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IN THE CIRCUIT COURT OF THE
SEVENTEENTH JUDICIAL CIRCUIT
IN AND FOR BROWARD COUNTY, FLORIDA
CASE NO.: CACE 15-000072
EDWARDS, et al.,
Plaintiffs / Counterclaim Defendants,
v.
DERSHOWITZ,
Defendant / Counterclaim Plaintiff.
DEFENDANT / COUNTERCLAIM PLAINTIFF ALAN DERSHOWITZ'S
MEMROANDUM IN OPPOSITION TO JANE DOE NO. 3'S
MOTION TO OUASH OR FOR PROTECTIVE ORDER
Defendant / Counterclaim Plaintiff Alan Dershowitz ("Dershowitz") respectfully submits
this Memorandum in Opposition to the Motion to Quash or for Protective Order Regarding
Subpoena filed by non-party Jane Doe No. 3 (the "Motion to Quash").
INTRODUCTION
The Motion to Quash presents Jane Doe No. 3, who is a 31 year old married woman, as
though she were a minor who is being unwillingly dragged into a dispute not of her making and
who would prefer to avoid public attention.' Nothing could be further from the truth.
This case began when Jane Doe No. 3 and her lawyers, Bradley J. Edwards ("Edwards")
and Paul G. Cassell ("Cassell"), made a deliberate decision to file a pleading in a federal lawsuit
accusing Dershowitz of committing a heinous crime: sexually abusing a minor. Jane Doe No. 3
I Jane Doe No. 3 has no right to proceed anonymously as she has been identified publicly on
several occasions and has made public statements using her own name, as indicated by the
exhibits that she submitted with the Motion to Quash. See Motion to Quash, Ex. 1-4.
Nonetheless, Dershowitz will use "Jane Doe No. 3" to refer to her until the Court orders
otherwise.
EFTA00582649
and her attorneys made these allegations in public court pleadings and declarations, hoping to
hide behind the litigation privilege to prevent Dershowitz from being able to hold them
accountable for their false statements.
Jane Doe No. 3's outrageous allegations were obviously intended to generate publicity
for herself and her lawyers, not to advance any legitimate interest. In fact, they were leaked to
the media in a deliberate effort to generate maximum publicity. The allegations had absolutely
no relevance whatsoever to the lawsuit in which the pleadings and declarations were filed and
gratuitously included the names of prominent people, including Prince Andrew. That the
allegations were improper and irresponsible is not merely an assertion by Dershowitz; United
States District Judge Marra has expressly held that the "lurid" allegations were "unnecessary,"
"immaterial," and "impertinent" to the federal lawsuit. See Exhibit A. Judge Marra ordered the
allegations stricken from the record, and reminded Edwards and Cassell of their obligations
under Rule II of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure, which prohibits filings made for an
improper purpose. Judge Marra said that the striking was "sanctions enough."
As Edwards, Cassell and Jane No. 3 undoubtedly expected and intended, their
"unnecessary," "immaterial" and "impertinent" allegations resulted in a firestorm of publicity
about Dershowitz's alleged misconduct. They believed that the combination of these litigation
privilege and the media's fair reporting privilege would encourage the media to give their false
allegations the widest possible circulation, as occurred. With Edwards, Cassell, and Jane Doe
No. 3 seeking to hide behind the litigation privilege, Dershowitz responded as best he could by
telling the press repeatedly and forcefully that Jane Doe No. 3's allegations about him are
completely and categorically false. Dershowitz also asserted that Edwards and Cassell knew or
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should have known the allegations were false or would have known they were false if they had
done even minimal investigation into Jane Doe No. 3's story.
Edwards and Cassell then filed this action, alleging that Dershowitz committed the tort of
defamation in making these statements to the media. To prevail on their defamation claim and
defeat Dershowitz's affirmative defenses, Edwards and Cassell must substantiate their allegation
that Dershowitz made the statements to the media even though he "knew [the filing containing
Jane Doe No. 3's outrageous allegations was] an entirely proper and well-founded pleading." In
other words, they must prove both that the allegations were "well-founded" and that Dershowitz
knew they were true. See Exhibit A, Compl. 17. The testimony of Jane Doe No. 3 and the
documents requested in the subpoena are at the very heart of this issue, which Edwards and
Cassell have placed squarely in dispute. There simply is no basis for crediting Jane Doe's
assertions of "irrelevance."
