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efta-efta01111222DOJ Data Set 9OtherJEFFREY EPSTEIN,
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DOJ Data Set 9
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efta-efta01111222
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JEFFREY EPSTEIN,
Plaintiff,
VS.
IN THE CIRCUIT COURT OF THE
FIFTEENTH JUDICIAL CIRCUIT IN
AND FOR PALM BEACH COUNTY,
FLORIDA
SCOTT ROTHSTEIN, individually,
CASE NO.: 502009CA040800XXXXMBAG
and BRADLEY J. EDWARDS,
individually.
JUDGE:
CROW
Defendants.
PLAINTIFF JEFFREY EPSTEIN'S MOTION FOR
CLARIFICATION/RECONSIDERATION OF THIS COURT'S ORDER
DATED MAY 17, 2013
Plaintiff/Counter-Defendant Jeffrey Epstein ("Epstein"), by and through his
undersigned counsel and pursuant to Rule 1.530 of the Florida Rules of Civil Procedure,
hereby seeks clarification/reconsideration of this Court's Order dated May 17, 2013, in which
the Court directs Epstein to produce a privilege log as to the requested items/information for
which he asserted his Constitutional Privilege Against Self-Incrimination in response to
Defendant/Counter Plaintiff Bradley Edwards's Net Worth Interrogatories and Requests for
Production (hereinafter "the Order"). In support thereof, Epstein states:
SUMMARY OF PROCEEDINGS
On February 22, 2013, Epstein filed his responses to Edwards's Net Worth
Interrogatories and Request for Production. On February 25, 2013, in response, Edwards filed
a Motion to Strike Untimely Objections to Financial Discovery. In that Motion, Edwards
moved to strike all objections and privileges raised by Epstein except his Constitutional
Privilege. On March 1 1, 2013, this Court entered its Order on Edwards's Motion in which it
overruled all objections other than privilege:
[Ole court heard argument of counsel, reviewed the court file, has reviewed
the authorities counsel has cited, has reviewed the discovery along with the
1
EFTA01111222
objections filed on behalf of the Counter-Defendant . . . [t]he Counter-
Defendant's Objections to Discovery other than privilege (including but not
limited to constitutional guarantees under the V, VI and XIV Amendments,
attorney/client privilege, work product privilege) are overruled. . . The
Counter-Defendant shall not be required to list any documents he
contends are privileged pursuant to the V, VI and XIV Amendments.
March 11, 2013 Order on Counter-Plainly:Ps Motion to Strike Untimely Objections to
Financial Discovery, attached hereto as "Exhibit A" (emphasis added). In that Order, this
Court explicitly, and correctly, ruled that Epstein shall not file a privilege log as to any
documents he contends are Constitutionally Privileged. Edwards did not, and has not,
challenged that portion of this Court's Order.
However, the Order entered by the Court on May 17, 2013 appears to compel Epstein
to create a privilege log as to those items/answers for which he asserted his Constitutional
Privilege against Self-Incrimination. A true and correct copy of the May 17, 2013 Order is
attached hereto as "Exhibit B." As such, Epstein requests that this Honorable Court clarify its
May 17, 2013 ruling with respect to the Constitutional Privilege issue already adjudicated in
its March 11, 2013 Order, or alternatively to reconsider its May 17, 2013 Order if it is, in fact,
compelling Epstein to provide a privilege log with respect to those items/answers for which
he asserted his Fifth Amendment Privilege against Self-Incrimination.
ARGUMENT
A motion for clarification is the equivalent of a motion for rehearing. Kirby v.
