sexual activity for which any person can be charged with a criminal
offense, or attempted to do so. (Deposition Testimony of JD7, taken March 15, 2010,
See pages referenced below herein). A copy of the referenced deposition pages is
attached hereto as Exhibit B. See endnote 2 for full text of 18 U.S.C. §2422.2
7. JD7 never had any communications with Epstein via the telephone, cell phone,
computer, e-mails, texting or other fonn of electronic communication. (JD7 Deposition,
pp. 63-65). JD7 testified that she never traveled with Epstein. (Id, p. 66, lines 23-25).
JD7 was never flown or asked to travel any place by Epstein. (Id, p. 67, lines 1-5).
8. Regarding her visits to Epstein's Palm Beach mansion, JD7 was first asked by
another high school girl, H.R., to go. J137 was asked twice by H.R. (JD7 Deposition,
p.106). "... I just remember the first time I heard about it was H.R. (another high school
girl) asking me to go. And then after that, I just remember Jane Doe 4 talking about it
and then L.A. (other high school girls). (Id, p. 346, lines 22-25, p. 347). H.R was a
grade ahead of 3137 and mentioned it during gym or another class. (Id).
She (H.R.) asked me if, I needed a job and if I needed money, and then she
asked me if I knew how to give a massage. And I said yes, but not
professionally. And she told me that was fine. And then she (H.R.) told me
how she knows a guy that lives in Palm Beach and will pay me if I give a
massage. (Id, p. 347, lines 13-18).
9. H.R. told JD7 she could make 5200. (JD7 Deposition, p. 349, lines 11-14). JD7
told H.R. that she was interested. (Id, p. 349, line 21). JD7 didn't ask H.R. for any
details, she was just interested in making money. (Id, p. 349, lines 22-25, p. 340, line 1).
JD7 was told by H.R. to dress cute. (Id, p. 351). On the first occasion 1137 knew what
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particular day because she was told by H.R. (Id, p. 350). H.R. drove .1D7 to Epstein's
Palm Beach mansion the first time. (Id, p. 351). After the first visit, JD7 went back 8 to
10 times. (Id, p. 384, lines 18-20).
10. JD7 testified that after the first visit "Sarah called me and asked me if I wanted to
bring anybody, and then other girls started going, and that's when I believe F.E. asked me
about it or S.V., one of them. And that's when I took one of those girls." (JD7
Deposition, p. 387). When contacted by Sarah, "she asked me both if I wanted to come
work or if I knew somebody that wanted to come work. (p. 388, lines 1-2). JD7 told
Sarah she didn't know and would call her back. She further testified that she never
Facebooked, texted, e-mailed or used other social networking sites with or by Sarah. (p.
388, p. 442). Sarah called JD7 back and JD7 said that she "had a friend that wanted to
come," and "Sarah said, `Okay, just set up a time.'" They drove together in a car. (Id, p.
393). On the third occasion, JD7 brought F.E. to Epstein's Palm Beach mansion. JD7
drove P.E. there in her own car. According to JD7, F.E. had also heard about "it" from
other girls. (Id, p. 397). JD7 remained in the kitchen of the Palm Beach home. (Id, p.
401). The fourth time, JD7 went back by herself after she was called by Sarah. (Id, p.
404). The next couple of times she brought friends. (P.407). The remainder of the visits
"kind of blend together." JD7 was paid $200 for each visit. (Id, p. 420).
11. As to the calls from Sarah, JD7 confirmed that [Q] "calls from Sarah were
dealing with could you come or could you bring someone else to come work?" JD7
answered "yes." (JD7 Deposition, p. 442). Sarah never mentioned "sexual services" in
the phone calls or attempted to persuade or to induce or to entice JD7 to engage in any
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sexual conduct with Epstein during any phone conversation. (Id, p. 442-43). "Just the
massages" and coming to work were mentioned. (k1).
12. JD7 was contacted by the Town of Palm Beach Police Department on October 4,
2005, regarding EPSTEIN and alleged conduct that occurred at his Palm Beach mansion.
JD7 was 18 years old at the time she was contacted by the Palm Beach Police. (JD7
Deposition, p. 28-29).
In recollecting how old she was when she first went to
EPSTEIN's Palm Beach home, and the period of time thereafter, JD7 testified that "I
believe I went the end of my sophomore year till about the end of my junior year (of high
school). I'm not sure if it was the beginning or end of my sophomore year. Somewhere
around there." J1)7 was a high school senior in 2005. (Id, p. 34, 39). Thus, the alleged
conduct between EPSTEIN and JD7 stopped sometime in 2004. (Id). "It wasn't 2005 at
all." (Id, p. 42, lines 6-11).
13. JD7's date of birth is June 30, 1987. The original Complaint [D.E. 1] in this
matter was filed on September 10, 2008. JD7 turned 18 years old on June 30, 2005.
Thus, JD7 was 21 years old at the time this suit was filed.
Summary Judgment Standard
Summary judgment is proper under Rule 56(c)(2), Fed.R.Civ.P, when there is no
genuine issue as to any material fact and the movant is entitled to judgment as a matter of
law. Celotex v. Cate% 477 U.S. 317, 106 S.Ct. 2548, 2552, 91 L.Ed.2d 265 (1986).
Pursuant to Rule 56(b), "a party against whom relief is sought may move, with or without
supporting affidavits, for summary judgment on all or part of the claim."
As stated by the Supreme Court in Celotex Corp. v. Catlett 477 U.S. 317, 322-323,
106 S.Ct. 2548, 2552 (1986)
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... summary judgment is proper "if the pleadings, depositions, answers to
interrogatories, and admissions on file, together with the affidavits, if any, show
that there is no genuine issue as to any material fact and that the moving party
is entitled to a judgment as a matter of law." In our view, the plain language of
Rule 56(c) mandates the entry of summary judgment, after adequate time for
discovery and upon motion, against a party who fails to make a showing
sufficient to establish the existence of an element essential to that party's case,
and on which that party will bear the burden of proof at trial. In such a
situation, there can be "no genuine issue as to any material fact," since a
complete failure of proof concerning an essential element of the nonmoving
party's case necessarily renders all other facts immaterial. The moving party is
"entitled to a judgment as a matter of law" because the nonmoving party has
failed to make a sufficient showing on an essential element of her case with
respect to which she has the burden of proof.
Discussion of Law as Applied to Undisputed Material Facts Showing
that EPSTEIN Is Entitled to Summary Judgment as a Matter of Law.
I. The version of 18 U.S.C. 82255 in effect at the time the purported conduct took
place applies to the Plaintiff's 82255 claim against EPSTEIN, not the version as
amended and effective July 27,2006.
The applicable version of 18 U.S.C. §2255 provides -
PART I-CRIMES
CHAPTER 110-SEXUAL EXPLOITATION AND OTHER ABUSE OF CHILDREN
§ 2255. Civil remedy for personal injuries
(a) Any minor who is a victim of a violation of section 2241(c), 2242, 2243, 2251,
225IA, 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.
(See endnote 1 for complete statutory text, pre and post amendment.)
By its own terms, 18 U.S.C. 2255(a) creates a cause of action 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 ... ." See generally, Smith v. Husband, 428 F.Supp.2d 432 (ED. Va. 2006);
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Smith v. Husband, 376 F.Supp.2d 603 (E.D. Va. 2006); Doe v. Liberatore, 478 F.Supp.2d
742, 754 (M.D. Pa. 2007). The referenced statutes are all federal criminal statues
contained in Tide 18 of the United States Code. Thus, in order to sustain a cause of
action under §2255, a plaintiff is required to prove all the elements of one of the statutory
enumerated criminal predicate acts. See Gray v, Darby, 2009 WL 805435 (ED. Pa. Mar.