Jane Doe No. 3's alternative argument — that she should be shielded from any discovery
in this action because Dershowitz is "abusing" the subpoena power by seeking information that
is "highly personal" and "confidential" — is likewise unavailing. As an adult, Jane Doe No. 3
has voluntarily submitted multiple sworn declarations and has given numerous media interviews
in which she has detailed, at length, the very same events that she is now contending are "highly
personal." Most recently her lawyers made a deal with the ABC network by which she would be
interviewed at length about her alleged sex life and her accusations and her interview would be
aired on at least three broadcast platforms: Good Morning America, the ABC national and
international news, and Nightline. (See Edwards Statement). Her lawyer urged people to watch
these interviews, which were scheduled to be seen by tens of millions of people around the
world. The interviews were conducted, scheduled for telecast, and then apparently postponed or
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canceled when serious questions were raised about her credibility. Had Jane Doe No. 3 truly
been concerned for her privacy, she could have refrained from giving any media interviews and
avoided rather than sought publicity. As to the federal lawsuit, Judge Marra has already held that
the allegations against Dershowitz (and Prince Andrew) should never have been included in Jane
Doe No. 3's pleadings at all. And, even if those allegations had some legitimate purpose, which
Judge Marra held they did not, Jane Doe No. 3 and her lawyers could have made them in a
sealed pleading. Instead, Jane Doe No. 3 (with Plaintiffs' assistance) made these accusations in
the most public manner possible — she sought out the limelight rather than hiding from it. In
light of these deliberate choices by Jane Doe No. 3, and considering the issues in dispute in this
action, Dershowitz's need for the requested documents and testimony clearly outweighs any
"privacy" interests that Jane Doe No. 3 could conceivably assert.
The subpoena is not a fishing expedition, nor does it represent any sort of abuse of the
discovery process. Jane Doe No. 3, along with Plaintiffs, set off the chain of events that led to
the filing of this lawsuit by making false and gratuitous allegations against Dershowitz. She
must be compelled to submit to questioning about those scurrilous allegations, which are the
crux of the claims and defenses at issue in this defamation action. Like any witness, she is
entitled to be treated with dignity and respect during the discovery process, and will be so treated
by Dershowitz's counsel. But the notion that she is entitled to extraordinary protections, and to
be excused from producing evidence that is central to this case, is frivolous.
For these reasons and as explained in detail below, the Court should deny the Motion to
Quash and reject Jane Doe No. 3's request for a protective order that imposes limitations on the
subpoena. Moreover, the court should reject her tactical claim that she is afraid of Dershowitz.
Since Dershowitz disputes ever having any sexual contact with her and has evidence to prove
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that, and since she has presented no evidence to the contrary—because there is none—the court
should not presume Dershowitz's guilt by accepting her claim of fear, which is based on her
false allegation of sexual contact.
FACTUAL BACKGROUND
This defamation action arises out of an underlying lawsuit that Edwards and Cassell filed
against the United States (the "Government") in the United States District Court for the Southern
District of Florida (the "Federal Action") more than eight years ago. In the Federal Action,
Edwards and Cassell represent certain alleged victims of Jeffrey Epstein, a client of
Dershowitz's, who contend that the Government violated their rights under the Crime Victims
Rights Act (the "CVRA"). Specifically, the two alleged victims — known as "Jane Doe No. I"
and "Jane Doe No. 2" — assert that the Government violated their rights under the CVRA by
failing to consult with them before negotiating a non-prosecution agreement (the "NPA") with
Epstein, who allegedly subjected them to various sexual crimes when they were minors.
On December 30, 2014 — more than eight years after the Federal Action began — Edwards
and Cassell filed a motion to allow a third alleged victim, Jane Doe No. 3, to join in the suit as an
additional plaintiff (the "Joinder Motion"). See Exhibit B. The Joinder Motion alleges that Jane
Doe No. 3 first met Epstein in 1999 and that Epstein "kept Jane Doe #3 as his sex slave from
about 1999 through 2002, when she managed to escape to a foreign country." Id. at 4. The
Joinder Motion alleges that "Epstein also sexually trafficked the then-minor Jane Doe [No. 3],
making her available for sex to politically-connected and financially-power people, including
Alan Dershowitz." Id. The-Joinder--Metioil-then-states-as-fellevisi
One-sueh-peweFfel-individeal-thet-Bpstein-fereed-then-miner-Jane-Dee4g-te-have
sexual relations with was former Harvard Law Profescor Alan Derchowitz, a eloce
fpiend-ef-Epeteinla-and-well-knewn-erjrninal-defense-atterneyrEpetein-required
Jane-Dee-fi-3-te-lepie-seeual-reletiens-with-Derthewita-en-nemerees-eeeasiens
5
EFTA00582653
while-she-Warra-Min4fr net-ealy-in-Fiefilia-bat-alse-ea-pfivate-plaaesr in-New
Yer-kr 4c:wit-Max-leer aael-the-U7Srsiirgia-Islacals,In-aelelitien-te-being-a-pactieipant
in-the-abuse-ef-Jane-Doe-43-and-ether--Fainorsr Dershewita-svas-an-eye-witaess-te
the sexual abuse of many other minors by Epstein and tevernl of Epstein's co
conspirators. Dcrahowitz would later play a significant role in negotiating thc
IsIPA-en-Epsteials-behalf-rlakieedr Der-shewiczaelped-aegetiate-aa-agreement-that
provided immunity from federal prosecution in the Southern District of Florida
net-enly-te-Bpsteinr bet-a4se-teany-petential-eeeenspirateFs-ef--Epstein
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victims and the general public, even though such secrecy violated the Crime
Vietims=Rights-26tetr
Id. The Joinder Motion included similar public allegations against Prince Andrew. Edwards and
Cassell filed the Joinder Motion on the public docket in the Federal Action, without any
accompanying motion to seal.