Speight. 217 So. 2d 871, 872 (Fla. 1st DCA 1969); Dambro v. Dambro, 900 So. 2d 724, 725-
26 (Fla. 4th DCA 2005). As such, a motion for clarification is filed in accordance with Rule
1.530(6) of the Florida Rules of Civil Procedure. "The purpose of a Motion for a Rehearing is
to give the trial court an opportunity to consider matters which it failed to consider or
2
EFTA01111223
overlooked." Pingree v. Quaintance, 394 So. 2d 161, 162 (Fla. 1st DCA 1981). Here, Epstein
is requesting that this Court issue another opinion in which it more clearly delineates its ruling
with respect to the privilege log and Epstein's asserted Constitutional Privilege, as pursuant to
the most recent Order it appears that Epstein is being forced to waive his Constitutional
Privilege.
The law is clear that a party may invoke his Fifth Amendment Privilege against Self-
Incrimination if he has reasonable grounds to believe discovery answers would furnish a link
in a chain of evidence needed to prove a crime against him. Rainerman v. Eagle Nat. Bank of
Miami, 541 So. 2d 740 (Fla. 3d DCA 1989). Epstein's assertion of his Constitutional
Privilege is "a fundamental principle." Piscotti v. Stephens, 940 So. 2d 1217 (Fla. 4th DCA
2006):
It need not be probable that a criminal prosecution will be brought or that the
witness's answer will be introduced in a later prosecution; the witness need
only show a realistic possibility that the answers will be used against him.
Id. at 1220 (quoting Magid v. Winter, 654 So. 2d 1037, 1039 (Fla. 4th DCA 1995)). Here, the
mere act of providing information in a privilege log would constitute communicative
testimony itself that is protected from discovery. Id. See also Wehling v. Columbia
Broadcasting Sys., 608 F.2d 1084, 1086 (5th Cir. 1979) ("Even if the rules did not contain
specific language exempting privileged information, it is clear that the Fifth Amendment
would serve as a shield to any party who feared that complying with discovery would expose
him to a risk of self-incrimination. The fact that the privilege is raised in a civil proceeding
rather than a criminal prosecution does not deprive a party of its protection.") (citing
Lefkowitz v. Cunningham, 431 U.S. 801, 805 (1977)). A witness invoking the privilege
against self-incrimination is not required to establish that criminal prosecution is probable or
3
EFTA01111224
imminent; instead, the court must only be satisfied that there is a reasonable possibility that
the witness' answer will be used against him. See In re Keller Financial Services of Florida,
Inc., 259 B.R. 391 (Bkrtcy. M.D. Fla. 2000); see also Meek v. Dean Witter Reynolds, Inc..
458 So. 2d 412 (Fla. 4th DCA 1984) (finding a witness need only show a realistic possibility
that an answer to the question will be used against him or her). As demonstrated more fully
below, Epstein has already met this burden.
Epstein provided the following response to the Requests for Production for which he is
asserting his Constitutional Privilege:
This Request for Production requires the identification of the existence of
detailed financial information which communicates statements of fact. Fisher
v. United States, 425 U.S. 391, 410 (1976). "ITjhe act of production itself'
may implicitly communicate "statements of fact" that are testimonial in nature.
United States v. Hubbell, 530 U.S. 27, 35-36 (2000). I have a substantial and
reasonable basis for concern that these statements of fact that are testimonial in
nature could reasonably furnish a "link in the chain of evidence" that could be
used to prosecute me in future criminal proceedings. See Hoffman v. United
States, 341 U.S. 479, 486 (1951). I cannot provide answers/responses to
questions relating to my financial history and condition without waiving my
Fifth, Sixth and Fourteenth Amendment rights as guaranteed by the United
States Constitution.