25, 2005), requiring evidence to establish predicate act under 18 U.S.C. §2255 to state
cause of action.
I.
The statute in effect during the time the alleged conduct occurred applies to
each of the Plaintiff's claim brought pursuant to 18 U.S.C. §2255 — not the amended
version which became effective on July 27, 2006. See endnote I for complete statutory
text in effect prior to July 27, 2006 and as amended.
Plaintiff in her complaint asserts that the alleged conduct by EPSTEIN occurred
prior to the amended version of §2255 taking effect.
Based on JD7's deposition
testimony, she went to Epstein's Palm Beach home in or about 2004, and returned on
many occasions. However, based on her testimony, the visits stopped prior to October 4,
2005. (Statement of Facts, 1 12). Thus, it is undisputed Epstein's conduct occurred
prior to §2255's amendment, effective July 27, 2006.
Under applicable law, the statute in effect at the time of the alleged conduct
applies. See U.S. v. Scheidt Slip Copy, 2010 WL 144837, fn. 1 (E.D.Cal. Jan. 11, 2010);
U.S. v. Renga, 2009 WL 2579103, fit. 1 (E.D. Cal. Aug. 19, 2009); U.S. v. Ferenci, 2009
WL 2579102, fn. 1 (ED. Cal. Aug. 19, 2009); U.S. v. Monk, 2009 WL 2567831, fn. 1
(E.D. Cal. Aug. 18, 2009); U.S. v. Zane, 2009 WL 2567832, fn.1 (E.D. Cal. Aug. 18
2009). In each of these cases, the referenced footnote states —
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Prior to July 27, 2006, the last sentence in Section §2255(a) read "Any
person as described in the preceding sentence shall be deemed to have
sustained damages of no less than $50,000 in value." Under the civil statute,
the minimum restitution amount for any violation of Section 2252 (the
predicate act at issue) is $150,000 for violations occurring after July 27, 2006
and $50,000 for violations occurring prior to $50,000.
Even with the typo (the extra "$50,000") at the end of the quoted sentence, it is
clear that the Court applied the statute in effect at the time of the alleged criminal conduct
constituting one of the statutorily enumerated predicate acts, which is consistent with
applicable law discussed more fully below herein.
It is an axiom of law that "retroactivity is not favored in the law." Bowen, 488
U.S., at 208, 109 5.0., at 471 (1988). As eloquently stated in Landgraf v. USI Film
Products 114 S.Ct. 1483, 1497, 511 U.S. 244, 265-66 (1994):
... the presumption against retroactive legislation is deeply rooted in our
jurisprudence, and embodies a legal doctrine centuries older than our Republic.
Elementary considerations of fairness dictate that individuals should have an
opportunity to know what the law is and to conform their conduct accordingly; settled
expectations should not be lightly disrupted.RH8 For that mason, the "principle that the
legal effect of conduct should ordinarily be assessed under the law that existed
when the conduct took place has timeless and universal appeal." Kaiser, 494 U.S.,
at 855, 110 S.Ct., at 1586 (SCALIA, J., concurring). In a free, dynamic society,
creativity in both commercial and artistic endeavors is fostered by a rule of law that
gives people confidence about the legal consequences of their actions.
FN18. See General Motors Corp. v. Romein, 503 U.S. 181, 191, 112 S.Ct. 1105,
1112, 117 L.Ed.2d 328 (1992) ("Retroactive legislation presents problems of
unfairness that are more serious than those posed by prospective legislation, because
it can deprive citizens of legitimate expectations and upset settled transactions");
[Further citations omitted].
It is therefore not surprising that the antiretroactivity principle finds expression
in several provisions of our Constitution. The Ex Post Facto Clause flatly prohibits
retroactive application of penal legislation .F819 Article I, § 10, cl. 1, prohibits States
from passing another type of retroactive legislation, laws "impairing the Obligation of
Contracts." The Fifth Amendmenes Takings Clause prevents the Legislature (and other
government actors) from depriving private persons of vested property rights except for
a "public use" and upon payment of "just compensation." The prohibitions on "Bills of
Attainder" in Art. I, §§ 9-10, prohibit legislatures from singling out disfavored persons
and meting out summary punishment for past conduct. See, e.g., United States v.
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Brown, 381 U.S. 437, 456-462, 85 S.Ct. 1707, 1719-1722, 14 L.Ed.2d 484 (1965). The
Due Process Clause also protects the interests in fair notice and repose that may be
compromised by retroactive legislation; a justification sufficient to validate a statute's
prospective application under the Clause "may not suffice" to warrant its retroactive
application. Usery v. Turner Elkhorn filming Co., 428 U.S. I, 17, 96 S.Ct. 2882, 2893,
49 L.Ed.2d 752 (1976).
FN19. Article I contains two Ex Post Facto Clauses, one directed to Congress (§ 9,
cl. 3), the other to the States (§ 10, cl. 1). We have construed the Clauses as
applicable only to penal legislation. See Calder v. Bull, 3 Dalt. 386, 390-391, 1
L.Ed. 648 (1798) (opinion of Chase, J.).
These provisions demonstrate that retroactive statutes raise particular concerns. The
Legislature's unmatched powers allow it to sweep away settled expectations suddenly
and without individualized consideration. Its responsivity to political pressures poses a
risk that it may be tempted to use retroactive legislation as a means of retribution
against unpopular groups or individuals. As Justice Marshall observed in his opinion for
"1498 the Court in Weaver v. Graham, 450 U.S. 24, 101 S.Ct. 960, 67 L.Ed.2d 17
(1981), the Ex Post Facto Clause not only ensures that individuals have "fair
warning" about the effect of criminal statutes, but also "restricts governmental
power by restraining arbitrary and potentially vindictive legislation." Id.. at 28-29,
101 S.Ct., at 963-964 (citations omitted). F)12°
FN20. See Richmond v. J. A. Croson Co., 488 U.S. 469, 513-514, 109 S.Ct. 706,
732, 102 L.Ed.2d 854 (1989) ("Legislatures are primarily policymaking bodies that
promulgate rules to govern future conduct. The constitutional prohibitions against
the enactment of ex post facto laws and bills of attainder reflect a valid concern
about the use of the political process to punish or characterize past conduct of
private citizens. It is the judicial system, rather than the legislative process, that is
best equipped to identify past wrongdoers and to fashion remedies that will create
the conditions that presumably would have existed had no wrong been committed")
(STEVENS, J., concurring in part and concurring in judgment); James v. United
States, 366 U.S. 213, 247, n. 3, 81 S.Ct. 1052, 1052, n. 3, 6 L.Ed.2d 246 (1961)
(retroactive punitive measures may reflect "a purpose not to prevent dangerous
conduct generally but to impose by legislation a penalty against specific persons or
classes of persons").
These well entrenched constitutional protections and presumptions against
retroactive application of legislation establish that 18 U.S.C. §2255 in effect at the time
of the alleged conduct applies to the instant action, and not the amended version. See
endnote 1 hereto.
L B. Not only is there no clear express intent stating that the statute is to apply
retroactively, but applying the current version of the statute, as amended in 2006, would
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be in clear violation of the Ex Post Facto Clause of the United States Constitution as it
would be applied to events occurring before its enactment and would increase the penalty
or punishment for the alleged crime. U.S. Const. Art. 1, §9, cl. 3, §10, cl. 1. U.S. v.