The Joinder Motion marked the first time that Jane Doe No. 3 (either directly or through
her attorneys) publicly asserted any sort of allegations of misconduct against Dershowitz. Nor
had she ever previously mentioned to the FBI, the U.S. Attorney, her—awn—lay/yes, or the
journalists who interviewed her, any claim of having had sex with Dershowitz. Yet, the Federal
Action is not the first forum in which Jane Doe No. 3 has made public statements about her
interactions with Epstein and others as a minor. In 2011, Jane Doe No. 3 gave-sold an extensive
interview to the Daily Mail, a British tabloid publication, during which she "agreed to waive her
anonymity" and provided a number of specific details about her alleged abuse at the hands of
Epstein. See Exhibit C. For example, the Daily Mail quotes Jane Doe No. 3 as stating that "I
was training to be a prostitute for [Epstein] and his friends who shared his interest in young
girls.: After about two yearn, he started to ask mc to 'entertain' his friends." Id. According to
the Daily Mail, Jane Doe No. 3 was very descriptive during her interview about her time with
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Epstein. Indeed, Jane Doe No. 3 stated that she was "telling [the news publication] things that
even my husband doesn't know." Id. The tabloid newspaper specifically noted that "for reasons
of taste, not all the details [provided by Jane Doe No. 3] can be included here? Id. but VR was
willing not only to reveal them to the interviewer for money, but was apparently willing and
anxious to have them published for all to read.
Jane Doe No. 3 used a similar level of detail in the two sworn declarations she submitted
in the Federal Action following the filing of the Joinder Motion. See Exhibit D, Declaration of
Jane Doe No. 3 (Jan. 21, 2015); Exhibit E, Declaration of Jane Doe No. 3 (Feb. 5, 2015). The
declarations — each of which consisted of more than 60 separate paragraphs — provided many
details about Jane Doe No. 3's time with Epstein and how her "only purpose . . . was to be used
for sex."
Exhibit D, ¶ 15.
The first declaration actually included multiple photographs
purportedly of Jane Doe No. 3 as a minor, including one of Jane Doe No. 3 and Prince Andrew.
Id. ¶ 32. With respect to Dershowitz, Jane Doe No. 3's first declaration provided gratuitous (and
false) details about six specific instances in which Jane Doe No. 3 purportedly had sexual
intercourse with Dershowitz.
Id. 1124-31.
Jane Doe No. 3 also falsely averred that
"Dershowitz was so comfortable with the sex that was going on that he would even come and
chat with Epstein while I was giving oral sex to Epstein." Id. ¶ 24. As with the Joinder Motion,
Edwards and Cassell filed Jane Doe No. 3's declarations on the public docket in the Federal
Action without any effort to seal the contents of the documents. VR also discussed her alleged
sexual encounters with ABC, intending them to be broadcast throughout the world to millions of
viewers.
In response to the false and outrageous allegations asserted against him in the Federal
Action and the subsequent media coverage of those allegations, Dershowitz made a number of
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public statements defending his previously unblemished personal and professional reputations.
Edwards and Cassell then filed this action, alleging that Dershowitz defamed them by
"initiat[ing] a massive public media assault on the reputation and character of [Edwards] and
[Cassell] accusing them of intentionally lying in their filing, of having leveled knowingly false
accusations against [Dershowitz] without ever conducting any investigation of the credibility of
the accusations and of having acted unethically to the extent that their willful misconduct
warranted and required disbarment" — even though Dershowitz "knew [the Joinder Motion] to be
an entirely proper and well-founded pleading." Exhibit A, Compl. ¶ 17. This pleading put into
issue the allegations that Dershowitz "kneew" that the sexual accusations against him were
"well-founded"—that is true—and that they were in fact true.