See Epstein's Responses to Edwards's Net Worth Discovery Request for Production. Epstein
has both demonstrated and articulated a "substantial and reasonable basis for concern" that the
requested information could "form a link in the chain of evidence" that could be used to
prosecute him in criminal proceedings, both in his "privilege log" filed in response to the
Court's March 11, 2013 Order, and by argument and proffer through counsel at each hearing
held by the Court on this issue. Specifically, Epstein's "substantial and reasonable basis for
concern" derives from the fact that Edwards is actively and vigorously seeking to invalidate a
Non-Prosecution Agreement entered into between Mr. Epstein and the United States
Government (08-cv-80736 Doe v. United States of America). A portion of the Government's
4
EFTA01111225
investigation, and the Non-Prosecution Agreement which Edwards seeks to invalidate,
include allegations of financial crimes. As such, should Edwards be successful his ardent
quest to invalidate the Non-Prosecution Agreement entered into between Epstein and the
United States, Epstein could face the prospect of future prosecution which could, according to
the Government, include financial crimes. Therefore, Epstein must, and will continue to,
assert to his rights as afforded to him by the Constitution. See Piscotti v. Stephens, 940 So. 2d
1217 (Fla. 4th DCA 2006); Urbanek v. Urbanek, 50 So. 3d 1246 (Fla. 4th DCA 2011).
As this Court is aware, "[t]he Fifth Amendment privilege can be asserted in any
proceeding, civil or criminal... in which the witness reasonably believes that the information
sought, or discoverable as a result of his testimony, could be used in a subsequent state or
federal criminal proceeding." Kastigar v. U.S., 406 U.S. 441, 444-45, (1972). Moreover,
"Nile privilege afforded not only extends to answers that would in themselves support a
conviction...but likewise embraces those which would furnish a link in the chain of evidence
needed to prosecute the claimant." Hoffman v. U.S., 341 U.S. 479, 486 (1951). In the case at
hand, Epstein was previously convicted and sentenced for certain crimes that may "form the
basis of his Fifth Amendment claims." Likewise, according to Edwards, Mr. Epstein may face
future prosecution. Edwards's own allegations in his Fourth Amended Counterclaim support
this assertion, as Edwards himself claims that Epstein is the target of inquiry with respect to
additional charges stemming from the very core of facts for which he already stands
convicted. Edwards is also vigorously seeking to overturn the Non-Prosecution Agreement
between Epstein and the United States Government, and has, on numerous occasions, made
allegations of future prosecution against Mr. Epstein. As such, it is irrefutable that Edwards's
own pleadings in this case have proven Epstein's contention that he has a "substantial and
5
EFTA01111226
reasonable basis for concern" of future prosecution. Epstein has, therefore, properly asserted
the Fifth Amendment in response to every question/request propounded by Edwards where an
answer, if provided, could conceivably "furnish a link in the chain of evidence needed to
prosecute the claimant." Accordingly, if the Court's May 17, 2013 Order is compelling
Epstein to provide a privilege log with respect to his Constitutional Privileges it is, in essence,
forcing Epstein to waive this privilege. See United States v. Doe, 465 U.S. 605, 612 (1984);
People v. Traylor, 23 Cal App.3d 323, 330 (1972) ("If the witness were required to prove the
hazards he would be compelled to surrender the very protection the constitutional privilege is
designed to guarantee."). See also In re Rothstein Rosenfeld! Adler, P.A., 2011 WL 6067494,
*2 (S.D. Fla. 2011) (the court accepted a proffer from witness Deborah Villegas's attorney
regarding the possibility of future prosecution, and held that the witness was within her rights
to assert her Constitutional Privileges).
Finally, the Court's Order is unclear as to whether or not a privilege log is required for
Mr. Epstein's responses to the Net Worth Interrogatories. However, because responses to
Interrogatories must be verified; sworn to under Oath, they are irrefutably testimonial in
nature, and Epstein should not be compelled to provide a privilege log for the responses for
which he asserts his Fifth Amendment Privilege. Epstein asserted Constitutional Privileges to
Interrogatories Nos. 3 through 13 and 15, including all subparts, specifically stating:
This Interrogatory requires the provision of detailed financial information
which communicates statements of fact. Fisher v. United States, 425 U.S. 391,
410 (1947). I have a substantial and reasonable basis for concern that these
statements of fact that are testimonial in nature could reasonably furnish a
"link in the chain of evidence" that could be used to prosecute me in criminal
proceedings. See Henan v. United States, 341 U.S. 479, 486 (1951). I
cannot provide answers/responses to questions relating to my financial history
and condition without waiving my Fifth, Sixth and Fourteenth Amendment
rights as guaranteed by the United States Constitution.
