Class action seeks damages from Epstein estate over child abuse images
Two women filed a proposed class action seeking at least $6 million from Jeffrey Epstein’s estate for people depicted in child sexual abuse material found in his collection.
New York, United States. Two women whose images as children were found in pornography seized from Jeffrey Epstein have filed a proposed class action seeking damages from his estate for people depicted in his collection of thousands of images and videos of child sexual abuse material.
The lawsuit seeks at least $6 million on behalf of more than 40 people and could potentially involve thousands of class members, according to the plaintiffs’ lawyer.
Claims in the lawsuit
The filing in Manhattan federal district court says some proposed class members appeared in Epstein’s so-called “modeling book”, a collection of sexualised images of children seized by federal investigators from his New York home in 2019.
Others were depicted in thousands of downloaded videos and images of child sexual abuse material and other pornography seized from the late financier’s properties, the lawsuit says.
The action seeks to expand legal claims against Epstein’s estate beyond women who have sued over sexual assaults, to people allegedly exploited as children through images taken by Epstein and his associates or obtained by them. In some cases, the images were distributed to others, according to the lawsuit.
Plaintiffs and requested compensation
One plaintiff, identified as Jane Doe, alleges that Epstein stole partially nude photographs taken of her when she was 12. The other plaintiff, using the pseudonym Amy, says she was depicted in child sexual abuse material seized from Epstein’s properties in 2019 that continues to be traded.
Hillary Nappi, a lawyer for the plaintiffs, said most people depicted in Epstein’s collection had never been identified.
The lawsuit asks Epstein’s estate and federal authorities to work with the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children to identify people in the collection and notify them. It seeks $150,000 for each class action member, as well as other penalties.
Estate representatives
The lawsuit was filed against Epstein’s former attorney, Darren Indyke, and former accountant, Richard Kahn, who are co-executors of the estate.
Daniel Weiner, a lawyer representing Indyke, declined to comment. An attorney for Kahn did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
Epstein’s criminal case
Epstein was convicted in 2008 of soliciting sex from a minor and was charged in 2019 with sex trafficking of minors. He was found dead in a New York jail cell months later, and his death was ruled a suicide.
He was never prosecuted for creating, obtaining or distributing child sexual abuse material.
This news item was generated automatically by Cyprus Inform from publicly available materials. Report an error →