Pursuant to the stipulated order entered by this Court on March 20, 2015 that appointed a
Commissioner in the State of Colorado, Dershowitz served a subpoena for the production of
documents and a videotaped deposition on Jane Doe No. 3. See Exhibit G.2. The subpoena
seeks, among other things:
(1) documents supporting Jane Doe No. 3's allegations about
Dershowitz in the Federal Action; (2) photographs and video of Jane Doe No. 3 with
Dershowitz; (3) photographs, videos and documents establishing that Jane Doe No. 3 was in the
six locations identified in her declaration at the same time that Dershowitz also was in those six
locations; (4) statements provided by, and notes from interviews given by, Jane Doe No. 3
2 Riaintiffs-refused-te-aeeept-sewiee-ef-the-subpeena-en-behalf-ef4ane-Dee-lilerar even-theugh
they-represeet-heie-eeneeetien-yeith-the-Federelaetierk-Pleintiffs-refeifed-Dereheveite-te-the
laNsr-H:FFI-ef-Beiesr Sehitler-&-F1e*neF-LL-P-r yihieh-is-Fepresenting-Jane-Dee-Ner-3-fer-pufpeees-ef
this-eetienr BeiesrSehiller-&-Pleteef4ikewise-deelined-te-iteeept-serviee-ee-behalf -of-Jane-Dee
Ner 37whieh-fereediDershewite-te-seek-the-issitanee-ef-the-subpeena4hreugh-the-eeminissien
piesess-and-ultimately-te-effeet-sepviee-en4aae-Dee-Isler -3-in-Celeraeler After-all-thatr Jane-Dee
Ner 31/2 -lewyers-esked-Deiellewite-to consent-te-heying-this-C-01114-reselye-the-diseevey-dispete
and-fer-her-depesitien-te-be-in-Flefidar whieli-BeFshewite-didr Jane-Dee448,34-depeseen-and
predeetien-ef-deeuments-heve-been-iileleyed-brthis-uttneeessarrand-iftapprepfiete-renereund7
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referencing Dershowitz by name; (5) travel records, cell phone records, and diaries from the time
period when Jane Doe No. 3 has proclaimed she was kept as a "sex slave" by Epstein; (6) drafts
of any of Jane Doe No. 3's declarations referencing Dershowitz by name; and (7) documents
concerning any actual or potential book, television or movie deals concerning Jane Doe No. 3's
allegations about being a "sex slave." Id. Der-showitz-on-the-other-hand-iFnmediately-aceepted
seFyiee-threogh-his-lawyer, Plaintiffs refused to accept service of the subpoena on behalf of Jane
Doe No. 3. even though they represent her in connection with the Federal Action. Plaintiffs
referred Dershowitz to the law firm of Boies, Schiller & Flexner LLP, which is representing Jane
Doe No. 3 for purposes of this action. Boies, Schiller & Flexner likewise declined to accept
service on behalf of Jane Doe No. 3, which forced Dershowitz to seek the issuance of the
subpoena through the commission process and ultimately to effect service on Jane Doe No. 3 in
Colorado. After all that. Jane Doe No. 3's lawyers asked Dershowitz to consent to having this
Court resolve the discovery dispute and for her deposition to be in Florida. which Dershowitz
did. Jane Doe No. 3's deposition and production of documents have been delayed by this
unnecessary and inappropriate runaround. Dershowitz, on the other hand, immediately accepted
service through his lawyer.
On April 7, 2015, Judge Marra issued an order in the Federal Action striking the portions
of the Joinder Motion and Jane Doe No. 3's declarations referring to Dershowitz. See Exhibit H.
The court concluded that the allegations against Dershowitz, including the "lurid details"
included in the Joinder Motion by Edwards and Cassell on behalf of Jane Doe No. 3, are
"immaterial and impertinent" to the issues in dispute in the Federal Action, and were
"unnecessary" to resolving the Federal Action. He ruled that striking these allegations was
-sanction enough" against the lawyers. In a supplemental order also issued on April 7, 2015,
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Judge Marra ordered that the filings containing the stricken materials be restricted from public
access. See Exhibit L. and cautioned the lawyers.... [FILL IN]
On April 9, 2015, Jane Doe No. 3 served objections to the subpoena duces tecum and
filed a motion to quash the subpoena in its entirety or, in the alternative, for a protective order
limiting the scope of the deposition and the documents she is required to produce. The parties
have since agreed that Jane Doe No. 3's motion to quash and objections should be decided by
this Court. The parties have also agreed that, if the Court declines to quash the subpoena in its
entirety, the deposition of Jane Doe No. 3 will take place in Florida.
MEMORANDUM OF LAW
I.
The documents and testimony that Dershowitz seeks from Jane Doe No. 3 are
directly relevant to this defamation action.
The thrust of Jane Doe No. 3's motion to quash is that Dershowitz is improperly using
the defamation action to obtain backdoor discovery relating to the "different" matters at issue in
the Federal Action. See Motion to Quash, at 8. In reality, however, the subpoena served on Jane
Doe #3 seeks documents and testimony that are at the very crux of this action, as framed by
Plaintiffs' own complaint.
Under Rule 1.280 of the Florida Rules of Civil Procedure, "[p]arties may obtain
discovery regarding any matter, not privileged, that is relevant to the subject matter of the
pending action, whether it relates to the claim or defense of the party seeking discovery or the
claim or defense of any other party." Put differently, information is discoverable so long as it
relates "to the issues involved in the litigation, as framed in all pleadings." Diaz-Verson v.
Walbridge Aldinger Co., 54 So. 3d 1007, 1011 (Fla. 2d DCA 2010); see also Richard
Mulholland & Assocs. v. Polverari, 698 So. 2d 1269, 1270 (Fla. 2d DCA 1997) (explaining that
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a protective order is required only "when the pleadings indicate that the documents requested are
not related to any pending claim or defense").
Jane Doe No. 3 contends that she should not have to testify or produce any documents in
this case because the allegedly defamatory statements at issue "are statements about [Plaintiffs']
character as lawyers and do not directly involve non-party Jane Doe No. 3." Motion to Quash, at
3. This is simply wrong. The complaint expressly alleges that Dershowitz committed the tort of
defamation by accusing Edwards and Cassell of having acted improperly by filing the Joinder
Motion, even though Dershowitz "knew [the Joinder Motion] to be an entirely proper and well-
founded pleading." Ex. A, Comp. 17. Thus, the face of the complaint alleges that Jane Doe
No. 3's allegations were "well-founded" and that Dershowitz "knew" they were true, and
establishes that this case does directly involve Jane Doe No. 3 and the credibility of her
accusations against Dershowitz.
