Girl drops declare of Leon Black rape at Jeffrey Epstein mansion

A girl who had accused Apollo Global Management co-founder Leon Black of raping her on the New York mansion of the late intercourse predator Jeffrey Epstein has agreed to drop her civil lawsuit towards Black.

The go well with by the girl, Cheri Pierson, was “discontinued with prejudice and with out prices to any get together as towards the opposite,” based on a Manhattan Supreme Courtroom submitting Friday signed by her lawyer and Black’s lawyer.

That notation implies that Pierson can’t resurrect her authorized claims towards the billionaire investor Black in reference to the purported assault at Epstein’s Higher East Aspect residence in 2002.

It additionally implies that Black didn’t make a cost to settle the case.

Black had denied Pierson’s allegation, filed in November 2022, that he had raped her in a set at Epstein’s mansion, the place she had gone “believing that she would give Black a therapeutic massage and obtain the cash that had been promised her in trade,” based on her criticism.

Black, in an announcement supplied to CNBC on Monday, mentioned, “I’ve by no means met Ms. Pierson. I’ve no additional remark.”

Black’s lawyer, Danya Perry, in her personal assertion, mentioned, “This matter has been dismissed with prejudice. I’ll make no additional remark.”

A spokeswoman for Wigdor LLP, the legislation agency that had represented Pierson, mentioned, “We have now no remark presently.”

Black in January 2023 agreed to pay $62.5 million to the U.S. Virgin Islands to be launched from any potential claims associated to the territory’s probe of Epstein’s sex-trafficking operation there.

Two years earlier, Apollo World Administration revealed that its then-CEO Black had paid Epstein $158 million for monetary recommendation from 2012 by 2017 regardless of him understanding that Epstein had pleaded responsible in 2008 to soliciting intercourse for pay from and underage lady in Florida.

Black left Apollo in March 2021, months sooner than he beforehand had mentioned he would.

Epstein, 66, killed himself in August 2019 in a federal jail in Manhattan, a month after he was arrested on federal youngster intercourse trafficking fees.

Black in a letter Saturday individually withdrew his attraction of a decide’s ruling in Pierson’s case denying his movement for sanctions towards Wigdor.

Black had claimed in that movement that Wigdor had “repeatedly abused the courtroom system to launder frivolous, unsubstantiated, and damaging accusations of sexual assault towards Black throughout two lawsuits.”

The Wigdor legislation agency is constant to pursue a separate lawsuit towards Black that its attorneys filed in July, alleging that he raped a then-16-year-old lady with autism at Epstein’s Manhattan dwelling in 2002.

One other lawyer for Black final 12 months mentioned that he had by no means met the accuser, a lady in her 30s recognized by the pseudonym Jane Doe in filings in U.S. District Courtroom in Manhattan.

That lawyer, Susan Estrich, mentioned on the time, “These vicious and defamatory lies, masquerading as allegations, have been deliberately manufactured by the Wigdor legislation agency as a part of the agency’s vendetta towards Mr. Black for vigorously and efficiently defending himself over the previous two years,” Estrich mentioned.

A 3rd lawsuit towards Black, filed by a lady named Guzel Ganieva, was dismissed by a Manhattan Supreme Courtroom decide final Might.

Ganieva had claimed Black defamed her by claiming she had extorted him for a few years after they’d what he mentioned was a “consensual affair.” Ganieva’s lawsuit alleged he was a “predator” who had “sexually harassed and abused” her for years.

In dismissing her go well with, Decide David Cohen cited the truth that Ganieva had signed a non-disclosure settlement with Black, who paid her about $9.5 million after she signed the NDA.

That settlement launched Black from “all issues, causes of actions, claims, fits … arising previous to the signing of this Settlement … or any time sooner or later after the signing of this Settlement,” Cohen’s dismissal famous.

Ganieva has appealed the dismissal of her lawsuit.

Wigdor initially represented Ganieva in a go well with towards Black, however she fired the agency earlier than the case was dismissed.

In August, Black sued Wigdor and Ganieva in Manhattan Supreme Courtroom, alleging malicious prosecution towards him. That lawsuit, which is pending, additionally cites Wigdor’s lawsuits towards Black on behalf of Jane Doe and Pierson.

Wigdor and Ganieva have moved to dismiss the criticism.