By What’s next for Prince Andrew?
Yesterday (13 January) Buckingham Palace confirmed that The Duke of York’s military titles and royal patronages had been returned to the Queen.
Prince Andrew, 61, will no longer use the term His Royal Highness in an official capacity.
This comes as he faces a US civil action over sexual assault allegations – claims he has consistently denied.
Now begs the question, what’s next for Prince Andrew?
On Wednesday Judge Lewis Kaplan not only dismissed the attempts to stop Virginia Giuffre’s civil damages claim against the Duke of York, but he also underlined that many of the arguments had been worthless.
Prince Andrew’s lawyers had argued that Virginia Giuffre’s case should be stopped for the following reasons:
- Her 2009 settlement with Jeffrey Epstein barred her from suing anyone else
- Her allegations were basically vague
- His rights as a defendant were being breached
Ms Giuffre’s civil damages claim awarded her $500,000 and included a provision which stated: “Second parties and any other person or entity who could have been included as a potential defendant … from all, and all manner of, action and actions of Virginia [Giuffre], including state or federal, cause and causes of action.”
The Prince’s lawyers attempted to use the argument that Ms Giuffre’s agreement prevented her from suing anyone else, but the judge has now dismissed this attempt to have the case thrown out as Prince Andrew was not listed by name.
The Judge has now set out a clear timetable for the case going forward, as by mid-May both sides must declare their witnesses.
Ms Giuffre will want evidence that Prince Andrew cannot sweat as well as evidence of his now-infamous night out at a Pizza Express in Woking.
Prince Andrew will ask for evidence on where she lives as they may try to argue that as she lives in Australia she has no legal connection to the US.
All evidence should be exchanged and the deposition completed by July 14, meaning the trial itself will likely take place from September onwards.
However, Prince Andrew does have another option should he choose not to take the case to court.
He could settle outside of court, meaning he and his lawyers would offer Ms Giuffre’s a sum of money to avoid the long legal battle.
According to her lawyers, justice would come in the form of recognition from the Prince over his actions, meaning a settlement is unlikely.
Ms Giuffres first filed a suit against the royal on August 9, citing battery and intentional infliction of emotional distress.
She has claimed that she was sexually assaulted by the late Jeffrey Epstein and recently convicted Ghislaine Maxwell and also alleged she was forced into sex with Prince Andrew.
The royal has consistently denied these claims.
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