The relevance of Jane Doe No. 3's testimony and documents becomes even more
apparent after considering what Plaintiffs must prove to prevail on their defamation claim and
defeat Dershowitz's affirmative defenses. Under Florida law and the First Amendment, a
defamation plaintiff must establish the following elements: (I) publication; (2) falsity; (3) actor
must act with knowledge or reckless disregard as to the falsity on a matter concerning a public
official, or at least negligently on a matter concerning a private person; (4) actual damages; and
(5) statement must be defamatory. Jews For Jesus, Inc. v. Rapp, 997 So. 2d 1098, 1106 (Fla.
2008). Because Edwards and Cassell are public figures or limited public figures, they must also
prove that Dershowitz acted with actual malice in making his statements, i.e., that Dershowitz
"knew [the Joinder Motion] to be an entirely proper and well-founded pleading." Ex. A, Comp.
¶ 17.
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Testing this allegation requires discovery into the credibility of Jane Doe No. 3's
accusations against Dershowitz; whether those allegations are true or false go directly to whether
Dershowtiz was properly defending his reputation or acting maliciously by denying allegations
he knew to be true. The subpoena served on Jane Doe No. 3 is intended to accomplish precisely
that goal. For example, the subpoena seeks "[a]ll documents that reference by name, Alan M.
Dershowitz, which support and/or confirm the allegations set forth in" Jane Doe No. 3's
declarations submitted in the Federal Action, as well as "[a]ny documents and information that
support and/or confirm [Jane Doe No. 3's] presence at the various locations named in [Jane Doe
No. 3's declaration] on the particular dates and times when [Dershowitz] was also present."
Similarly, the subpoena seeks Jane Doe No. 3's diaries, cell phone records and travel records
during the time she asserts she was kept as Epstein's "sex slave," i.e., 1999 to 2002 — all of
which could contain information that undermines or contradicts her allegations about when and
where she allegedly had sex with Dershowitz (and that likewise disproves Plaintiffs' allegation
that Dershowitz knew the Joinder Motion was a "well-founded pleading").
The subpoena also requests documents that go to Jane Doe No. 3's general credibility —
an issue that is directly relevant both to the truth of Jane Doe No. 3's allegations against
Dershowitz and whether Dershowitz knew the Joinder Motion to be "well-founded." For
example, Jane Doe No. 3 has made statements to the media about meeting former President
Clinton and former Vice President Gore on Epstein's private island in the Caribbean. [ADD
SENTENCE ON THIS:4a'so goes to what Cassell and Edwards knew or should have known
when they filed] Dershowitz is entitled to explore the veracity of Jane Doe No. 3's accounts of
these meetings, because any inconsistencies are obviously relevant to Jane Doe No. 3's
credibility as a witness. Dershowitz expects the evidence to show that Jane Doe No. 3's
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accounts of her alleged interactions with President Clinton and Vice President Gore are complete
fabrications, just like her allegations against Dershowitz. Similarly, Dershowitz has a right to
explore Jane Doe No. 3's potential book, movie, and television deals as a means of establishing
her bias, as well as the potential bias by Edwards and Cassell (i.e., whether the lawyers had a
financial incentive to help sensationalize Jane Doe No. 3's story by identifying Dershowitz by
name in a public pleading). See Steinger, Iscoe & Greene,.. v. GEICO Gen. Ins. Co., 103 So.
3d 200, 203 (Fla. 4th DCA 2012) (discovery aimed at obtaining evidence of a witness's bias is
permissible).
The cases relied upon by Jane Doe No. 3 in support of her relevance argument are
inapposite because they involved attempts to obtain information that had no "possible relevance"
to the issues in dispute. For example, in Calvo v. Calvo, 489 So. 2d 833, 834 (Fla. 3d DCA
1986), the Third District held that an ex-wife's financial records had no "possible relevance" to
her post-judgment action seeking to compel payments that the ex-husband owed under a
previously entered final judgment dissolving their marriage. In Toledo v. Publix Super Markets,
Inc., 30 So. 3d 712 (Fla. 4th DCA 2010), the Fourth District held that a party cannot issue an
indiscriminate request to the attorney of a non-party seeking the attorney's entire client file in an
unrelated litigation, absent some showing of how specific documents in that file might possibly
be relevant. Here, by contrast, Dershowitz is seeking specific types of information from Jane
Doe No. 3 and has established how that information is directly relevant to this defamation action,
as framed by the operative pleadings in this case. The subpoena issued to Jane Doe No. 3 is in
no way, shape, or form a fishing expedition.
II.
Jane Doe No. 3's "confidentiality" and "privacy" assertions cannot excuse her
from testifying or producing documents given her repeated public statements
about these issues.