Seigel, 153 F.3d 1256 (11th Cir. 1998); U.S. v. Edwards, 162 F.3d 87 (3d Cir. 1998); and
generally, Calder v. Bull, 3 U.S. 386, 390, 1 L.Ed. 648, 1798 WL 587 (Calder) (1798).
The United States Constitution provides that "[n]o Bill of Attainder or ex
post facto Law shall be passed" by Congress. U.S. Const. art. I, § 9, el. 3. A law
violates the Ex Post Facto Clause if it " `appli[es] to events occurring before its
enactment ... [and] disadvantage[s) the offender affected by it' by altering the
definition of criminal conduct or increasing the punishment for the crime."
),once v. Mathis. 519 U.S. 433, 117 S.Ct. 891, 137 L.Ed.2d 63 (1997) (quoting
Weaver v. Graham, 450 U.S. 24, 29, 101 S.Ct. 960, 67 L.Ed.2d 17 (1981)).
U.S. v. Siege1,153 F.3d 1256, 1259 (11th Cir. 1998).
§2255 is contained in Title 18 of the United States Codes - "Crimes and Criminal
Procedure, Part I. Crimes, Chap. 110. Sexual Exploitation and Other Abuse of Children."
18 U.S.C. §2255 (2005), is entitled Civil remedy for personal injuries, and imposes a
presumptive minimum of damages in the amount of $50,000, should Plaintiff prove any
violation of the specified criminal statutes and that she suffered personal injury with
actual damages sustained. Thus, the effect of the 2006 amendments, effective July 27,
2006, would be to triple the amount of the statutory minimum previously in effect during
the time of the alleged acts.
The statute, as amended in 2006, contains no language stating that the application
is to be retroactive. Thus, there is no manifest intent that the statute is to apply
retroactively, and, accordingly, the statute in effect during the time of the alleged conduct
is to apply. Landgraf v. USI Film Products, supra, at 1493, ("A statement that a statute
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will become effective on a certain date does not even arguably suggest that it has any
application to conduct that occurred at an earlier date."). See fn. 1 herein.
This statute was enacted as part of the Federal Criminal Statutes targeting sexual
predators and sex crimes against children. H.R. 3494, "Child Protection and Sexual
Predator Punishment Act of 1998;" House Report No. 105-557, 11, 1998 U.S.C.A.N.
678, 679 (1998). Quoting from the "Background and Need For Legislation" portion of
the House Report No. 105-557, 11-16, H.R. 3494, of which 18 U.S.C. §2255 is included,
is described as "the most comprehensive package of new crimes and increased penalties
ever developed in response to crimes against children, particularly assaults facilitated by
computers."
Further showing that §2255 was enacted as a criminal penalty or
punishment, "Title II — Punishing Sexual Predators," Sec. 206, from House Report No.
105-557, 5-6, specifically includes reference to the remedy created under §2255 as an
additional means of punishing sexual predators, along with other penalties and
punishments. Senatorial Comments in amending §2255 in 2006 confirm that the creation
of the presumptive minimum damage amount is meant as an additional penalty against
those who sexually exploit or abuse children. 2006 WL 2034118, 152 Cong. Rec. 58012-
02. Senator Kerry refers to the statutorily imposed damage amount as "penalties." Id.
The cases of U.S. v. Siegel, supra (11th Cir. 1998), and U.S. v. Edwards, supra (3d
Cir. 1998), also support Defendant's position that application of the current version of 18
U.S.C. §2255 would be in clear violation of the Ex Post Facto Clause. In Siegel, the
Eleventh Circuit found that the Ex Post Facto Clause barred application of the Mandatory
Victim Restitution Act of 1996 (MVRA) to the defendant whose criminal conduct
occurred before the effective date of the statute, 18 U.S.C. §3664(f)(1XA), even though
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the guilty plea and sentencing proceeding occurred after the effective date of the statute.
On July 19, 1996, the defendant Siegel pleaded guilty to various charges under 18 U.S.C.
§371 and §1956(a)(1)(A), (conspiracy to commit mail and wire fraud, bank fraud, and
laundering of money instruments; and money laundering). He was sentenced on March
7, 1997. As part of his sentence, Siegel was ordered to pay $1,207,000.00 in restitution
under the MVRA which became effective on April 24, 1996. Pub.L. No. 104-132, 110
Stat. 1214, 1229-1236. The 1996 amendments to MVRA required that the district court
must order restitution in the full amount of the victim's loss without consideration of the
defendant's ability to pay. Prior to the enactment of the MVRA and under the former 18
U.S.C. §3664(a) of the Victim and Witness Protection Act of 1982 (VWPA), Pub.!. No.
97-291, 96 Stat. 1248, the court was required to consider, among other factors, the
defendant's ability to pay in determining the amount of restitution.
When the MVRA was enacted in 1996, Congress stated that the amendments to the
VWPA "shall, to the extent constitutionally permissible, be effective for sentencing
proceedings in cases in which the defendant is convicted on or after the date of enactment
of this Act [Apr. 24, 1996]." Siegel supra at 1258. The alleged crimes occurred between
February, 1988 to May, 1990. The Court agreed with the defendant's position that 1996
MVRA "should not be applied in reviewing the validity of the court's restitution order
because to do so would violate the Ex Post Facto Clause of the United States
Constitution. See U.S. Const. art I, §9, cl. 3."
The Ex Post Facto analysis made by the Eleventh Circuit in Siegel is applicable to
this action. In resolving the issue in favor of the defendant, the Court ifrst considered
whether a restitution order is a punishment. W, at 1259. In determining that restitution
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was a punishment, the Court noted that §3663A(a)(1) of Title 18 expressly describes
restitution as a "penalty." In addition, the Court also noted that "[a]lthough not in the
context of an ex post facto determination, ... restitution is a 'criminal penalty meant to
have strong deterrent and rehabilitative effect' United States v. Twittv 107 F.3d 1482,
1493 n. 12 (11th Cir.1997)." Second, the Court considered "whether the imposition of
restitution under the MVRA is an increased penalty as prohibited by the Ex Post Facto
Clause." 14. at 1259. In determining that the application of the 1996 MVRA would
indeed run afoul of the Constitution's Ex Post Facto Clause, the Court agreed with the
majority of the Circuits that restitution under the 1996 MVRA was an increased penalty.'
"The effect of the MVRA can be detrimental to a defendant. Previously, after considering
the defendant's financial condition, the court had the discretion to order restitution in an
amount less than the loss sustained by the victim. Under the MVRA, however, the court
must order restitution to each victim in the full amount." 11 at 1260. See also U.S. v.
Edwards. 162 F.2d 87 (3"I Circuit 1998).
In the instant cases, in answering the first question, it is clear that that imposition
of a minimum amount of damages, regardless of the amount of actual damages suffered
by a minor victim, is meant to be a penalty or punishment. See statutory text and House
Bill Reports, cited above herein, consistently referring to the presumptive minimum
damages amount under §2255 as "punishment" or "penalties." According to the Ex Post
Facto doctrine, although §2255 is labeled a "civil remedy," such label is not dispositive;
I The Eleventh Circuit, in holding that "the MVRA cannot be applied to a person whose criminal
conduct occurred prior to April 24, 1996," was "persuaded by the majority of districts on this
issue." "Restitution is a criminal penalty carrying with it characteristics of criminal punishment."
Siegel supra at 1260. The Eleventh Circuit is in agreement with the Second, Third, Eighth,
Ninth, and D.C. Circuits. See U.S. v, Futrell, 209 F.3d 1286, 1289-90 (11th Cir. 2000).
