Cise 9:08-cv-80893-KAM

Cise 9:08-cv-80893-KAM Document 2 Entered on FLSD Docket 08/14/2008 kor vs/ FILE1200 1004 D.C. ELECT RODIC UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT SOUTHERN DISTRICT OF FLORIDA Case No.: Dg C V gocq3 rAyniz_Rs JANE DOE, 08-80893-Civ-MARRA/JOHNSON Plaintiff, vs. JEFFREY EPSTEIN, Defendant. AUGUST 13, 2008 STEVEN M. LARIMORE CLERK U.S. GIST. CT. S.D. OF FLA. • MIAMI FILED by O.C. AUG 13 2008 I STEVEN M. LAM/TORE CLERK U.S. DIST CT S.D. Of FI.A. • Viel3 MOTION TO PROCEED ANONYMOUSLY COMES NOW the Plaintiff, Jane Doe, by and through her undersigned counsel and moves this Court to enter an Order granting Plaintiff permission to proceed in this action under the pseudonym "Jane Doe" and as grounds would state as follows: 1. Jane Doe is currently a 20-year-old female. 2. As outlined in detail in the Complaint, the Plaintiff, Jane Doe, was sexually abused by the Defendant, Jeffrey Epstein, when she was very young, between the ages of 14 and 17 years old. 3. The abuse caused much embarrassment, humiliation, and psychological trauma for the Plaintiff, Jane Doe. 4. This embarrassment, humiliation and psychological trauma would be greatly exacerbated if her name was revealed publicly as the subject of the alleged abuse. 5. The subject matter of the Complaint clearly contains highly sensitive and intimate information about the Plaintiff, Jane Doe. Page 1 of 4 1414 91O EFTA00234741 08-8falleaCkfridAFIRAIAGINNSONntered on FLSD Docket 08/14/2008 Page 2 of 4 'F vui 6. The Plaintiff, Jane Doe, was an identified victim by the FBI and U.S. Attorney's office in a criminal investigation against the Defendant, Jeffrey Epstein. 7. During the criminal investigation, and up and through this point in time, the Plaintiff, Jane Doe's identity has been sealed, as all parties recognize the highly sensitive subject matter of the charges and the need to protect the privacy interest of the Plaintiff, Jane Doe's true identity. 8. The Defendant, Jeffrey Epstein, has been provided in the past with the true identity of the Plaintiff, Jane Doe. 9. In this civil action, the Defendant, Jeffrey Epstein, will be provided with the Plaintiff, Jane Doe's true identity in a document under seal; therefore, he will know the identity of the Plaintiff, Jane Doe, and will not be prejudiced by the non-disclosure of Jane Doe's true identity. 10. There is a great need, in this case, to protect intimate information about the Plaintiff, Jane Doe, and to protect her privacy interest. MEMORANDUM OF LAW Despite the general presumption against anonymous or pseudonymous pleadings, it is common for this presumption to be overcome in certain types of cases, and courts have discretion to permit such pleading in appropriate circumstances. See Doe v. Del Rio, 241 F.R.D. 154, 157 (S.D.N.Y. 2006) (citing James v. Jacobson, 6 F.3d 233, 238 (4th Cir. 1993)). The courts typically grant such requests for pseudonymity in matters of a sensitive and highly personal nature. Id at 157 (citing Heather K. v. City of Mallard, 887 F.Supp.1249, 1255 (N.D.lowa Page 2 of 4 2 of 4 EFTA00234742 08-1108e9aCividdARRAIAOHNSONntered on FLSD Docket 08/14/2008 Page 3 of 4 %sr 1995)). In deciding whether to permit pseudonymous pleadings, courts must balance "the Plaintiffs right to privacy and security against the public's interest in identification of the litigants and the harm to the defendant stemming from suppression of Plaintiffs name." Doe v. Smith, 105 F.Supp.2d 40, 44 (E.D.N.Y. 1999). The ultimate test for permitting a plaintiff to proceed anonymously is whether the plaintiff has a substantial privacy right which outweighs the customary presumption of openness in judicial proceedings. Free Speech v. Reno, 1999 WL 47310, at 2 (S.D.N.Y. Feb. I, 1999). In undertaking this balance, courts typically consider such factors as whether the plaintiff would be compelled to disclose intimate information, whether the plaintiff would be compelled to admit her intention to engage in illegal conduct, whether the plaintiff would risk injury if identified, whether the party defending the suit would be prejudiced by the non-disclosure of the plaintiffs name, the age of the plaintiff whose identity is being suppressed, the extent to which the identity of the plaintiff has been kept confidential, as well as the interest the public has in knowing the names of the litigants. 241 FRD at 157. The Supreme Court has implicitly recognized pseudonyms in abortion cases, with minimal discussion. Roe v. Wade, 410 U.S. 113, 120-121, 93 S.Ct. 705 (1973); See also, E.E.O.C. v. ABM Industries, Inc., 249 F.R.D. 588 (E.D. Cal. 2008). Likewise, pseudonym filing is typically accepted by the courts in other cases where the nature of the pleading unveils highly sensitive information and detail about the plaintiff, such that the non-disclosure of the party's name is necessary to protect her from harassment, injury, ridicule, or personal embarrassment. Does v. Advanced Textile Corp., 214 F.3d 1058, 1067-1068 (9th Cir. 2000) (citing United States v. Doe, 655 F.2d 920; E.E.O.C., 249 F.R.D. at 588). Page 3 of 4 3414 EFTA00234743 0a-lithinCilbEMARRAthORNSONntered on FLSD Docket 08/14/200 FILP110e 4%114 D.C. ELECTRORIC %of UGUST 13, 2008 In this case, it is clear from the allegations in the Complaint that the info STEVEN M. LARIM0RE CLERK U.S. GIST. CT. S.D. FLA. • MIAMI highly sensitive nature — i.e., allegations involving sexual abuse of a minor. Additionany, Jane Doe's name was kept anonymous in the Federal Court criminal case and all documents containing her name were redacted by the United States Government and Defendant, Jeffrey Epstein's attorney. The Defendant, Jeffrey Epstein, will not be prejudiced in any way by this pseudonym pleading, as he has been provided with her name in the past and will also be privy to the sealed document containing the Plaintiff, Jane Doe's name. While the public does have a right to the openness of judicial proceedings, the right to know the true identity of the Plaintiff, Jane Doe, is greatly outweighed by Jane Doe's privacy interest in this case. Of course, other than the identity of the then minor, all other aspects of the case will still be available to the public. WHEREFORE, the Plaintiff, Jane Doe, moves this Court to enter an Order granting this Motion, and thus allowing her to proceed in this litigation under the Jane Doe pseudonym. Dated: August 12, 2008 Respectfully submitted, THE LAW OFFICE OF BRAD EDWARDS & ASSOCIATES, LLC Brad Edwards Florida Bar #542075 Harrison 2025 Street Suite 202 Hollywood, Florida 33020 Telephone: 954-414-8033 Facsimile: 954-924-1530 Page 4 of 4 EFTA00234744