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Jane Doe No. 3 also attempts to use "confidentiality" as a shield to protect her from
having to participate whatsoever in discovery. Specifically, Jane Doe No. 3 argues that it would
be "oppressive and unreasonable" to force her to provide any testimony or documents about her
time with Epstein because that topic is "highly personal and sensitive." See Motion to Quash, at
4. Jane Doe No. 3 therefore asks the Court to quash the subpoena in its entirety so that she is not
"forc[ed]" to testify about her experiences at the hands of Epstein. Id.
Jane Doe No. 3's assertions of "privacy" and "confidentiality" are uptepableoutrageous
especially in light of what she and her lawyers have deliberately exposed to the public for profit
and publicity. Jane Doe No. 3 has made public, detailed statements about her interactions with
Epstein, as well as her purported encounters with Dershowitz during her self-described and
unproved time as Epstein's "sex slave." Jane Doe No. 3 has even given lengthy interviews
describing her experiences as a "sex slave" in such detail that not even a tabloid newspaper was
willing to print all of the remarks she voluntarily made about her alleged experiences. See, e.g.,
Exhibit C.
Edwards and Cassell have also submitted numerous unsealed pleadings and
declarations on behalf of Jane Doe No. 3 in the Federal Action that were available to the public
(until Judge Marra appropriately struck those filings from the record as being lurid and
impertinent). Jane Doe No. 3 made all of these voluntary statements as an adult, many years
after she allegedly "escaped" from Epstein. She can hardly now say that such matters are so
"personal" or "private" as to warrant an order from the Court that excuses her from testifying
about facts within her personal knowledge.
"When confidential information is sought from a non-party, the trial court must
determine whether the requesting party establishes a need for the information that outweighs the
privacy rights of the non-party." Westco, Inc. v. Scott Lewis' Gardening & Trimming, Inc., 26
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So.3d 620, 622 (Fla. 4th DCA 2009). Assuming that the testimony and information sought in the
subpoena is, in fact, "confidential" — a conclusion that is far from clear given Jane Doe No. 3's
penchant for discussing that information in the most public of ways, presumably for financial
gain — Dershowitz has indisputably met his burden of establishing a need for that information.
Dershowitz has no way to test the essential elements of Plaintiffs' defamation claim or certain of
his affirmative defenses without questioning Jane Doe No. 3 about her false and outrageous
allegations against him.
For this reason, Jane Doe No. 3's reliance on Peisach v. Antzma, 539 So. 2d 544, 547
(Fla. 3d DCA 1989), is misplaced. In Peisach, the Third District held that an ex-husband in a
post-divorce custody dispute was not entitled to depose his ex-wife's gynecologists because
(1) those physicians were unlikely to have information about the ex-wife's migraine headaches,
which was the specific condition the ex-husband contended interfered with the ex-wife's ability
to care for the children; and (2) the ex-husband was already deposing the wife's neurologist, who
was "far more likely to shed light on the subject of migraine headaches than any testimony from
a gynecologist." Unlike in Peisach, there are no obvious alternative avenues to pursue to test the
veracity of Jane Doe No. 3's allegations against Dershowitz.
In sum, there is no sound basis for excusing Jane Doe No. 3 from having to testify or
produce documents in this action. Jane Doe No. 3, along with her lawyers, set in motion the
events that led to this defamation action, and she should be compelled to submit to questioning
and document production in accordance with Florida's broad parameters for discovery and
pursuant to fundamental principles of fairness. Otherwise, willful liars will be incentivized to
promote their lies in public for profit without fear of their lies being tested by the adversary
process.
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III.
Jane Doe No. 3's requested limitations on the subpoena duces tecum are
unfounded and should be denied.
Jane Doe No. 3 alternatively argues that, if the Court does not quash the subpoena in its
entirety, the Court should limit the scope of her document production. According to Jane Doe
No. 3, the requests can be grouped into four objectionable categories: (1) documents that contain
highly personal and sensitive information; (2) documents unrelated to this action; (3) documents
that contain personal financial or other confidential information; and (4) "plainly privileged"
communications between Jane Doe No. 3 and her lawyers. None of Jane Doe No. 3's objections
have merit, and the Court should reject her request for a protective order.
First, Jane Doe No. 3's arguments with respect to Categories 1 and 3 fail for the reasons
discussed above. Having publicly and repeatedly discussed her experiences as a minor with
Epstein (and allegedly with Dershowitz) — including to the point of volunteering details that not
even a tabloid would publish — Jane Doe No. 3 can hardly claim these issues are confidential or
private. In any event, Dershowitz has established that his need for the information outweighs
any privacy interests held by Jane Doe No. 3.
Second, the so-called "Category 2" arguments represent another misguided attempt by
Jane Doe No. 3 to contend that the subpoena seeks information that is not relevant to this action.
Dershowitz is seeking documents and other materials that are relevant to the claims and defenses
in this action, as framed by the operative pleadings. In fact, it was Edwards's and Cassell's
improper filing of lurid statements about Dershowitz in the Federal Action that gave rise to this
action. Jane Doe No. 3's attempt to distinguish the Federal Action as involving entirely
"different" issues is unavailing.