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"if the effect of the statute is to impose punishment that is criminal in nature, the ex post
facto clause is implicated." See generally, Roman Catholic Bishop of Oakland v.
Superior Court, 28 Cal.Rptr.3d 355, at 360, citing Kansas v. Hendricks, 521 U.S. 346,
360-61 (1997). The effect of applying the 2006 version of §2255 would be to triple the
amount of the presumptive minimum damages to a minor who proves the elements of her
§2255 claim. The fact that a plaintiff proceeding under §2255 has to prove a violation of
a criminal statute and suffer personal injury to recover damages thereunder, further
supports that the imposition of a minimum amount, regardless of a victim's actual
damages sustained, is meant and was enacted as additional punishment or penalty for
violation of criminal sexual exploitation and abuse of minors.
Accordingly, this Court is required to apply the statute in effect at the time of the
alleged criminal acts. Not only is there no language in the 2006 statute stating that it is to
apply retroactively, but further, such application of the 2006 version of 18 U.S.C. §2255
to acts that occurred prior to its effective date would have a detrimental and punitive
effect on Defendant by tripling the presumptive minimum of damages available to a
plaintiff, regardless of the actual damages suffered.2
L C. As discussed above, 18 U.S.C. §2255 was enacted as part of the criminal
statutory scheme to punish and penalize those who sexually exploit and abuse minors,
and thus, the Ex Post Fact Clause prohibits a retroactive application of the 2006 amended
In other filed civil actions attempting to assert §2255 claims against EPSTEIN, some
plaintiffs also propose that the minimum damage amount is to apply on a per violation basis; the
absurdity of such position is further magnified when one considers that the presumptive damages
amount was tripled to $150,000 by the 2006 amendment. Based on some plaintiffs' position, that
amount would be multiplied even further based on the number of violations (along with injury)
that she could prove. Clearly, the result is an unconstitutional increase in either a penalty or civil
I iability.
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version. Even if one were to argue that the statute is "civil" and the damages thereunder
are "civil" in nature, under the analysis provided by the United States Supreme Court in
Landv,raf v. USI Film Products, 511 U.S. 244, 114 S.Ct. 1483 (1994), pertaining to civil
statutes, not only is there no express intent by Congress to apply the new statute to past
conduct, but also, the clear effect of retroactive application of the statute would be to
increase the potential liability for past conduct from a minimum of $50,000 to $150,000,
and thus in violation of the constitutional prohibitions against such application. As noted,
18 U.S.C. §2255 is entitled "Civil remedy for personal injuries." Notwithstanding this
label, the statute was enacted as part of the criminal statutory scheme to punish those who
sexually exploit and abuse minors. Regardless of the actual damages suffered or proven
by a minor, as long as a minor proves violation of a specified statutory criminal act under
§2255 and personal injury, the defendant is held liable for the statutory imposed
minimum.
Although there does not exist any definitive ruling of whether the damages
awarded under §2255 are meant as criminal punishment or a civil damages award,
Defendant is still entitled to a determination as a matter of law that the statute in effect at
the time of the alleged criminal conduct applies.
As explained by the Landgraf court, supra at 280, and at 1505,3
When a case implicates a federal statute enacted after the events in suit, the
court's first task is to determine whether Congress has expressly prescribed the
statute's proper reach. If Congress has done so, of course, there is no need to
resort to judicial default rules. When, however, the statute contains no such
In Landgraf the United States Supreme Court affirmed the judgment of the Court of Appeals
and refused to apply new provisions of the Civil Rights Act of 1991 to conduct occurring before
the effective date of the Act. The Court determined that statutory text in question, §102, was
subject to the presumption against statutory retroactivity.
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express command, the court must determine whether the new statute would have
retroactive effect, i.e., whether it would impair rights a party possessed when he
acted, increase a party's liability for past conduct, or impose new duties with
respect to transactions already completed. If the statute would operate
retroactively, our traditional presumption teaches that it does not govern absent
clear congressional intent favoring such a result.
Here, there is no clear expression of intent regarding the 2006 Act's application to
conduct occurring well before its enactment. Clearly, however, as discussed in part B
herein, the presumptive minimum amount of damages of $150,000 was enacted as a
punishment or penalty upon those who sexually exploit and abuse minors. See discussion
of House Bill Reports and Congressional background above herein. The amount triples
the previous amount for which a defendant might be found liable, regardless of the
amount of actual damages a plaintiff has suffered and proven. The new statute imposes a
substantial increase in the monetary liability for past conduct.
As stated in Landgraf, "the extent of a party's liability, in the civil context as well as
the criminal, is an important legal consequence that cannot be ignored." Courts have
consistently refused to apply a statute which substantially increases a party's liability to
conduct occurring before the statute's enactment. Landgraf, supra at 284-85. Even if
plaintiff were to argue that retroactive application of the new statute "would vindicate its
purpose more fully," even that consideration is not enough to rebut the presumption
against retroactivity. Id, at 285-86. "The presumption against statutory retroactivity is
founded upon sound considerations of general policy and practice, and accords with long
held and widely shared expectations about the usual operation of legislation." Id.
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Accordingly, as a matter of law, this Court is required to apply the version of 18
U.S.C. §2255 (2004) in effect at the time of the alleged conduct by EPSTEIN directed to
Plaintiff.
U. Defendant is entitled to summary judgment on Count III, as under the
undisputed material facts, Plaintiff has failed to and can not show a violation of
a requisite predicate act to sustain a claim pursuant to 18 U.S.C. 82255.
As matter of law, Defendant is entitled to the entry of a summary judgment in his
favor on Count III - entitled "Coercion and Enticement to Sexual Activity in Violation of
18 U.S.C. §2422." In reality, Count III is an attempt to bring a claim pursuant to 18
U.S.C. §2255(a), which creates a civil remedy for violations of certain federal criminal
statutes as discussed herein. The undisputed material facts and applicable law show that
Plaintiff does not and cannot establish the elements required to prove her §2255 claim.
As confirmed by Plaintiff in her deposition testimony, the alleged encounters or
visits to Epstein's home took place sometime during 2003-2004. (Statement of Facts,
112). As testified to by JD7, "... I just remember the first time I heard about it was H.R.
(another high school girl) asking me to go. And then after that, I just remember Jane Doe
4 talking about it and then L.A." (other high school girls). (Id, p. 346, lines 22-25, p.
347). H.R was a grade ahead of JD7 and mentioned it during gym or another class. (Id).
(See Statement of Facts above). JD7 testified that thereafter the only phone calls were
between her and Sarah and that the only thing mentioned was the giving of a massage or
coming to work at Epstein's Palm Beach mansion. There was no discussion of the
performance sexual activity or sexual conduct. There was absolutely no communications
by phone, Internet, texting or other electronic means between Epstein and JD7. JD7
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never traveled anywhere with Epstein. She either went with H.R. or drove herself and
other girls to Epstein's Palm Beach home.
The applicable version of 18 U.S.C. §2255 provides —
PART I-CRIMES
CHAPTER 110-SEXUAL EXPLOITATION AND OTHER ABUSE OF
CHILDREN
§ 2255. Civil remedy for personal injuries
(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.
(See endnote 1 for complete statutory text.)
By its own terms, 18 U.S.C. 2255(a) creates a cause of action 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 ... ." See generally, Gray v. Darby, 2009 WL 805435, 6 (E.D.Pa.,2009)r§2255
establishes a civil remedy for personal injuries suffered as a result of the violation of
specific sections of the Code [U.S.C. Title 18]. Under this section, any minor who is the
victim of any of those sections may sue in federal court to recover `the actual damages
such minor sustains and the cost of the suit, including a reasonable attorney's fee.'");
Smith v. Husband, 428 F.Supp.2d 432 (E.D. Va. 2006); Smith v. Husband, 376
F.Supp.2d 603 (E.D. Va. 2006); Doe v. Liberatore, 478 F.Supp.2d 742, 754 (M.D. Pa.