6
EFTA01111227
As explained above, Epstein has both demonstrated and articulated a "substantial and
reasonable basis for concern" that the requested information could "form a link in the chain of
evidence" that could be used to prosecute him in criminal proceedings. Therefore, Epstein
will, and must, continue to assert to his right to the Constitutional Privileges. See Piscoui v.
Stephens, 940 So. 2d 1217 (Fla. 4th DCA 2006); Urbanek v. Urbanek, 50 So. 3d 1246 (Fla.
4th DCA 2011).
CONCLUSION
Accordingly, for all of the reasons delineated above and in reliance upon the
applicable law cited herein, Jeffrey Epstein respectfully requests that this Court clarify or
reconsider its Court Order dated May 17, 2013, and such other and further relief as this Court
deems proper.
WE HEREBY CERTIFY that a true and correct copy of the foregoing was served
upon all parties listed below, via Electronic Service, this May 23, 2013.
/s/ Tonja Haddad Coleman
Tonja Haddad Coleman, Esq.
Fla. Bar No.: 0176737
TONJA HADDAD, PA
315 SE 7th Street
Suite 301
Fort Laude ale, Florida 33301
. .
7
EFTA01111228
Electronic Service List
Jack Scarola, Esq.
Searcy Denney Scarola et al.
2139 Palm Beach Lakes Blvd.
West Palm Beach, FL 33409
Jack Goldberger, Esq.
Atterbury, Goldberger, & Weiss, PA
250 Australian Ave. South
Suite 1400
West Palm Beach, FL 33401
Marc Nurik, Esq.
I East Broward Blvd.
Suite 700
Fort Lauderdale. FL 33301
Bradley J. Edwards, Esq.
Farmer Jaffe Weissing Edwards Fistos Lehrman
425 N Andrews Avenue
Suite 2
Fort Lauderdale. Florida 33301
Fred Haddad, Esq.
I Financial Plaza
Suite 2612
Fort Lauderdale, FL 33301
EFTA01111229
IN THE CIRCUIT COURT OF THE FIFTEENTH JUDICIAL CIRCUIT OF FLORIDA
IN AND FOR PALM BEACH COUNTY
CIVIL DIVISION
CASE NO.: 502009CA040800XXXXMBAG
JEFFREY EPSTEIN,
Plaintiff,
vs.
SCOTT ROTHSTEIN, etc., et al.,
Defendants.
ORDER ON COUNTER-PLAINTIFF'S MOTION TO STRIKE
UNTIMELY OBJECTIONS TO FINANCIAL DISCOVERY
THIS CAUSE came before the Court upon the Counter-Plaintiff's Motion to
Strike Untimely Objections to Financial Discovery. The Court heard argument of
counsel, reviewed the court file, has reviewed the authorities counsel has cited, has
reviewed
the discovery along with the objections
filed on behalf of the
Counter-Defendant. Based upon the foregoing, and after a thorough review of same, it
is
CONSIDERED, ORDERED AND ADJUDGED as follows:
The Counter-Defendant's Objections to Discovery other than privilege
(including but not limited to constitutional guarantees under the V, VI and XIV
Amendments, attorney/client privilege, work product privilege, privacy privilege under
the Florida Constitution or any other applicable privilege) are overruled. However, as to
any privileges other than a privilege against self-incrimination as guaranteed by the V,
VI and XIV Amendments of the United States Constitution, the Counter-Defendant shall
file a detailed privilege log outlining the documents and the applicable privilege. The
Counter-Defendant shall not be required to list any documents he contends are
EXHIBIT A
EFTA01111230
Epstein a Rothstein, et al.
Case No. 502009CA040800XXXXMRAG
Order
Page 2
privileged pursuant to the V, VI and XIV Amendments. The privilege log as well as more
complete responses shall be filed within fifteen (15) days of the date of this Order.