With respect to Category 4, the only information that Jane Doe No. 3 specifically
identifies as being "plainly privileged" is the request for "All documents concerning your
16
EFTA00582664
retention of the law firm Boies, Schiller & Flexner LLP, including but not limited to: signed
letter of retainer, retention agreement, explanation of fees, and/or any documents describing the
scope of retention." Contrary to Jane Doe No. 3's unsupported assertions of privilege, a retainer
letter between a client and her attorney generally is not protected by the attorney-client privilege,
nor is other information relating to the financial arrangements between the attorney and the
client. See, e.g., Lanfinders Assocs., Inc. v. Legal Research Ctr., Inc., 193 F.3d 517, 518 (5th
Cir. 1999) ("[T]he attorney-client privilege does not protect the type of information contained in
the retainer letters."); United States v. Davis, 636 F.2d 1028, 1043-44 (5th Cir. 1981) (explaining
that "[f]inancial transactions between the attorney and client, including the compensation paid by
or on behalf of the client" generally are not protected by the attorney-client privilege).
At-Fpostr ilierefessiEven if the information Dershowitz seeks in Request No. 25 is-deemed
to be "confidential='—as distinguished from privileged. 14eee—againr heweyerr Dershowitz's
need for the information requested outweighs any privacy interests held by Jane Doe No. 3 in her
commercial dealings with lawyers. Moreover, all the lawyers have publicly asserted that they
are representing her on a pro bono basis, thus waiving any claim of confidentiality regarding any
retainer and fee agreement. [VERY IMPORTANT]: The timing of Jane Doe No. 3's retention
of the Boies, Schiller & Flexner firm is relevant to determining when Jane Doe No. 3 first raised
allegations against Dershowitz, and Edwards's and Cassell's corresponding investigation into
those allegations. Likewise, information about movie deals, book deals, or other financial
arrangements that could give Jane Doe No. 3 an incentive to invent sensational allegations like
those she has made against Dershowitz are directly relevant and highly probative of Jane Doe
No. 3's credibility. The Court should order Jane Doe No. 3 to produce all documents that are
17
EFTA00582665
responsive to the subpoena or, at a minimum, present those documents to the Court for in camera
review.
IV.
The proposed "limitations" on Jane Doe No. 3's deposition are not reasonable.
Jane Doe No. 3 also contends that if the Court is not prepared to excuse her from
testifying altogether, the Court should issue a protective order that places the following
extraordinary limitations on her deposition: (1) narrows the scope of testimony to preclude
Dershowitz's counsel from pursuing certain lines of questioning; (2) includes a "cautionary
notice" to Dershowitz's attorneys not to use derogatory terms in the deposition; (3) precludes
Dershowitz from being physically present for the deposition; and (4) requires that the deposition
be taken at the offices of her counsel, Boies Schiller & Flexner LLP. None of Jane Doe No. 3's
proposed modifications are warranted.
First, the proposed "limitations" on Jane Doe No. 3's questioning would unreasonably
narrow the scope of the deposition. Jane Doe No. 3 requests that she not be asked any questions
"about [her] experiences as a sexually trafficked minor"; "about individuals that she was
sexually trafficked to"; "about any rapes that occurred when she was a minor child"; or "about
anything related to her sexual activity either as a minor or thereafter." Motion to Quash, at 12.
As set forth above, these issues are directly relevant to the issues in dispute in this litigation —
namely, whether Dershowitz made the purportedly defamatory statements while knowing that
the Joinder Motion was "well-founded." Moreover, Jane Doe No. 3 has provided first-hand,
public accounts regarding these very topics on several different occasions, including in an on-
the-record interview that was published by a widely read British tabloid and in which she
included details that not even a tabloid would publish them.
She can hardly claim
"embarrassment" as a reason not to give important evidence within her knowledge in light of her
18
EFTA00582666
previous detailed accounts of her time as a "sex slave." She has waived any claim of privacy
with regard to everything she sold to the media or otherwise voluntarily disclosed.
Second, Jane Doe No. 3 has not provided any support for her speculative assertions that
Dershowitz's attorneys are likely to use harassing or derogatory language in a deposition, and the
suggestion that they would do so insulting. The topics at issue (which Jane Doe No. 3 herself put
at issue) must be fully explored, but counsel for Dershowitz will of course treat the witness with
courtesy and respect and will conduct the deposition in a manner that fully comports with the
Florida Rules of Civil Procedure, as well as the Florida Rules of Professional Conduct.
As explained below, Dershowitz is concerned about the conduct of the deposition from
the other side, namely whether Jane Doe No. 3's counsel will improperly instruct the witness not
to answer or otherwise coach the witness. To avoid any problems, Dershowitz requests the
Court to appoint a Special Magistrate to preside over the deposition pursuant to Rule 1.490(b) of
the Florida Rules of Civil Procedure and handle any disputes that may arise during the course of
the deposition.