2007). The referenced statutes are all federal criminal statues contained in Title 18 of the
United States Code. In her complaint, Plaintiff partially tracks the language of 18 U.S.C.
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§2422(b) and cites generally to §2422 in an attempt to assert a claim under 18 U.S.C.
§2255. (Am Com, vs, 31-32). None of the State of Florida criminal statutes referenced
by Plaintiff are a requisite predicate act required to prove a claim under 18 U.S.C. §2255.
(See 129-30 of Am Comp.).
Thus, in order to sustain a cause of action under §2255, Plaintiff is required to prove
all the elements of one of the statutory enumerated predicate acts. See Gray v. Darby
2009 WL 805435 (E.D. Pa. Mar. 25, 2005), requiring evidence to establish predicate act
under 18 U.S.C. §2255 to state cause of action. As noted above, Plaintiff is relying on
§2422 of Title 18, and tracks the language of subsection (b) of that statute. There is no
evidence whatsoever of EPSTEIN "using the mail or any facility or means of interstate
or foreign commerce, or within the special maritime and territorial Jurisdiction of the
United States knowingly persuades, induces, entices, or coerces any individual who has
not attained the age of 18 years, to engage in prostitution or any sexual activity for which
any person can be charged with a criminal offense, or attempts to do so, ... ."
In order to show a violation of 18 U.S.C. §2422(b), four elements must be proven:
(1) use of a facility of interstate commerce; (2) to knowingly persuade, induce, entice, or
coerce; (3) any individual who is younger than 18; (4) to engage in any sexual activity for
which any person can be charged with a criminal offense, or attempting to do so. U.S. v.
Thomas, 410 F.3d 1235, 1245 (10th Cir. 2005); U.S. v. Munro 394 F.3d 865, 869 (10th
Cir. 2005); U.S. v. Kaye, 451 F.Supp.2d 775, 782-83 (E.D. Va. 2006). The undisputed
material facts show that EPSTEIN and JD7 never communicated at any time on any
subject via the telephone, intemet, texting, e-mails, or other form of electronic
communication. JD7 testified that she found out about getting $200 for a massage from
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other girsl. JD7 decided she want to earn $200 for a massage after overhearing other
girls talk about it and being asked by H.R. The only thing discussed with JD7 was the
giving of a massage for $200 or coming to work. No other type of activity or conduct
was discussed. There was no communication by any means in which sexual activity or
illicit sexual conduct was brought up with Epstein. There is no testimony or complaint
allegation that JD7 travelled anywhere with EPSTEIN by car or otherwise.
(See
Statement of Facts, 9¶7-11).
Thus, there was no (1) use of a facility of interstate commerce; (2) to knowingly
persuade, induce, entice, or coerce; (3) any individual who is younger than 18; (4) to
engage in any sexual activity for which any person can be charged with a criminal
offense, or attempting to do so. See for e.g., U.S. v. Gagliardi 506 F.3d 140, 150-51 (2d
Cir. 2007). In Gaeliardi, a defendant was convicted of violating §2422(b) where he
initiated contact with girl he believed was a minor in an intemet chat room called "I Love
Older Men," repeatedly made sexual advances toward girl and her "friend," asked them
for their pictures, steered the conversation toward sexual activities, described the acts that
he would engage in with them, tried to set up a meeting with both of them, and appeared
for a meeting with condoms and a Viagra pill in his car. Thus, the Circuit court agreed
had the requisite intent to violate § 2422(6). The Circuit Court determined that a
reasonable juror could also have found that the defendant took a substantial step beyond
mere preparation when he arrived at the meeting place with two condoms and a Viagra
pill in his car. See also U.S. v. Munro, 394 F.3d 865, 870 (10th Cir.2005)(Defendant
convicted of attempting to persuade a minor to engage in sexual acts by using computer
connected to the internee, under §2422(b), where chat room communications included
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defendant asking "girl" about her sexual history, her virginity, her experience wit oral
sex, and the possibility of making a movie together; defendant further told "girl" about
his desire to perform oral sex on her.); U.S. v. Barlow 568 F.3d 215 (5th Cir. 2009). See
also U.S. v. Kave, 451 F.Supp.2d 775, supra, where defendant engaged in lengthy "chat
room" communications of a sexual nature with individual he believed was a 13 year old
boy, described what he was going to do with 13 year old, and traveled to the home of the
13 year old.
Thus, because the evidence (11:17's own sworn testimony) establishes that there
was no violation of §2422(b), an essential element of Plaintiff's 18 U.S.0 §2255 claim
asserted in Count III is missing. The claim fails as a matter of law and Defendant is
entitled to the entry of summary judgment on the claim. Summary judgment is proper
under Rule 56(c)(2), Fed.R.Civ.P, when there is no genuine issue as to any material fact
and the movant is entitled to judgment as a matter of law. Celotex v. Catrett. 477 U.S.
317, 106 S.Ct. 2548, 2552, 91 L.Ed.2d 265 (1986). Pursuant to Rule 56(b), "a party
against whom relief is sought may move, with or without supporting affidavits, for
summary judgment on all or part of the claim."
Thus, under the undisputed material facts and applicable law, EPSTEIN is entitled
to summary judgment on Count III of Plaintiff's Second Amended Complaint as a matter
of law. JD7's own testimony establishes that EPSTEIN never used a facility or means of
interstate commerce to knowingly persuade, induce, entice, or coerce her to engage in
any sexual activity for which any person can be charged with a criminal offense, or
attempting to do so. 18 U.S.C. §2422(b). Under the undisputed material facts, .1136
cannot show a violation of the enumerated predicate act, §2422(b) on which she relies, in
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order to prove her claim pursuant to 18 U.S.C. §2255; thus, an essential element of her
§2255 cannot be established, entitling Defendant to the entry of summary judgment on
Count
III. A. As a matter of law, Defendant is entitled to the entry of summary
judgment determining that the remedy afforded pursuant to 18 U.S.C. 42255
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) busis.4
As noted above, certain of the Jane Does allege a single encounter with EPSTEIN
while others allege multiple encounters. Here JD7 alleges one §2255 count in her
complaint, and also alleges and testified that she went to EPSTE1N's Palm Beach home 8
to 10 times. To the extent that the Plaintiff is seeking a multiplication of her damages,
under the plain meaning of the statutory text, §2255 does not allow for a multiplication of
the presumptive "actual damages" by the number of incidents or violations (or counts)
alleged. Nowhere in the statutory text is there any reference to the "civil remedy"
afforded against a defendant 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 presumptive minimum damages amount speaks in terms of "actual
damages." See 18 U.S.C. §2255, quoted above in part I; See Smith v. Husband, 428
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. See C.M.A. v. Epstein, Case No. 08-CIV-80811
Marra/Johnson; and Jane Doe II v. Epstein, Case No. 09-C1V-80469 Marra/Johnson.
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F.Supp.2d 432 (ED. Va. 2006); Smith v. Husband. 376 F.Supp.2d 603 (E.D. Va, 2006);
Doe v. 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 — woe
Flo. 2 v. Epstein, 2009 WL 383332 (S.D. Fla. Feb. 12, 2009); Doe No. 3 v. Epstein. 2009
WL 383330 (S.D. Fla. Feb. 12, 2009); Poe No. 4 v. Epstein, 2009 WL 383286 (S.D. Fla.