DONE AND ORDERED this It (llaay of Marc
013 at West Palm
Beach, Palm Beach County, Florida.
DAVID
CIRCUIT COURT J
Copy furnished:
See attached list.
EFTA01111231
IN THE CIRCUIT COURT OF THE FIFTEENTH JUDICIAL CIRCUIT
IN AND FOR PALM BEACH COUNTY, FLORIDA
CASE NO.: 50-2009-CA-0408004OOOC-MBAG
JEFFREY EPSTEIN,
CIVIL DIVISION "AG"
Plaintiff,
v.
SCOTT ROTHSTEIN, etc., et al.,
Defendant(s).
ORDER DIRECTING PLAINTIFF TO PRODUCE A PRIVILEGE LOG
FOR AN IN CAMERA REVIEW OF PLAINTIFF'S ASSERTED PRIVILEGES
(AND SETTING STATUS CONFERENCE
THIS CAUSE came before the Court on Plaintiff/Counter-Defendant Jeffrey Epstein's
(the "Plaintiff") Objections to Defendant/Counter-Plaintiff's Request for Production and Net
Worth Interrogatories. This Court, having carefully reviewed the Plaintiff's objections and all
applicable legal authority, and being otherwise fully advised in the premises does hereby
determine as follows:
BACKGROUND
On March 12, 2013, this Court entered an Order requiring the Plaintiff to file a detailed
privilege log in response to Defendant/Counter-Plaintiff Bradley Edwards' (the "Defendant")
financial discovery requests for document production. The Order stated that the Plaintiff was not
required to list any documents on the privilege log that he asserted were protected by his
constitutional privilege against self-incrimination. The Plaintiff responded to this Court's Order
by filing a privilege log wherein he asserted a Fifth Amendment privilege against self-
incrimination as to essentially every document request, as well as asserting that many documents
were protected by attorney-client privilege, accountant-client privilege, trade secret privilege,
EXHIBITS
EFTA01111232
work product privilege, and third party privacy rights.
In addition to asserting the
aforementioned privileges against the Defendant's document production requests, the Plaintiff
also asserted the same privileges against many of the Defendant's interrogatories.
The Plaintiff's Fifth Amendment objections were based upon the assertion that the
identification and certification of the existence of certain documents would be self-incriminating.
Because of the Plaintiff's assertion that he could not identify the requested documents, the
Plaintiff did not provide to this Court a basis upon which to substantiate his non-constitutional
claims of privilege. On April 15, 2013, the Defendant filed his Response to Epstein's Objections
to Edwards' Request for Production and Net Worth Interrogatories wherein he requested that this
Court require a new privilege log for an in camera review to determine whether the Plaintiff's
non-constitutional claims of privilege are valid.
LEGAL ANALYSIS
The Plaintiff has asserted a Fifth Amendment privilege against self-incrimination as to
essentially every request to produce documents and against the majority of the Defendant's
interrogatory requests. Because the validity of the Plaintiff's Fifth Amendment objections are
based upon the nature of the underlying act of compulsion, the Plaintiff's objections are best
divided into three categories: (A) document requests directed towards the Plaintiff personally,
(B) document requests directed towards the Plaintiff as a custodian of business records, and (C)
interrogatory requests. Accordingly, each of these categories is considered in turn.
A. Fifth Amendment Privilege in the Context of the Plaintiff's Production of
Documents as an Individual.
The Plaintiff has responded to virtually every document request from the Defendant by
asserting his Fifth Amendment privilege against self-incrimination. A litigant may assert, in the
context of civil litigation, a Fifth Amendment privilege against self-incrimination as to
2
EFTA01111233
testimonial and communicative evidence. See Fisher v. United States, 425 U.S. 391 (1976);
Boyle v. Buck, 858 So. 2d 391, 392-93 (Fla. 4th DCA 2003). With respect to the production of
documents, however, the Fifth Amendment will not apply simply because the requested
documents will incriminate the respondent. See Fisher, 425 U.S. at 409-10. Instead, the Fifth
Amendment shields a respondent from document production when the compulsory act of
production itself is equivalent to incriminating testimonial evidence. See id. at 411-12.
