EFTA00616954.pdf

IN THE CIRCUIT COURT OF THE FIFTEENTH JUDICIAL CIRCUIT, IN AND FOR PALM BEACH COUNTY, FLORIDA CIVIL DIVISION: "AG" CASE NO.: 502009CA040800XXXXMB JEFFREY EPSTEIN, Plaintiff/Counter-Defendant, vs. SCOTT ROTHSTEIN, individually and BRADLEY J. EDWARDS, individually, Defendants/Counter-Plaintiffs. / ORDER GRANTING COUNTER-DEFENDANT, JEFFREY EPSTEIN'S MOTION FOR SUMMARY JUDGMENT THIS CAUSE having came before the Court upon Counter-Defendant, Jeffrey Epstein's Motion for Summary Judgment. Having reviewed the law and case file, having heard argument of counsel and being otherwise fully advised in the premises, the Court hereby determines as follows: Plaintiff'Counter-Defendant, Jeffrey Epstein ("Epstein") filed suit against Defendant/Counter-Plaintiff, Bradley Edwards ("Edwards"). Edwards then filed a counter-claim against Epstein. Epstein subsequently dismissed his Complaint without prejudice. The counter- claim proceeded, undergoing several amendments. As it now stands, the Fourth Amended Counterclaim has two causes of action: abuse of process and malicious prosecution. Epstein moved for summary judgment arguing that the litigation privilege applies to both the abuse of process and malicious prosecution claims. This Court agrees and grants summary judgment in favor of Epstein. EFTA00616954 The Court thoroughly reviewed Levin, Middlebrooks, Moves & Mitchell v. U.S. Fire Ins. Co., 639 So. 2d 606, 608 (Fla. 1994), Echevarria, McCalla, Raymer, Barrett & Frappier v. Cole, 950 So. 2d 380 (Fla. 2007), and Wolfe v. Foreman, 38 Fla. L. Weekly D1540 (July 17, 2013). These cases provide the binding precedent in this area of law. All actions occurring during the course of a judicial proceeding are absolutely privileged, so long as the actions have some relation to the underlying proceeding. Levin, Middlebrook.s, Moves & Mitchell v. U.S. Fire Ins. Co., 639 SO. 2d 606, 608 (Fla. 1994). This position was reaffirmed in Echevarria. In Wolfe, the Third District Court of Appeal, quoting in large part from Echevarria, found specifically that the litigation privilege applies to malicious prosecution claims and acts occurring during the course of a judicial proceeding, if those acts bear some relation to the proceeding. Edwards urged the Court to find that Olson v. Johnson, 961 So. 2d 356 (Fla. 2d DCA 2007), is in conflict with Wolfe, thereby allowing the Court to find that the privilege does not apply. However, Olson is inapplicable, because that case involved false statements made to a police officer prior to the judicial proceeding. The court found that the privilege did not apply, and that the malicious prosecution claim was not barred. At the hearing on the motion, Edwards conceded that all of the allegations made in both the abuse of process and malicious prosecution claims are of acts occurring during the course of a judicial proceeding and bear some relation to the proceeding. Therefore, the Court finds that the absolute litigation privilege applies to both the abuse of process and malicious prosecution claims made herein. The Court also notes that the cases cited by Edwards involved malicious prosecution claims stemming from actions flied by the party themselves, not counsel. In the instant case, it was conceded that all filings were done by an attorney in good standing with the Florida Bar, rather than by the individual party. Accordingly, it is EFTA00616955 ORDERED AND ADJUDGED that Counter-Defendant, Jeffrey Epstein's Motion for Summary Judgment is GRANTED. DONE and ORDERED in Chambers, at West Palm Beach, Palm Beach County, Florida, this nday of May 2014. Copies furnished to attached service list 3 EFTA00616956 SERVICE LIST CASE NO. 502009CA040800)OCXXMB-AG W. Chester Brewer Jr. uire W. Chester Brewer, Jr., P.A. 250 S. Australian Avenue Suite 1400 West Palm Beach, FL 33401 Jack Scarola Es Searcy Denney Scarola ct al 2139 Palm Beach Lakes Blvd. West Palm Beach, FL 33409 i tckGc lberi a m rer uire Atterbury, Goldberger & Weiss, P.A. 250 S. Australian Avenue Suite 1400 West Palm Beach, FL 33401 Marc Nurik, Esquire 1 East Broward Blvd. Suite 700 Ft. Lauderdale, FL 33301 Bat . J. Edwards E uire Farmer Jaffe Weissing Edwards Fistos Lehman 425 N. Andrews Avenue Suite 2 Ft. Lauderdale, FL 33301 Oat 1 Financial Plaza Suite 2612 Ft. Lauderdale, FL 33301 Tonle Haddad a1 Col nEs wire Law Offices of Tonja Haddad, P.A. 315 SE 7th Street, Suite 301 Ft. Lauderdale, FL 33301 EFTA00616957