Feb. 12, 2009); and Doe No. 5 v. Epstein, 2009 WL 383383 (S.D. Fla. Feb. 12, 2009);
see also U.S. v. Scheidt, Slip Copy, 2010 WL 144837, fn. 1 (E.D.Cal. Jan. 11, 2010);
U.S. v. Renga, 2009 WL 2579103, fn. 1 (ED. Cal. Aug. 19, 2009); U.S. v. Ferenci, 2009
WL 2579102, fn. 1 (ED. Cal. Aug. 19, 2009); U.S. v. Monk, 2009 WL 2567831, fn. 1
(ED. Cal. Aug. 18, 2009); U.S. v. Zane 2009 WL 2567832, fn.1 (ED. Cal. Aug. 18
2009).
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 mg
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 v. White
492 F.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."' j, 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. Nowhere in the
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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 IJ 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), endnote i. See Smith v. Husband, 428
F.Supp.2d 432 (ED. Va. 2006); Smith v, Husband, 376 F.Supp.2d 603 (ED. Va. 2006);
Doe v. Liberatore, 478 F.Supp.2d 742, 754 (M.D. Pa. 2007).
As to the meaning of "actual damages," the Eleventh Circuit in McMillian v.
F.D.I.C. 81 F.3d 1041, 1055 (11th Cir.1996)5, succinctly explained:
... "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 "Neal,
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." It
Finally, Idjirect
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
In IVIchifillian, the 1I* Circuit was faced with the task of the interpretation of the
statutory term "actual direct compensatory damages" under FIRREA, 12 U.S.C.
§1821(eX3)(i). In doing so, the Court began with the plain meaning of the phrase. See
Perrin v. 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 v. McLvmont, 45 F.3d 400, 401 (11th Cir.), cm. denied 514 U.S. 1077, 115 S.Ct.
1723, 131 L.Ed.2d 581 (1995) ("Mhe plain meaning of this statute controls unless the
language is ambiguous or leads to absurd results.").
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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, ?win v. U.S. Dept. of Veteran Affairs, 2009 WL 1677233 (11'h Cir. June
17, 2009), citing Fitzpatrick v. IRS, 665 F.2d 327, 331 (11th Cir. 1982), abrogated on
other grounds by Doe v. Chao, 540 U.S. 614, 124 S.Ct. 1204 (2004),( "Actual damages"
recoverable under the Privacy Act are "proven pecuniary losses 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. v. Waffle House, Inc., 534 U.S.
279, 297, 122 S.Ct. 754, 766 (2002X"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—
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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 Ani.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. v. Baker, supra, at *8, 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 [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.
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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 EN
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.
11I. B. As a matter of law, Defendant is entitled to the entry of summary'
judgment determining that the minimum statutory damages awarded under 18
U.S.C. 42255(a) are not subject to multiplier on a per incident or per violation
or per count basis.
As discussed above herein, by its own terms, §2255 provides for the recovery of
"actual damages the minor sustains and the cost of the suit, including attorney's fees."
The next sentence expressly states — "Any minor as described in the preceding sentence
shall be deemed to have sustained damages of no less than $50,000 in value." (Even the
2006 amended version provides — "Any person as described in the preceding sentence
shall be deemed to have sustained damages of no less than $150,000 in value.") There is
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absolutely no language that allows for a plaintiff to multiply the presumptive minimum
damages recoverable on a "per violation" or "per incident or "per count" basis.
If a plaintiff were alleging multiple counts in an effort to multiply the statutory
minimum, such recovery would be improper based on the same legal principles that a
duplication or multiplication of the "actual damages" sustained and proven would also be
improper under the plain meaning of the statute. The $50,000 is a statutory minimum;
nothing prevents a plaintiff who suffers personal injury as a result of a violation of any
enumerated predicated act from proving she sustained actual damages in an amount
greater than the statutory minimum. At the same time, if she proves she suffered
personal injury and suffered actual damages in an amount less than the statutory
minimum, she is able to recover the minimum amount.
W. C. In the alternative, pursuant to constitutional law principles of statutory
interpretation, 18 U.S.C. 42255 is required to be interpreted as allowing for a
single recovery of actual damages or the statutory minimum, where personal
iniury and actual damages are sustained and proven, on behalf of a plaintiff
against a defendant. The recovery of damages is not subject to duplication or
multiplication on a "per violation" or "per incident" or "per count" basis.
As set forth above, it is Defendant's position that under applicable law, 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 or prove multiple predicate act violations.
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 v. Santos, 128 S.Ct. 2020, 2025
(2008). As summarized by the United States Supreme Court in Santos, supra, at 2025:
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... The rule of lenity requires ambiguous criminal laws to be interpreted in
favor of the defendants subjected to them. See United States v. Gradwell, 243
U.S. 476, 485, 37 S.Ct. 407, 61 L.Ed. 857 (1917); McBoyle v. United States,
283 U.S. 25, 27, 51 S.Ct. 340, 75 L.Ed. 816 (1931); United States v. 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." M, 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 v. 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
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of argument that Plaintiffs multiple counts, leading to a multiplication of the statutory
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 Berdeaj, 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 v. Harriss, 347 U.S. 612, 617, 74
S.Ct. 808, 812, 98 Ltd. 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 v. General Const. Co., 269 U.S. 385, 391, 46 S.Ct. 126, 127, 70
Ltd. 322. We have recognized in such cases that 'a statute which either
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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
'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 v. New Jersey, 306 U.S. 451, 453, 59
S.Ct. 618, 619, 83 L.Ed. 888.
Thus, applying these well-entrenched constitutional principles of statutory
interpretation and application, Defendant is entitled to the entry of summary judgment
determining that 18 U.S.C. §2255 allows for a single recovery of damages against a
Defendant; the statutory minimum is not subject to a multiplier on a per incident or per
violation (or per count) basis.
IV. The Version of 18 U.S.C. 82255 Tn Effect When The Predicate Acts
Alleaedly Were Committed Allowed Only "Minors" To File Suit.
The Amended Complaint is predicated on conduct that occurred sometime in 2003
and 2004. JD7's date of birth is June 30, 1987. JD7 turned 18 on June 30, 2005. (See
Statement Facts above). The original Complaint in this matter was filed on September
10, 2008. Thus, JD7 was 21 years old at the time this suit was filed and no longer a
minor. (The age of majority under both federal and state law is 18 years old. See 18
U.S.C. §2256(1), defining a "minor" as "any person under the age of eighteen years;" and
§1.01, Definitions, Fla. Stat., defining "minor" to include "any person who has not
attained the age of 18 years.")
From 1999 to July 26, 2006, 18 U.S.C. § 2255(a) provided:
Any minor who is a victim of a violation of [certain specified federal
statutes] 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
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$50,000 in value.
It is well settled that in interpreting a statute, the court's inquiry begins with the
text and structure of the law. CBS. Inc. v. Prime Time 24 Venture. 245 F.3d 1217, 1222
(11th Cir. 2001) ("We begin our construction of [a statutory provision] where courts
should always begin the process of legislative interpretation, and where they often should
end it as well, which is with the words of the statutory provision.") (quoting Harris v.
Gamer, 216 F.3d 970, 972 (11th Cir. 2000) (en bane)) (first alteration omitted). In this
case, the plain text of the 2003 statute is both clear and unmistakable. It allowed only
minors (or the representative of a then-minor, see Fed It. Civ. P. 17(c)) to initiate suit
under § 2255. It provided only that "any minor ... may sue" and that "any minor ...
shall recover the actual damages such minor sustains" as a result of the predicate acts.
