JPMorgan Chase & Co. has agreed to settle a lawsuit alleging it knowingly benefited from former shopper Jeffrey Epstein’s sex-trafficking.
The agency reached an “settlement in precept” to settle the proposed class motion filed by an unnamed Epstein sufferer late final 12 months, JPMorgan mentioned in a press release Monday. The most important U.S. financial institution didn’t say how a lot it agreed to pay or every other phrases of the settlement.
“All of us now perceive that Epstein’s habits was monstrous, and we consider this settlement is in the most effective curiosity of all events, particularly the survivors, who suffered unimaginable abuse by the hands of this man,” the New York-based financial institution mentioned. “Any affiliation with him was a mistake and we remorse it. We might by no means have continued to do enterprise with him if we believed he was utilizing our financial institution in any method to assist commit heinous crimes.”
The cope with the sufferer recognized solely as Jane Doe doesn’t finish JPMorgan’s authorized headache over its ties to Epstein. It’s nonetheless going through a lawsuit by the US Virgin Islands, the place the financier had a personal retreat the place he introduced a number of of his victims.
The financial institution can also be litigating its personal case in opposition to former private-banking head Jes Staley, who JPMorgan says must be held chargeable for damages it incurs over its Epstein ties.
“Taken collectively or individually, the historic recoveries from the banks who offered monetary companies to Jeffrey Epstein communicate for themselves,” mentioned David Boies, one of many attorneys for Doe. “It has taken a very long time — too lengthy — however at present is a superb day for Jeffrey Epstein survivors, and an excellent day for justice.”
Boies mentioned JPMorgan requested that the settlement quantity not be disclosed, and “pending additional discussions we’re going to respect that request.”
Doe filed her proposed class motion in opposition to JPMorgan, the place Epstein was a shopper from 1998 to 2013, in November. A special Doe plaintiff represented by the identical legal professionals additionally sued Deutsche Financial institution AG on the identical time.
The German financial institution, which grew to become Epstein’s predominant monetary establishment after JPMorgan minimize ties with him in 2013, agreed to settle its Doe swimsuit in Might for $75 million.
The USVI filed its swimsuit in opposition to JPMorgan weeks later. Each Doe and the USVI accused the financial institution of turning a blind eye to indicators Epstein was utilizing his accounts to site visitors younger girls, together with paying settlements to victims and transporting them between his properties.