Third, the Court should not preclude Dershowitz from being physically present at the
deposition of Jane Doe No. 3. "It is a venerated principle that a party has a right to be present at
an oral deposition." Ferrigno v. Yoder, 495 So. 2d 886, 888 (Fla. 2d DCA 1986) (citing Cacace
v. Associated Technicians, Inc., 144 So. 2d 82 (Fla. 3d DCA 1962) and further explaining that,
although a court may properly exclude a party in some circumstances, that measure should be
"ordered rarely indeed" because a party's right to be present at each stage of a lawsuit is
"virtually sacrosanct" (internal quotation marks omitted)). Jane Doe No. 3's purported fear of
being in close physical proximity to Dershowitz because he is an "incredibly powerful
individual," Motion to Quash at 5, is not the sort of "rare" circumstance that warrants an order
19
EFTA00582667
precluding Dershowitz from attending the deposition in person. Moreover, we dispute its
truthfulness and will challenge the assertion if she makes it under oath.
Dershowitz is 76 years old. He has been a professor (now emeritus) at Harvard Law
School for decades and is a highly regarded attorney, who is bound to act and will act in
accordance with professional standards. Jane Doe No. 3 will be accompanied by counsel, as will
Dershowitz. The notion that Jane Doe No. 3 is afraid to be in the same room with Dershowitz is
preposterous. Moreover, the whole premise for this request (and many of the other limitations
on discovery sought in the motion to quash) is that Jane Doe No. 3's allegations against
Dershowitz are true. The court cannot and must not accept that premise, which Dershowitz
contests in the strongest possible terms.
Fourth, the Court should deny Jane Doe No. 3's request to conduct the deposition at the
offices of her counsel, Boies, Schiller & Flexner LLP. Because Jane Doe No. 3's lawyers
refused to accept service of a subpoena and put Dershowitz to the trouble and expense of
obtaining a commission and serving Jane Doe No. 3 in Colorado, Dershowitz could have insisted
on taking the deposition in Colorado. Instead, the parties have agreed that Dershowitz will take
the deposition of Jane Doe No. 3 in Florida. There is no reason that the deposition should not be
taken at the office of the attorneys who noticed the deposition as is customary, absent agreement
on some other mutually convenient but neutral site in the Fort Lauderdale area.
REQUEST FOR APPOINTMENT OF SPECIAL MAGISTRATE
As set forth above, Dershowitz respectfully requests that the Court appoint a Special
Magistrate to preside over the deposition of Jane Doe No. 3. Rule 1.490(b) provides that "[t)he
court may appoint members of The Florida Bar as special magistrates for any particular service
required by the court, and they shall be governed by all the provisions of law and rules relating to
20
EFTA00582668
magistrates except they shall not be required to make oath or give bond unless specifically
required by the order appointing them." The undersigned has conferred with counsel for Jane
Doe No. 3 and counsel for Plaintiffs, who consent to the appointment of a Special Magistrate for
the limited purpose of presiding over the deposition of Jane Doe No. 3 and ruling on any
objections that may arise during the course of that deposition.
CONCLUSION
The Court should deny the Motion to Quash because (1) the documents and testimony
that Dershowitz seeks are relevant to this litigation; and (2) Dershowitz's need for this
information clearly outweighs Jane Doe No. 3's privacy interests. The Court also should deny
Jane Doe No. 3's request for a protective order because the proposed modifications to the
subpoena are not reasonable. The Court should also enter a reference pursuant to Rule 1.490 that
appoints a Special Magistrate to preside over the deposition of Jane Doe No. 3.
21
EFTA00582669
Dated: May
2015
Respectfully Submitted,
s/ Thomas E. Scott
Thomas E. Scott
Florida Bar No. 149100
Steven R. Safra
Florida Bar No. 057028
COLE, SCOTT & KISSANE,
Dadeland Centre II, 14th Floor
9150 South Dadeland Boulevard
Miami, Florida 33156
Phone: (305) 350-5300
Fax: (305) 373-2294
Richard A. Simpson
admittec
i
ce
Mary E. Botja
(admittet
ice)
Ashley E. Eiler
(admitted
m
ro/
r
tc
4ce)
WILEY REIN LLP
1776 K Street NW
Washington, DC 20006
Phone: (202) 719-7000
Fax: (202) 719-7049
Counsel for Alan M. Dershowiiz
22
EFTA00582670
CERTIFICATE OF SERVICE
WE HEREBY CERTIFY that a true and correct copy of the foregoing was sent via E-
mail on May 9, 201
to: Jack
Scarola, Esquire, Searcy Denny et al
and
counsel for
Plaintiffs, and to Sigrid McCawley, Esquire, Boies Schiller & Flexner, counsel for Jane Doe
No. 3, at
COLE, SCOTT & KISSANE,
Attorneys for Defendant
9150 S. Dadeland Blvd.
Suite 1400
Miami. Florida 33156
Phone: (305) 350-5300
Fax: (305) 373-2294
By:
s/ Thomas E. Scott
THOMAS E. SCOTT
FBN: 149100
STEVEN R. SAFRA
FBN: 057028
23
EFTA00582671
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