Id. (emphasis added). The law's use of the present tense further underscored its limited
scope: It spoke of "any minor who is a victim," provided that "such minor ... shall
recover" damages arising from the underlying offense, and stated that "any minor ...
shall be deemed" to have sustained at least $50,000 in damages. Id. (emphasis added).
Where the statute's words are unambiguous—as the are here—the "judicial inquiry is
complete." Merritt v. Dillard Paper Co., 120 F.3d 1181, 1186 (11th Cir. 1997) (citation
omitted)). Under the pre-July, 2006 version of the statute, only minors could initiate suit.
The recent case of U.S. v. Baker, 2009 WL 4572785, *7-8 (E.D. Tx Dec. 7,
2009), in discussing the restitution under 18 U.S.C. §2255 noted that when the statute
was amended in 2006 — "Masha's Law increased the minimum damages amount from
$50,000 to $150,000 and broadened the language of section 2255 to allow adults to
recover for damages sustained while they were a minor." The plain reading of the statute
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makes clear that prior to the 2006 amendment, the remedy was created for the benefit of
minors who suffered sexual exploitation as a result of violation of a statutorily
enumerated criminal act(s).
To the extent there is any ambiguity in the text—and there is none—the law's
legislative history further underscores Congress's intent to limit the right of action to
minors: "Current law provides for a civil remedy for personal injuries resulting from
child pornography offenses. This section expands the number of sex offenses in which a
minor may pursue a civil remedy for personal injuries resulting from the offense." H.R.
Rep. 105-557, at 23 (1998), as reprinted in 1998 U.S.C.C.A.N. 678, 692. And perhaps
most telling, Congress amended § 2255 in 2006—three years after the alleged
misconduct in this case supposedly took place—to make the civil action available to
persons who had turned 18 by the lime they filed suit:
(a) In general.—Any person who, while a minor, was 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, regardless of whether the injury occurred while
such person was a minor, may sue in any appropriate United States
District Court and shall recover the actual damages such person sustains
and the cost of the suit, including a reasonable attorney's fee. Any person
as described in the preceding sentence shall be deemed to have sustained
damages of no less than $150,000 in value.
18 U.S.C. § 2255 (2006) (emphasis added).
The contrast between the prior and 2006 versions of § 2255 is stark. The 2006
law replaces each of the prior law's uses of the term "minor" with the term "person."
Where the 2006 law does refer to a "minor," it changes the prior law's present-tense
references ("is") to past-tense references ("was"). And the 2006 law's new language now
makes clear that, unlike the prior statute, those victimized while under the age of 18 may
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sue after they turn 18. Given that amendments must be interpreted "to have real and
substantial effect," Stone v. I.N.S., 514 U.S. 386, 397 (1995), there can be no doubt that
Congress recognized the prior statute's strict limitations and for the first time expanded
the right of action to adults.
Indeed, the history of the 2006 amendments clearly shows that Congress intended
to change the law, not merely to clarify it. Those amendments were made by § 707 of the
Adam Walsh Child Protection and Safety Act, Pub. L. No. 109-248, 120 Stat. 587, 650
(2006), and are known as "Masha's Law." As Senator Kerry—the author of Masha's
Law—explained:
What Masha's law does, and what is incorporated in here, is it changes
"any minor" to "any person," so that if a minor is depicted in
photographs pornographically that are distributed over the Internet, but
by the time the abuser is caught, the minor is an adult, they can still
recover. They cannot now, and that is ridiculous. It makes sure that
recovery on the part of a minor can take place when they become an
adult....
Although I don't think there is any price too high to cost an individual
who would take advantage of a minor, I think it is only appropriate to
make sure that reaching the age of adulthood does not exempt someone
from recovery. It is a tribute to continuing to do what this bill does, and
that is look after the protection of minors and ensure that those who
violate them are caught and punished and have to pay to the maximum
extent.
152 Cong. Rec. S8012-02 at S8016 (July 20, 2006) (statement of Sen. Kerry) (emphasis
added). Courts typically give special weight to the statements of a bill's sponsor, Corlev
v. U.S., 129 S.Ct. 1558, 1569 (Apr. 6, 2009) ("[A] sponsor's statement to the full Senate
carries considerable weight' ).6 There is no basis to depart from that rule here.
a
Similarly, the official summary prepared by the Congressional Research Service ("CRS")
explained that Masha's Law Irlevises provisions allowing victims of certain sex-related crimes to seek
civil remedies to: (I) allow adults as well as minors to sue for injuries; and (2) increase from $50,000 to
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It thus is no answer that the pre-amended statute's limitations clause provided that
"in the case of a person under a legal disability, [the complaint may be filed] not later
than three years after the disability," 18 U.S.C. § 2255(b) (2003), such that the
unamended version of the law implicitly must have permitted victims to sue even after
they turned 18. That interpretation not only would render Masha's Law superfluous; it
would make Masha's Law's internally redundant, because Masha's Law retained the
"legal disability" language from the prior version of § 2255(b). See 18 U.S.C. § 2255(6)
(2006). In short, the retained "legal disability" language in § 2255(b) of the 2006 statute
would be entirely redundant were it construed to do implicitly what the law elsewhere did
expressly.
In these circumstances, the traditional rules against surplusage and
redundancy apply with double force. See, e.g., Duncan v. Walker, 533 U.S. 167, 174
(2001). The "legal disability" language in § 2255(b) should be interpreted to reference
classic legal disabilities like insanity, mental disability, or imprisonment—not age.
Indeed, that is precisely how Congress typically uses the term "legal disability":
most federal statutes that use the term make clear that it doesn't include age. See, e.g., 25
U.S.C. § 590c ("A share or interest payable to enrollees less than eighteen years of age or
under legal disability shall be paid ....") (emphasis added); id. § 783 ("Funds payable
under sections 781 to 785 of this title to minors or to persons under legal disability shall
$150,000 the minimum level of damages." Official Stmunary of Pub. Law No. 109-248 (July 27, 2006), as
reprinted at http://thomasdoc.goWcgi-bin/bdquery/z?d109;HR04472:@®@)L&summ2emm& (emphasis
added) (last visited May 10, 2009). Courts have long consulted official CRS summaries to assess
legislative intent, see, e.g., Rettig v. Pension Ben, Guar. Cow. 744 F.2d 133, 145 & n.7 (D.C. Cir. 1984);
PIRVCTV Inc. v. Citmarella No. Civ.A 03-2384, 2005 WL 1252261 at •7 (D.N.J. May 24, 2005);
Ciohessv v. St. Francis Hosp. & Healthcare No. 98-C-4818, 1999 WL 46898 •2-*3 (N.D. III. Jan. 28,
1999), and there is good reason to do so. By design, CRS summaries are intended to "objectively
describe() the measure's ... effect upon ... current law" so that Congress can make informed judgments
about the impact of proposed bills. See The Library of Congress, About CRS Summary, available at
littp://thomasloc.gov/bss/abt dgst.litml (last visited May 10, 2009).
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be paid....") (emphasis added); id. § 1128 ("Sums payable to enrollees ... who are less
than eighteen years of age or who are under a legal disability shall be paid....")
(emphasis added); id. § 1253 ("Sums payable ... to enrollees ... who are less than
eighteen years of age or who are under a legal disability shall be paid....") (emphasis
added); id. § 1273 (same); Id. § 1283 (same); id. § 1295 (same); id. § 1300a-3 (same); id.
§ 1300c-3 (same); id. § 1300d-7 (same); see also 38 U.S.C. § 3501.