Before a court can consider whether the act of producing documents is equivalent to
incriminating-testimony, a court must first determine whether the act of production results in any
testimony at all. See id. at 392-99. The United States Supreme Court considered circumstances
where the act of production was not testimonial in Fisher v. United States. Id. at 411-12. In
Fisher, the requested documents consisted of work papers belonging to an accountant but in the
possession of the respondent-taxpayer. Id. at 395. The Court determined that the respondent-
taxpayer's act of producing the documents was not testimonial because (1) the documents were
not prepared by the taxpayer, (2) the documents were of the type typically created by
accountants, (3) the documents had been created voluntarily, and (4) the existence and location
of the requested documents were a foregone conclusion. Id. at 411. The Court considered the
act of production in Fisher to be an act of surrender, not an act of testimony. See id. at 41 I -12.
The Supreme Court considered a different set of facts where the act of producing
documents was testimonial in United States v. Hubbell. United States v. Hubbell, 530 U.S. 27
(2000). In Hubbell, the government requested over 13,000 pages worth of documents without
knowing what the discovery request would produce. See id. at 41-42. The Court described the
facts that influenced its decision to classify the respondent's production of documents as
testimonial:
3
EFTA01111234
Given the breadth of the description of the 11 categories of documents called for
by the subpoena, the collection and production of the materials demanded was
tantamount to answering a series of interrogatories asking a witness to disclose
the existence and location of particular documents fitting certain broad
descriptions. The assembly of literally hundreds of pages of material in response
to a request for "any and all documents reflecting, referring, or relating to any
direct or indirect sources of money or other things of value received by or
provided to" an individual or members of his family during a 3-year period . .. is
the functional equivalent of the preparation of an answer to either a detailed
written interrogatory or a series of oral questions at a discovery deposition.
Entirely apart from the contents of the 13,120 pages of materials that respondent
produced in this case, it is undeniable that providing a catalog of existing
documents fitting within any of the 11 broadly worded subpoena categories could
provide a prosecutor with a "lead to incriminating evidence," or "a link in the
chain of evidence needed to prosecute.
Id. Notably, the government argued in Hubbell that the respondent was a sophisticated
businessesman and, like the accountant's working papers in Fisher, it was expected that the
respondent would have the type of tax and accounting documents it had requested. See id. at 44.
The Court rejected this analogy by stating that, unlike in Fisher, the government had no
independent prior knowledge of the existence or whereabouts of the documents produced by the
respondent.
See id. at 44-45 ("The Government cannot cure this deficiency through the
overbroad argument that a business man such as the respondent will always possess general
business and tax records that will fall within the broad categories described in this subpoena.").
The Court noted that the nature of the testimony inherent in the act of production was the
respondent's certification as to the existence, custody, control, and authenticity of the documents.
Id. at 32,37.
The Supreme Court has recognized that determining whether an act of production is
incriminating necessarily depends upon case-specific facts and circumstances. See Fisher, 425
U.S. at 410. In the instant case, the Defendant's requests for production vary in scope. Some of
the Defendant's document requests are broad, which resemble the requests in Hubbell, and some
4
EFTA01111235
of the document requests are specific, which resemble the requests in Fisher. Further, some of
the Defendant's document requests are of the type that the Plaintiff is certain to possess, as was
the case in Fisher, while other document requests will likely generate an unknown result, as was
the case in Hubbell. Thus. this Court finds that some of the Defendant's requests for production
have a high probability of resulting in testimony on behalf of the Plaintiff and some of the
requests for production have a low probability of resulting in testimony on behalf of the Plaintiff.
