Extraction Summary

10
People
3
Organizations
3
Locations
4
Events
3
Relationships
3
Quotes

Document Information

Type: Legal motion (renewed motion to quash service of process)
File Size: 104 KB
Summary

A legal motion filed on November 10, 2010, by Jeffrey Epstein's attorneys requesting the court to quash service of process in the case of M.J. v. Epstein. The defense argues that leaving an unmarked envelope in the mailbox of Epstein's New York vacation home and claiming to leave papers with a non-existent person named 'Mark' violates Federal, New York, and Florida service laws. The document includes arguments citing specific statutes and an affidavit from Richard Barnett denying the presence of anyone named 'Mark' at the residence.

People (10)

Name Role Context
Jeffrey Epstein Defendant
Filing motion to quash service of process, arguing he was not properly served.
Sarah Kellen Defendant
Listed in the case caption.
M.J. Plaintiff
Individual suing Epstein who attempted to serve papers.
Mark Alleged Recipient
Person the process server claimed to leave papers with; Epstein's lawyers argue this person does not exist or was not...
Richard Barnett Witness/Affiant
Provided an affidavit stating he was at the premises on Oct 8, 2010, and no one named Mark was there.
Christopher E. Knight Attorney
Lead counsel for Jeffrey Epstein, Fowler White Burnett P.A.
Helaine S. Goodner Attorney
Counsel for Jeffrey Epstein.
Lilly Ann Sanchez Attorney
Counsel for Jeffrey Epstein.
Joseph L. Ackerman Attorney
Counsel for Jeffrey Epstein.
Bradley J. Edwards Attorney
Counsel for Plaintiff M.J.

Timeline (4 events)

2010-09-17
Complaint filed and summons issued.
Southern District of Florida
2010-10-08
Alleged date of service attempt where papers were left with 'Mark'.
9 East 71st Street, New York, New York
Process Server Mark (disputed)
2010-10-13
Discovery of unmarked envelope in mailbox at Epstein's vacation home.
9 East 71st Street, New York, New York
Jeffrey Epstein's staff/associates
2010-11-10
Filing of Renewed Motion to Quash Service of Process.
Southern District of Florida

Relationships (3)

Jeffrey Epstein Co-Defendants Sarah Kellen
Listed together in case caption as Defendants.
Jeffrey Epstein Professional/Associate Richard Barnett
Barnett provides an affidavit regarding presence at Epstein's property to support Epstein's motion.
M.J. Litigation Adversaries Jeffrey Epstein
M.J. is Plaintiff, Epstein is Defendant.

Key Quotes (3)

"Plaintiff, M.J., attempted to effect service on Mr. Epstein by leaving a copy of the Summons and Complaint in an unmarked, unaddressed and unpostmarked envelope in a mailbox at Mr. Epsteins’ vacation house"
Source
014.pdf
Quote #1
"no individual by the name of 'Mark' worked, resided or was present on the premises of 9 East 71st Street"
Source
014.pdf
Quote #2
"Such purported 'service' does not comply with the requirements of service of process under New York, Florida or federal law."
Source
014.pdf
Quote #3

Full Extracted Text

Complete text extracted from the document (9,659 characters)