Needless to say, Congress would not have had to address age expressly in any of
these statutes if the term "legal disability" necessarily included one's status as a minor;
instead, Congress's mere use of the term "legal disability" already would account for a
would-be plaintiff's minority status. Given the rule "against reading a text in a way that
makes part of it redundant," Nat'l Ass'n of Home Builders v. Defenders of Wildlife, 551
U.S. 644 (2007) (citing TRW Inc. v. Andrews, 534 U.S. 19, 31 (2001)), and the canon
that "where words are employed in a statute which had at the time a well-known meaning
... in the law of this country, they are presumed to have been used in that sense,"
Standard Oil Co. v. United States, 221 U.S. 1, 59 (1911), § 2255's reference to "legal
disability" can only be interpreted as a reference to classic disabilities like insanity or
mental incapacity, but not age.
Accordingly, Defendant is entitled to summary judgment determining that the
applicable version of §2255 allows for a minor to pursue the remedy thereunder. JD7
was 21 years old at the time she instituted this action, no longer a minor.
Conclusion
Thus, under the undisputed material facts and applicable law, Defendant is
entitled to the entry of summary judgment determining that (1) the version of 18 U.S.C.
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§2255, effective 1999 to Jul. 26, 2006, the period of time during which EPSTEIN's
alleged conduct occurred, applies to Plaintiff's claim brought pursuant to §2255; (2)
JD7's own testimony establishes that EPSTEIN never used a facility or means of
interstate commerce to knowingly persuade, induce, entice, or coerce her to engage in
any sexual activity for which any person can be charged with a criminal offense, or
attempting to do so. 18 U.S.C. §2422(b). Her testimony and the allegations of the
complaint also show that EPSTEIN never traveled interstate with the specific intent of
engaging in sexual activity with her. 18 U.S.C. 2423(b) and (e). Under the undisputed
material facts, JD6 cannot show a violation of the enumerated predicate acts on which
she relies, in order to prove her claim pursuant to 18 U.S.C. §2255; thus, an essential
element of her §2255 cannot be established, entitling Defendant to the entry of summary
judgment on Count III; (3) 18 U.S.C. §2255 allows for a single recovery of the
presumptive minimum damages amount against a single Defendant, and not a
multiplication thereof based on the number of statutory predicate act violations or
incidents or counts; and (4) the version of 18 U.S.C. § 2255 in effect when the predicate
acts allegedly were committed allow only "minors" to file suit.
WHEREFORE, Defendant requests that this Court enter the summary judgments
sought herein. Defendant further requests an award of his attorney's fees and costs in
defending this claim.
By: /s/ Robert D. Critton, Jr.
Florida Bar No. 224162
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I HEREBY CERTIFY that a true copy of the foregoing was electronically filed
with the Clerk of the Court using CM/ECF. I also certify that the foregoing document is
being served this day on all counsel of record identified on the following service list in
the manner specified via transmission of Notices of Electronic Filing generated by
CM/ECF on this t h day of Mav, 2010:
Stuart S. Mermelstein, Esq.
Adam D. Horowitz, Esq.
Mermelstein & Horowitz, P.A.
18205 Biscayne Boulevard
Suite 2218
Miami. FL 33160
Counsel for Plaintiff
Jack Alan Goldberger, Esq.
Atterbury Goldberger & Weiss, P.A.
250 Australian Avenue South
Suite 1400
West Palm
3401-5012
Counsel for Defendant Jeffity Epstein
Respectfully submitted,
By: 1s/ Robert D. Critton. Jr,
Florida Bar No. 224162
Florida Bar #617296
BURMAN, CRITTON, LUTT1ER &
COLEMAN
303 Banyan Blvd., Suite 400
3401
(Co-Counsel for Defendant Jeffiey Epstein)
18 USCA §2255 (effective 1999 to Jul. 26, 20061
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PART I--CRIMES
CHAPTER 110-SEXUAL EXPLOITATION AND OTHER ABUSE OF CHILDREN
§ 2255. Civil remedy for personal injuries
(a) My 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.
CREDIT(S)
(Added Pub.L. 99-500, Title I, § 101(b) [Title VII, § 703(a)], Oct. 18, 1986,
100 Stat. 1783-75, and amended Pub.L. 99-591, Title I, § 101(b) [Title VII,
§ 703(a)], Oct. 30, 1986, 100 Stat. 3341-75• Pub.L. 105-314, Title VI, §
605, Oct. 30, 1998, 112 Stat. 2984.)
18 U.S.C. 42255, as amended 2006
Effective July 27, 2006
PART I--CRIMES
CHAPTER 110--SEXUAL EXPLOITATION AND OTHER ABUSE OF CHILDREN
§ 2255. Civil remedy for personal injuries
(a) In general.--Any person who, while a minor, was 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, regardless of whether the injury occurred while such person was a
minor, may sue in any appropriate United States District Court and shall
recover the actual damages such person sustains and the cost of the suit,
including a reasonable attorney's fee. Any person as described in the
preceding sentence shall be deemed to have sustained damages of no less
than $150,000 in value.
(b) Statute of limitations.—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.
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CREDIT(S)
(Added Pub.L. 99-500, Title I, § 101(b1 [Title VII, § 703(a)), Oct. 18, 1986,
100 Stat. 1783-75, and amended Pub.L. 99-591, Title I, § 101(b) (Title VII, §
703(a)), Oct. 30, 1986, 100 Stat. 3341-75; Pub.L. 105-314, Title VI, § 605
Oct. 30, 1998, 112 Stat. 2984; Pub.L. 109-248, Title VII, 4 707(b), (c) July
27, 2006, 120 Stat. 650.)
2 CHAPTER 117-TRANSPORTATION FOR ILLEGAL SEXUAL ACTIVITY AND
RELATED CRIMES
Current through P.L. 107-377 (End) approved 12-19-02
§ 2422. Coercion and enticement
(a) Whoever knowingly persuades, induces, entices, or coerces any individual to
travel in interstate or foreign commerce, or in any Territory or Possession of the
United States, to engage in prostitution, or in any sexual activity for which any
person can be charged with a criminal offense, or attempts to do so, shall be fined
under this title or imprisoned not more than 10 years, or both.
(b) Whoever, using the mail or any facility or means of interstate or foreign
commerce, or within the special maritime and territorial jurisdiction of the United
States knowingly persuades, induces, entices, or coerces any individual who has
not attained the age of 18 years, to engage in prostitution or any sexual activity for
which any person can be charged with a criminal offense, or attempts to do so,
shall be fined under this title, imprisoned not more than 15 years, or both.
As amended, Apr. 30, 2003. (In effect during 2004 — 2005).
§ 2422. Coercion and enticement
(a) Whoever knowingly persuades, induces, entices, or coerces any individual to
travel in interstate or foreign commerce, or in any Territory or Possession of the
United States, to engage in prostitution, or in any sexual activity for which any
person can be charged with a criminal offense, or attempts to do so, shall be fined
under this title or imprisoned not more than 20 years, or both.
(b) Whoever, using the mail or any facility or means of interstate or foreign
commerce, or within the special maritime and territorial jurisdiction of the United
States knowingly persuades, induces, entices, or coerces any individual who has
not attained the age of 18 years, to engage in prostitution or any sexual activity for
which any person can be charged with a criminal offense, or attempts to do so,
shall be fined under this title and imprisoned not less than 5 years and not more
than 30 years.
EFTA01100046
Jane Doe No. 7 v. Epstein
Case No. 08-CV-80993-Marra-Johnson
Page 43
Note: The amendment to the statute increased punishment that could be imposed
for a violation thereof.
EFTA01100047