By Aaron Miller-
A Manhattan federal judge has targeted a trial date between September and December of 2022 in a civil case involving a woman who is suing him for allegedly sexually abusing her when she was a minor.
US District Judge Lewis Kaplan speculated on the trial date for the high profile trial involving the Duke Of York during a status conference Wednesday that, due to the pandemic, it’s difficult to set an exact trial date because of problems accommodating juries safely.
New York Judge Lewis Kaplan made the comments in the second hearing involving both the Duke of York and Virginia Giuffre’s legal teams.
During the short telephone hearing, Judge Kaplan said that “in another era, I would probably set a trial date today but you are aware of the difficulties of getting juries”, referring to precautions now being taken because of the COVID-19 pandemic
The case involves a woman named Virginia Giuffre, who alleges she was trafficked by Jeffrey Epstein and forced to have sex with his friends, including the the prince.
Giuffre alleged the assaults happened in London, New York and the US Virgin Islands — and that Andrew was aware that she was 17 years old when the alleged incidents began.
Both sides confirmed that they would anticipate requesting depositions, or evidence, from eight to 12 individuals.
On 29 October, Prince Andrew’s legal team filed documents asking the judge to dismiss the case.
A document, signed by lawyer Andrew Brettler, said: “Accusing a member of the world’s best known Royal Family of serious misconduct has helped Giuffre create a media frenzy online and in the traditional press.
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“It is unfortunate, but undeniable, that sensationalism and innuendo have prevailed over the truth.
“Giuffre has initiated this baseless lawsuit against Prince Andrew to achieve another payday at his expense and at the expense of those closest to him.”Epstein’s abuse of Giuffre does not justify her public campaign against Prince Andrew.”
Ms Giuffre, 38, is suing the Duke of York, accusing him of forcing her to have sex when she was underage at the London home of Ghislaine Maxwell, the British socialite and former girlfriend of paedophile Jeffrey Epstein.
The lawsuit also alleges that Prince Andrew abused Ms Giuffre at Epstein’s mansion in Manhattan and one of Epstein’s private islands in the Virgin Islands.
Attorneys for Giuffre are expected to respond to Andrew’s motion to dismiss by November 29, and Andrew’s attorneys can reply by December 13.