Case 9:10-cv-81111-WPD Document 14 Entered on FLSD Docket 11/10/2010 Page 1 of 7
UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
SOUTHERN DISTRICT OF FLORIDA
Case No. 9:10-cv-81111-WPD
M.J.,
Plaintiff,
vs.
JEFFREY EPSTEIN and
SARAH KELLEN,
Defendant.
___________________________________/
RENEWED MOTION OF DEFENDANT JEFFREY EPSTEIN TO QUASH
SERVICE OF PROCESS AND SUPPORTING MEMORANDUM OF LAW
Defendant Jeffrey Epstein, by and through undersigned counsel, respectfully moves pursuant
to Fed. R. Civ. P. 12(b)(5) to quash service of process, and without waiving any available
jurisdictional defenses and without making a general appearance, states as follows.
SUMMARY OF ARGUMENT
Plaintiff, M.J., attempted to effect service on Mr. Epstein by leaving a copy of the Summons
and Complaint in an unmarked, unaddressed and unpostmarked envelope in a mailbox at Mr.
Epsteins’ vacation house at 9 East 71st Street, New York, New York, at an unknown time between
October 8, 2010 and October 13, 2010, and by purportedly leaving a summons with “Mark” at Mr.
Epstein’s alleged “residence or usual place of abode.” Such purported “service” does not comply
with the requirements of service of process under New York, Florida or federal law. The attempt
at service of process was ineffective. Service of process should be quashed.
Case 9:10-cv-81111-WPD Document 14 Entered on FLSD Docket 11/10/2010 Page 2 of 7
Case No. 9:10-cv-81111-WPD
BACKGROUND
1. The Complaint in this action was filed, and a summons was issued as to Jeffrey
Epstein, on September 17, 2010.
2. The Proof of Service filed by Plaintiff (D.E. 11 at 3) recites that the process server
left the summons at Mr. Epstein’s
residence or usual place of abode with Mark, a person
of suitable age and discretion who resides there, on
Oct. 8, 2010, and mailed a copy to the individual’s
last known address . . . .
The foregoing proof of service was originally filed on October 29, 2010. (D.E. 5). It was
subsequently stricken (D.E. 10), and then refiled on November 2, 2010 (D.E. 11).
3. On Wednesday, October 13, 2010, an unmarked, unaddressed and unpostmarked
envelope was discovered in the mailbox at Mr. Epstein’s vacation home at 9 East 71st Street, New
York, New York. The envelope contained a Summons and Complaint in the subject action, a Civil
Rico Case Statement, a deposition subpoena, notices of video depositions, interrogatories and
requests for production. (Affidavit of Richard Barnett, D.E. 7-1; Exhibit “A” to D.E. 7).
4. According to the Affidavit of Richard Barnett, who was at the premises the entire day
of October 8, 2010, no individual by the name of “Mark” worked, resided or was present on the
premises of 9 East 71st Street, New York, New York. (Supplemental Affidavit of Richard Barnett,
D.E. 12-1; Exhibit “A” to D.E. 12).
Case 9:10-cv-81111-WPD Document 14 Entered on FLSD Docket 11/10/2010 Page 3 of 7
Case No. 9:10-cv-81111-WPD
ARGUMENT
NO SERVICE WAS MADE ON MR. EPSTEIN
In this action three methods of service of process are authorized by the Federal Rules of Civil
Procedure. First, service can be effected pursuant to the procedures “in the state where the district
court is located” - i.e. Florida. See Fed. R. Civ. P. 4(e)(1). Second, service can be effected in
accordance with the procedures “in the state . . . where service is made” - i.e. New York. Id. Finally,
service can be effected pursuant to federal procedures by delivering a copy of the summons and
complaint to the individual personally, leaving a copy of same at the individual’s dwelling “with
someone of suitable age and discretion who resides there” or delivering a copy to an agent authorized
to accept service of process. See Fed. R. Civ. P. 4(e)(1). Service was not effected pursuant to any
of the foregoing methods of service.
No Service Under Florida Law. Under § 48.031(1)(a), Fla. Stat., service “is made by
delivering a copy of it to the person to be served with a copy of the complaint, petition, or other
initial pleading or paper or by leaving the copies at his or her usual place of abode with any person
residing therein who is 15 years of age or older and informing the person of their contents . . . .”
Plaintiff did not comply with § 48.031(1)(a), Fla. Stat. First, leaving an unmarked envelope with a
summon and complaint in a mailbox at a vacation residence does not comply with § 48.031(1)(a),
Fla. Stat. Second, although the process server recited that he left the summons with “Mark,” there
was no “Mark” on the premises on October 8, let alone a “Mark” who resided at 9 East 71st Street.
(See Ex. B). Finally, the proof of service does not state that “Mark” was informed of the contents
of the complaint, as required by § 48.031(1)(a), Fla. Stat.
Case 9:10-cv-81111-WPD Document 14 Entered on FLSD Docket 11/10/2010 Page 4 of 7
Case No. 9:10-cv-81111-WPD
