Prince Andrew has been served Legal papers for sexual assault lawsuit in Epstein/Maxwell case

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So they have finally been able to serve papers according to Sky news.sky.com/story/prince-andrew-lawyers-for-woman-suing-duke-of-york-claim-he-was-served-with-legal-papers-12404352. I wonder how he will worm his way out of this one?

Does it count?

What does that mean in practice?

I’d like to think this counts as serving the papers (where is handy andy hiding?) but I don’t think it will.

He wasn't served. I believe a policeman received the papers. I don't think that counts.

I wonder what the law is, when papers have to be served on someone so protected by wealth and privilege, that actually it is impossible to do so.
Does that mean the case can never be pursued?
I don’t think there’s much point anyway in this case, but supposing there were a point.

He’ll never face justice for having sex with a very young woman who was being sexually trafficked. I wish that weren’t the case but she would be paid off long before he was forced to answer for his crimes if they thought she might actually win a court case.

The law will very much depend on the facts - so did they try to serve him multiple times and he actively avoided service? Was he nearby? Did he understand it was legal papers etc. If PA wants to he can take a legal point and say it isn’t good service he can do so. I would be surprised if the public or a judge found favour with him in the circumstances of this case (as reported).

Sorry what I should have said is whether it is good service very much depends on the facts of what happened - who it was handed to, what was said, was PA actively using security to prevent service etc

No way will this ever even start.

I mean it's just. No way.

Do the papers have to be given in person? Can't even get to him. What if he ignores them? What can they do? What if he takes a long break in an unknown location due to stress or something?

I mean no way in hell will anything happen.

Poor woman.

I wish that weren’t the case but she would be paid off long before he was forced to answer for his crimes if they thought she might actually win a court case.

If all she wanted was a pay off, I'm sure this would have all gone away long ago.

For whatever reason she feels the need to pursue this regardless of whether she has a chance of winning. That strikes me as the behaviour of someone who feels they have a genuine grievance.

They would have paid her off if it was true rather than going to court?

And how exactly would they get him into a USA court?

He's untouchable.

This is all related to that fella. Who surely it's accepted was doing all sorts of awful stuff around his mates/ rich famous blokes and young girls.

And then mysteriously hung himself. Not saying it was anything to do with our lot but given what had come out to that point a lot of powerful rich men were potentially about to get pointed at.

Also.

That interview with Andrew. How was he so badly prepared? Arrogance I assume. He thought he'd tell his ridiculous obvious nonsense and the interviewer and audience would say well that clears that up.

Condition meaning he never sweats? Can't remember the rest but watched it and thought risible.

No one can touch him though.

He ignores.. End of story.

Poor woman.

He can't be untouchable. No-one is. Even if they can't physically approach him he can still be accused. Apparently if he isn't present in court he'll get the default sentence. Which would be a prison sentence, which he won't do, as he won't be extradited to the US.

I thought it was a civil case that doesn't include prison in USA? Or does it? No idea tbh.

Yes people are untouchable.

Some terrible things done by those with diplomatic immunity in the past.

And no way is he going to engage with this at all.

They will never get the bastard his too high up. Shameful

www.bbc.com/news/uk-58190212

^

Bit more info here

Apparently the US judge can determine whether the papers have been served or not. Irregardless of whether they were placed in Andy's hands.

'David Boies, Ms Giuffre's fearsome and celebrated American lawyer, said that the prince would be "very ill-advised" to ignore the judicial process.

"If he does, it will be a default judgement against him that will be, in effect, enforced not only in the United States, but in virtually every civilised country in the world."'

Well her lawyer would say that.

The fact that USA expects other countries to have people extradited but doesn't allow their citizens to be extradited shows the imbalance. USA with this stuff tends to behave as if they are superior in some way and can make their own rules. Which to be fair with extradition they have...

The civilised countries comment is extremely unpleasant imo.

This case will bring even more fame and fortune to this lawyer.

It's a civil case so only about compensation.

He ignores the whole thing. Default judgement. He's not been in court. Only one side is heard. Judgement is due to no show. Not super interesting unless there is lots of evidence that hasn't come out already.

Poor woman.

I mean no way in hell is he even going to acknowledge any of this let alone go to court.

Good. Hopefully he will face justice.

It revolts me that PA can run and hide behind his Mother's skirt, like my 5 y/o does when he's scared, to avoid being served legal documents.

I wish he'd somehow have to face this- if he think he's so bloody innocent he should be keen to stand up and clear his name.

But as previous posters have said, he will never face justice for this. It disappoints me that Her Majesty is complicit in this shambles of a cover-up, but to be honest I can't think what else she is supposed to do.

Posters might also be interested in this thread, that's been running fir a few days

www.mumsnet.com/Talk/the_royal_family/4343578-Prince-Andrew-has-bolted-to-Balmoral

and which includes some good info on the legal processes of serving papers and why a judge in NY will be the one who decides if they have actually done it.

The point of service is to let people know there’s a court case against them and when to show up/who to contact in order to represent themselves.

Ultimately if you do everything possible to serve somebody, that is enough. You don’t need to prove that they have actually seen it, just that you’ve tried really hard to get them to see it. There was a case in England where court papers were served by being sellotaped to the counter of the pub the man was known to go to regularly, because they just couldn’t find him any other way.

Her lawyers have made extensive efforts to serve him, and it’s been widely reported. There is simply no way his lawyers can claim he’s unaware of the issue. So I would expect a judge to agree they’ve been served.

The next issue is that if he doesn’t attend the court, he’ll get the default judgment against him. We won’t extradite him/enforce that judgment here, because he’s just too powerful.

However he won’t be able to visit the US or any of their more obedient allies ever again, as they would all enforce it. Which will at least cut down on his holiday options. It’s not much of a punishment (assuming he’s guilty) but it’s something.

Anyone know if this wiki on UK/US extradition is reasonably accurate?

I don't think he'll be extradited for a civil case such as this one - it's a measure for criminal charges only, isn't it?

Good. I doubt they'll ever properly 'get him' but the closer they get, the more awkward he feels, the further away from some grand reintegration into public life he gets - the closer he gets to bring something like punished.

Odious man.

Extradition is for criminal cases so irrelevant to the civil case. The only outcome here if her case is proved is compensation. A civil judgment from the US will be enforced here. It would be about getting his assets to compensate her. There are international treaties governing enforcement of judgements between countries and the US and England absolutely do this for each other. I think he will settle with her. He can’t risk a trial and he can’t risk going to US in case he is separately arrested by the FBI.