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In
a letter filed in Manhattan federal court, Bennet Moskowitz, who
represents the estate's executors, said five plaintiffs have
already put their lawsuits on hold pending participation in the
fund, and the "vast majority" of plaintiffs with cases pending
in that court "will or are very likely to participate."
The fund would allow victims to be paid confidentially, and
women who chose not to take part could still pursue claims in
court, the executors said in November.
Epstein's estate has been estimated to total at least $577
million, but its lawyers have said that amount could change
because of estate taxes, and because the U.S. government might
seek civil forfeiture of properties it holds.
The fund would be overseen by administrators including Kenneth
Feinberg, who worked on a fund for victims of the Sept. 11,
2001, attacks.
Epstein died last Aug. 10 at age 66, and an autopsy found that
he had hanged himself.
His death came five weeks after Epstein was arrested on federal
charges that he trafficked dozens of underage girls from at
least 2002 to 2005. Epstein pleaded not guilty. Some accusers
have said his sexual misconduct began many years earlier.
(Reporting by Jonathan Stempel in New York; Editing by Sonya
Hepinstall)
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