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Epstein Estate Reaches $35 Million Settlement in Sex Trafficking Lawsuit
NEW YORK – The estate of deceased financier Jeffrey Epstein has agreed to a settlement potentially worth $35 million, aiming to resolve a class-action lawsuit. The suit alleged that two of Epstein’s former advisors facilitated his sex trafficking of young women and teenage girls.
The proposed settlement was announced in a court filing on Thursday by Boies Schiller Flexner, a law firm representing Epstein’s victims. If approved by a federal judge in Manhattan, this agreement would conclude a 2024 lawsuit filed against Darren Indyke, Epstein’s former personal lawyer, and Richard Kahn, his former accountant. Both men serve as co-executors of Epstein’s estate.
This new settlement follows previous efforts by the estate to compensate victims. A restitution fund established by the estate has already disbursed $121 million, with an additional $49 million paid out in other settlements.
Daniel H. Weiner, legal counsel for Indyke and Kahn, stated that neither of his clients “made any admission or concession of misconduct” as part of the agreement.
Weiner clarified in an emailed statement, “Because they did nothing wrong, the co-executors were prepared to fight the claims against them through to trial, but agreed to mediate and settle this lawsuit in order to achieve finality as to any potential claims against the Epstein Estate.” He added that the settlement offers “a confidential avenue for financial relief” for victims who have not yet resolved claims against the estate.
Epstein died by suicide in a New York jail in August 2019 while awaiting trial on sex trafficking charges.
The 2024 lawsuit brought by Boies Schiller Flexner contended that Indyke and Kahn played a role in constructing a sophisticated network of corporations and bank accounts for Epstein. This intricate setup, according to the lawsuit, allowed him to conceal his illicit activities and manage payments to victims and recruiters, while the advisors themselves were “richly compensated” for their services.
Boies Schiller Flexner has a track record in pursuing justice for Epstein’s victims, previously securing $365 million in settlements from financial institutions JPMorgan Chase and Deutsche Bank. Those settlements stemmed from accusations that the banks overlooked warning signs concerning Epstein, who was once a highly profitable client.