Australian court appoints administrator for Virginia Giuffre's estate ahead of her memoir's publication.
The Western Australia Supreme Court has named a lawyer as interim administrator over Virginia Giuffre's estate, which is believed to be worth millions. The move comes just days before the publication of Giuffre's posthumous memoir, "Nobody's Girl - A Memoir of Surviving Abuse and Fighting for Justice," in which she details her experiences with convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.
With no valid will left behind, the court has appointed Ian Torrington Blatchford as administrator at an hourly rate of $400 AUD. This appointment clears the way for stalled legal cases involving Giuffre to move forward. These include a defamation lawsuit filed by fellow Epstein survivor Rina Oh against Giuffre's estate.
Oh had accused Giuffre of defaming her on social media and in a memoir, portraying her as an accomplice to Epstein rather than a victim. A U.S. state appeals court has already ruled that Oh's claim can continue against the estate, finding that civil liabilities survive a defendant's death.
The appointment of an administrator also sets the stage for fresh scrutiny of Giuffre's reported $15 million settlement with Prince Andrew in 2022, as well as disputes over who controls her literary legacy. Claimants to the estate include Giuffre's sons, a former lawyer, and a housekeeper.
Giuffre was found dead on her family farm at Neergabby, 50 miles north of Perth, Western Australia, in April at the age of 41. Her death has been ruled as suicide, with no evidence suggesting foul play.
As the estate's administrator navigates these complex legal cases, Giuffre's family and supporters are left to cope with the aftermath of her tragic passing.
The Western Australia Supreme Court has named a lawyer as interim administrator over Virginia Giuffre's estate, which is believed to be worth millions. The move comes just days before the publication of Giuffre's posthumous memoir, "Nobody's Girl - A Memoir of Surviving Abuse and Fighting for Justice," in which she details her experiences with convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.
With no valid will left behind, the court has appointed Ian Torrington Blatchford as administrator at an hourly rate of $400 AUD. This appointment clears the way for stalled legal cases involving Giuffre to move forward. These include a defamation lawsuit filed by fellow Epstein survivor Rina Oh against Giuffre's estate.
Oh had accused Giuffre of defaming her on social media and in a memoir, portraying her as an accomplice to Epstein rather than a victim. A U.S. state appeals court has already ruled that Oh's claim can continue against the estate, finding that civil liabilities survive a defendant's death.
The appointment of an administrator also sets the stage for fresh scrutiny of Giuffre's reported $15 million settlement with Prince Andrew in 2022, as well as disputes over who controls her literary legacy. Claimants to the estate include Giuffre's sons, a former lawyer, and a housekeeper.
Giuffre was found dead on her family farm at Neergabby, 50 miles north of Perth, Western Australia, in April at the age of 41. Her death has been ruled as suicide, with no evidence suggesting foul play.
As the estate's administrator navigates these complex legal cases, Giuffre's family and supporters are left to cope with the aftermath of her tragic passing.