No Service Under New York Law. Under New York law, personal service may be made by
delivering the summons and complaint to the defendant or “to a person of suitable age and discretion
at the actual place of business, dwelling place or usual abode of the [defendant],” and by mailing the
summons and complaint to the person to be served at his last known address. N.Y.C.P.L.R. §
308(2). (McKinney 2008). In addition, proof of such service must be “filed with the clerk of the
court designated in the summons within twenty days of either such delivery or mailing, whichever
is effected later.” Id. The foregoing requirements were not satisfied in the instant case. First, merely
leaving an unmarked envelope with a summons and complaint in a mailbox does not constitute
“mailing” under New York law. Second, there was no substitute service because there was no
“Mark” on the premisses on October 8, 2010. (See Ex. B). Third, in violation of New York law,
proof of service was not filed with the Clerk of the United States District Court for the Southern
District of Florida within twenty (20) days of purported service. See C.P.L.R. § 308(2). Although
the summons was purportedly delivered on October 8, 2010, it was not filed in the district court until
October 29, 2010 -- after the 20-day period expired. Finally, C.P.L.R. 308(2) requires that the proof
of service state the “date, time and place of service . . . .” The Affidavit filed by Plaintiff does not
state the time or place of service, as required by C.P.L.R. § 308(2).
Failure to comply strictly with the requirements of C.P.L.R. 308(2) requires dismissal. See,
e.g., Fova, Inc. v. Latino Films, Inc., 2010 N.Y. Misc. LEXIS 4069, at *7 (Sup. Ct. N.Y. County
Aug. 11, 2010) (affidavit of service which failed to state address that the summons was mailed to
was a jurisdictional defect requiring dismissal); Stanley Agency v. Behind the Bench, 2009 N.Y.
Misc. LEXIS 833, at *21 (Sup. Ct. Kings County April 13, 2009) (same).
Case 9:10-cv-81111-WPD Document 14 Entered on FLSD Docket 11/10/2010 Page 5 of 7
Case No. 9:10-cv-81111-WPD
No Service Under Federal Law. Under Fed. R. Civ. P. 4(e)(2), service is effected by
delivering a copy of the summons and complaint to the defendant personally, by leaving a copy of
same at the “individual’s dwelling or usual place of abode with someone of suitable age and
discretion who resides there; or by delivering a copy of same “to an agent authorized by appointment
or by law to receive service of process.” Service was not effected pursuant to any of foregoing
provisions of federal law.
Accordingly, service of process must be quashed because it was invalid under Florida, New
York and federal law.
Certificate of Good Faith Conference Pursuant to S.D. Fla. L.R. 7.1. I hereby certify that
counsel for the movant has conferred with all parties or non-parties who may be affected by the relief
sought in this motion in a good faith effort to resolve the issues but has been unable to do so.
WHEREFORE, Defendant Jeffrey Epstein respectfully requests that service of process be
quashed.
Case 9:10-cv-81111-WPD Document 14 Entered on FLSD Docket 11/10/2010 Page 6 of 7
Case No. 9:10-cv-81111-WPD
-6-
Respectfully submitted,
s/Christopher E. Knight
Christopher E. Knight
Fla. Bar No. 607363
cknight@fowler-white.com
Helaine S. Goodner
Fla. Bar No. 462111
hgoodner@fowler-white.com
Lilly Ann Sanchez
Fla. Bar No. 195677
las@fowler-white.com
Joseph L. Ackerman
Fla. Bar No. 235954
jackerman@fowler-white.com
FOWLER WHITE BURNETT P.A.
Espirito Santo Plaza, 14th Floor
1395 Brickell Avenue
Miami, Florida 33131-3302
Telephone: (305) 789-9200
Facsimile: (305) 789-9201
Counsel for Defendant Jeffrey Epstein
CERTIFICATE OF SERVICE
I hereby certify that on November 10, 2010, I electronically filed the foregoing document
with the Clerk of the Court using CM/ECF. I also certify that the foregoing document is being
served this day on all counsel of record or pro se parties identified on the attached Service List in the
manner specified, either via transmission of Notices of Electronic Filing generated by CM/ECF or
in some other authorized manner for those counsel or parties who are not authorized to receive
electronically Notices of Electronic Filing.
s/Christopher E. Knight
Christopher E. Knight
Fla. Bar No. 607363
Case 9:10-cv-81111-WPD Document 14 Entered on FLSD Docket 11/10/2010 Page 7 of 7
Case No. 9:10-cv-81111-WPD
-7-
SERVICE LIST
M.J. v. Epstein
Case No. 9:10-cv-81111-WPD
United States District Court, Southern District of Florida
Bradley J. Edwards
brad@pathtojustice.com
Farmer, Jaffe, Weissing, Edwards
Fistos & Lehrman, PL
425 North Andrews Avenue, Suite 2
Fort Lauderdale, Florida 33301
Telephone: (954) 524-2820
Facsimile: (954) 524-2822
Attorneys for Plaintiff M.J.
Served via CM/ECF

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