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Are there ongoing lawsuits from Epstein victims in 2023?
Executive summary
Yes. In 2023 several major civil actions involving Jeffrey Epstein’s victims were active: JPMorgan settled a class action for about $290 million in June (judge approved in November) and Deutsche Bank agreed to pay about $75 million, while other lawsuits and carve‑outs letting victims sue third parties continued to move in court [1] [2] [3] [4]. Available sources show both settlements and continuing litigation in 2023 — including victims pursuing claims against people and banks beyond the estate — but they do not catalog every individual suit [1] [4].
1. Big‑ticket bank settlements changed the litigation landscape in 2023
Major financial institutions reached multi‑million dollar deals that year: JPMorgan agreed to roughly $290 million to resolve a class action by Epstein’s alleged victims (announced June and approved in November 2023), and Deutsche Bank agreed to pay about $75 million to settle claims by victims [1] [2] [3]. Reporting frames these deals as consequential because they both compensated victims and encouraged follow‑on litigation against other alleged enablers [1] [3].
2. Victims preserved the right to sue others through carve‑outs and related claims
Even as some settlements closed, plaintiffs negotiated “carve‑out” provisions and kept options open to pursue claims against third parties. For example, a 2023 court filing carved out the ability of at least one Epstein victim who settled with the estate to pursue claims against Leon Black and James Staley — signaling that victims were still able to bring suits against individuals with ties to Epstein [4]. That dynamic helped sustain new and existing lawsuits in 2023 despite estate settlements [4].
3. New lawsuits targeted banks and alleged institutional enablers
Beyond JPMorgan and Deutsche Bank agreements, victims and lawyers in 2023 targeted other banks and financial actors, arguing institutions “chose profit” over protecting victims by ignoring red flags [5]. Reporting in later years notes the same pattern — victims suing or preparing to sue banks such as Bank of America and BNY Mellon — but the sources show the trend began or intensified in 2023 as settlements empowered more claims [5] [6].
4. Government and territorial claims ran alongside private suits
The U.S. Virgin Islands brought litigation tied to Epstein’s activities on his island; that government litigation produced disclosures and settlements in 2023 — including a $75 million settlement tied to banking disputes referenced in coverage — and contributed documents that fed further civil action and unsealing orders [7] [8] [2]. House committee releases of estate documents also amplified public scrutiny and fed legislative and investigatory pressure [9].
5. Courts remained an active forum, approving settlements and unsealing records
Judges were actively managing these matters in 2023: a U.S. judge approved JPMorgan’s $290 million settlement in November 2023, and courts issued carve‑outs and unsealing orders that allowed names and records to surface — actions that kept litigation moving and informed new filings [2] [4] [10]. The unsealing of documents in related cases also formed the basis for additional civil and public inquiries [9] [10].
6. Payments don’t end litigation pressure or public scrutiny
Although settlements delivered sizable funds to victims and to governments, reporting stresses that settlements are not universal releases of all claims: carve‑outs and separate government suits mean litigation continued after those 2023 deals, and some plaintiffs remained free to pursue claims against individuals and other institutions [1] [4] [2]. Sources indicate settlements with banks sometimes included no admission of wrongdoing, and critics argue such deals can limit—but not eliminate—further accountability [3] [1].
7. What the sources don’t cover (limitations to be clear about)
Available sources do not provide a comprehensive list of every individual lawsuit filed by Epstein victims in 2023 or a complete docket‑by‑docket accounting; they focus on major settlements, certain carve‑outs, government actions, and broader trends involving banks and named figures [1] [4] [2]. For precise counts, plaintiff names, or the current status of every case, one must consult court dockets or more exhaustive legal databases not included in the provided reporting (not found in current reporting).
8. Competing perspectives and reported agendas
Plaintiffs’ lawyers and reporting frame 2023’s litigation as victims leveraging new legal windows and settlements to press claims against alleged enablers [5] [4]. Defendants and some banks have denied wrongdoing and sought dismissals or negotiated settlements without admitting liability; later reporting shows banks asking courts to end suits against them [6]. Observers note an implicit agenda on both sides: victims’ counsel seek compensation and accountability, while institutions aim to limit exposure and avoid admissions that could spur further claims [2] [6].
If you want, I can pull together a timeline of the major 2023 filings and settlements referenced in these sources or summarize what each settlement said about releases and carve‑outs.