Even if the Plaintiff's act of production does equate to testimony, however, the Plaintiff must
still show, via an in camera inspection, that the Plaintiff has reasonable cause to fear that the
testimony inherent in the act of producing the documents would be self-incriminating. See
Hoffman v. United States, 341 U.S. 479, 486 (1951); Austin v. Barnett Bank, 472 So. 2d 830, 830
(Fla. 4th DCA 1985).
B. Fifth Amendment Privilege in the Context of the Plaintiff's Production of
Documents as a Custodian of Business Records.
The Plaintiff has raised Fifth Amendment objections to document requests targeted
towards business records in his possession. A corporation (or other artificial business entity) has
no Fifth Amendment rights. See, e.g., Grant v. United States, 227 U.S. 74 (1912); Hale v.
Hinkel, 201 U.S. 43 (1906); Fineberg v. United States, 392 F.2d 417 (9th Cir. 1968). In the rare
situation where a custodian of business records cannot produce requested documents without the
act of production qualifying as self-incriminating testimony under the analysis of Fisher and
Hubbell, the business is not relieved of the obligation to comply and must find or appoint another
agent to produce the documents.' See Bellis v. United States, 417 U.S. 85 (1974); In re Grand
Jury Subpoenae Duces recur:, 769 F.2d 52, 57 (2d Cir. 1985). Thus, this Court finds that even
if some of the Defendant's requests for business documents results in testimony on behalf of the
' A sole proprietorship may be the only exception to this rule. See in re Matter of Grand Jury Empanelled, 597 F.2d
851, 859 (3d Cir. 1979).
5
EFTA01111236
Plaintiff, and even if this Court determines that the Plaintiff's act of producing such business
documents is self-incriminating, the underlying business entity that owns the documents cannot
be relieved of the obligation to produce.
C. Fifth Amendment Privilege in the Context of the Plaintiff's Answers to
Interrogatories.
The Plaintiff has asserted his Fifth Amendment privilege against self-incrimination in
connection with many of the Defendant's interrogatory requests. Unlike a request to produce
documents, the testimony inherent in an interrogatory is the answer itself. Therefore, this
Court's analysis towards the Plaintiffs objections involves a standard Fifth Amendment analysis
focused on the nature of the question asked and whether the respondent has reasonable cause to
fear that answering the question may result in self-incrimination.2 Hoffman, 341 U.S. at 486. To
sustain the privilege "it need only be evident from the implications of the question, in the setting
in which it is asked, that a responsive answer to the question or an explanation of why it cannot
be answered might be dangerous because injurious disclosure could result." Id at 486-87. A
court may compel an answer if, after considering the foregoing, it clearly appears to the court
that the witness (or in this case, the respondent) was mistaken. See id. at 486 (citing Temple v.
Commonwealth, 75 Va. 892, 899 (1880)).
CONCLUSION AND RULING
With respect to the Plaintiff's act of producing documents, even if the Plaintiff's actions
do qualify as individual testimony under Fisher and Hubbell, this Court must still determine
whether the Plaintiff has a reasonable basis to fear self-incrimination as a result of the testimony
inherent in his act of document production. Austin v. Barnett Bank, 472 So. 2d 830, 830 (Fla. 4th
2 Article I, Section 9, of the Florida Constitution provides protection no greater than that afforded under the federal
constitution. See Commitment ofSmith v. State, 827 So. 2d 1026 (Fla. 2d DCA 2002); State v. Tsavaris, 382 So. 2d
56, 68 (Ha. 2d DCA 1980).
6
EFTA01111237
DCA 1985) ("Where a claim of privilege is asserted, the trial court should hold an in camera
inspection to review the discovery requested and determine whether assertion of the privilege is
valid.") Further, because the Plaintiff has asserted that providing the Court with a standard
privilege log to substantiate his claims of privilege would incriminate him, this Court must
conduct an in camera inspection to both preserve the Plaintiff's constitutional rights and to
determine whether the privilege does in fact apply. See Bailey v. State, 100 So. 3d 213, 213 (Fla.
