Searcy Denney Scarola Barnhart & Shipley, P.A. Files New Lawsuit Refuting Dershowitz Charges

WEST PALM BEACH, Fla., Jan. 7, 2015 /PRNewswire/ -- Attorney representing Bradley Edwards and Professor Paul Cassell issues open response to Alan Dershowitz regarding public comments and refusal to testify to sexual assault allegations:

The following statement is issued by Jack Scarola, Esq., Searcy Denney Scarola Barnhart & Shipley, P.A. representing Bradley Edwards and Professor Paul Cassell.  "We need to look no further for compelling evidence of Alan Dershowitz's lack of credibility in his attacks on Bradley Edwards, Professor Paul Cassell, and Jane Doe #3, than a comparison of Mr. Dershowitz's words with his actions. 

In clear and certain terms, Mr. Dershowitz supported his passionate and very public protestations of innocence with a public commitment to waive the statute of limitations so that he could directly confront the allegations made in federal court filings of his involvement in criminal sexual misconduct.  When presented with a written waiver of the statute of limitations yesterday however, he refused to execute it.

Mr. Dershowitz told the world he was prepared to submit to questioning under oath about the allegations made against him.  However, a written invitation communicated to both Mr. Dershowitz and his attorney to schedule the deposition has been ignored for the last two days, consistent with Mr. Dershowitz's refusal to cooperate in providing testimony which refusal began more than 5 years ago.

Mr. Dershowitz harshly attacks Mr. Edwards and Professor Cassell for not trying to talk to him before naming him in legal papers.

But, in truth, and as supported by numerous documents, on at least three occasions since 2009, Mr. Dershowitz was informed that he was a key witness in the litigation against Jeffrey Epstein and was requested to testify.   We advised him at that time as follows: 

'Multiple individuals have placed you in the presence of Jeffrey Epstein on multiple occasions and in various locations when Jeffrey Epstein was in the company of underage females subsequently identified as victims of Mr. Epstein's criminal molestations. This information is derived from both someone's testimony and private interviews. Your personal observations regarding such circumstances would clearly not involve any privileged communications, and it is those observations that will be the primary focus of our questioning.'

Despite this notice to Mr. Dershowitz, he failed to respond or testify in any fashion. Mr. Dershowitz has not responded to multiple efforts to take his testimony beginning in 2009.

This gross inconsistency between Alan Dershowitz's words and actions as part of a mass media assault on the honesty, integrity, competence and ethics of two highly respected attorneys cannot go unanswered.  While the refusal to waive the statute of limitations defense precludes the filing of sexual assault charges against Alan Dershowitz, there is no such defense to an action for the defamation that occurred throughout the past few days. 

A defamation action has been filed under case number CACE 15-000072 on behalf of Bradley Edwards and Professor Paul Cassell to compel the testimony that Mr. Dershowitz has now refused to provide voluntarily, and to hold Mr. Dershowitz fully responsible for his reckless mass media diatribe.

It is unfortunate that a legal response has now become necessary.  Nevertheless, the primary focus of the efforts of Mr. Edwards and Professor Cassell will remain on vindicating the rights of crime victims and assuring that equal justice is not unbalanced by power, politics, prestige or Mr. Dershowitz's self-serving media barrage."

Jack Scarola, Esq.
Searcy Denney Scarola Barnhart & Shipley, P.A.

Searcy Denney is a nationally recognized trial law firm committed to protecting and defending the rights of people injured through negligence, improper conduct, deceit, or abuse of power. The firm has represented clients for over 35 years in courtrooms throughout Florida and across the nation. - See more at: http://www.searcylaw.com

This is in reference to case number CACE 15-000072.

SOURCE Searcy Denney

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