3d DCA 2012); Del Carmon Calzon v. Capital Bank, 689 So. 2d 279, 281 (Fla. 3d DCA 1996);
State Delft of Ins. v. Schuler, 510 So. 2d 622, 623 (Fla. 3d DCA 1987) (noting a "mere
conclusory assertion that [the respondent's] constitutional privileges against self-incrimination
are implicated is insufficient to discharge [the respondent's] burden of demonstrating that there
exists a reasonable or realistic possibility that production of [the respondent's] remaining
business records will lead to criminal prosecution). Therefore, a final determination on the
validity of the Plaintiff's Fifth Amendment and other non-constitutional claims of privilege will
first require the Plaintiff to provide this Court with a privilege log substantiating his fear of sel
incrimination under Fisher and Hubbell via an in camera inspection as well as the basis for the
other privilege objections.
This Court finds that even though some of the Defendant's requests for production are
unlikely to result in testimony on behalf of the Plaintiff, in the interest of preserving the
Plaintiff's constitutional rights, this Court will conduct an in camera inspection as to all of the
disputed documents. In the event that this Court is unable to determine from an in camera
inspection of a privilege log whether the Plaintiff's claims of privilege are valid, the Court may
hold an ex-parte hearing with the Plaintiff to further clarify the Plaintiff's objections and allow
the Plaintiff to further substantiate his claims of privilege. Finally, because the Plaintiff's
7
EFTA01111238
assertion of Fifth Amendment privilege has heretofore caused the Plaintiff to fail to substantiate
his assertions of non-constitutional privileges, this Court finds that the Plaintiff shall include in a
privilege log the basis for the Plaintiff's non-constitutional claims of privilege in addition to the
basis for his Fifth Amendment claim of privilege. It is therefore
ORDERED and ADJUDGED that the Plaintiff will provide to this Court for an in
camera review a detailed privilege log for all documents not previously and fully provided to the
Defendant containing: (I) a list of the requested documents which (2) identifies each document,
(3) clearly indicates all asserted privileges for each document, and (4) describes the basis for
each asserted privilege within thirty (30) days from the date of this Order. A Status Conference
is hereby scheduled for Thursday, May 23, 2013 at 8:45 a.m., Courtroom 9C, Palm Beach
County Courthouse, 205 North Dixie Highway, West Palm Beach, Florida.
DONE and ORDERED in C ambers in West Palm Beach, Palm Bea
County, Florida
this I'M
day of
,20I3.
DAVID
CIRCUIT JUDGE
Copies furnished to.
Jack A. Goldbcr er. Es .. 250 Australian Avenue South. Suite 1400. West Palm Beach. FL 33401.
Marc S. Nurik. Esq.. One E Broward Blvd.. Suite 700. Fqrt Lauderdale, FL 33301
Bradley .1. Edwards, Esq., 425 North Andrews Ave.. Suite 2, Fort Lauderdale. FL 33301,
Tonja Haddad Coleman. Esq., 315 SE 7th Street, Suite 301. Fort Lauderdale, FL 33301
Fred Iladdad. Esq., One Financial Plaza. Suite 2612, Fon Lauderdale. FL 33394.
Jack Scarab. Esq.. 2139 Palm Beach Lakes Blvd.. West Palm Beach, FL 33409.1
8
EFTA01111239
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IN THE CIRCUIT COURT OF THE
6p
DOJ Data Set 9OtherUnknown
IN THE CIRCUIT COURT OF THE 15'h JUDICIAL CIRCUIT
8p
DOJ Data Set 9OtherUnknown
JEFFREY EPSTEIN,
5p
DOJ Data Set 9OtherUnknown
IN THE CIRCUIT COURT OF THE 15'h JUDICIAL CIRCUIT
8p
DOJ Data Set 9OtherUnknown
JEFFREY EPSTEIN,
14p
DOJ Data Set 9OtherUnknown
JEFFREY EPSTEIN,
5p
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