1246.pdf
ia-court-epstein-v-rothstein-no-50-2009-ca-040800-xxxx-mb-(fla-15 Court Filing 213.4 KB • Feb 13, 2026
NOT A CERTIFIED COPY
Filing# 68747930 E-Filed 03/02/2018 05:12:19 PM
JEFFREY EPSTEIN,
Plaintiff,
vs.
SCOTT ROTHSTEIN, individually,
BRADLEY
J. EDWARDS, individually, and
L.M., individually,
Defendants.
I
----------------
IN THE CIRCUIT COURT OF THE
FIFTEENTH WDICIAL CIRCUIT, IN AND
FOR PALM BEACH COUNTY, FLORIDA
CASE NO.: 502009CA040800:XXXXMBAG
SUPPLEMENT TO MOTION FOR SEPARATE TRIALS OR, IN THE ALTERNATIVE
TO ADJUST THE ORDER OF PROOF
Counter-Plaintiff Bradley J. Edwards, pursuant to Florida Rules of Civil Procedure 1.270
and 1.440, hereby files this Supplement to Motion for Separate Trials or, in the Alternative, to
Adjust the Order
of Proof, and as grounds thereof states as follows:
Summary
Epstein is attempting to try a damages-only claim regarding a clerk's default entered
against Defendant Rothstein on January 21, 2010. As the Court will see, however, that clerk's
default was entered against the Initial Complaint. Epstein has since amended his complaint
twice
and has abandoned every count pled against Rothstein in the Initial Complaint. Thus, in addition
to the reasons set forth in Edwards' Motion to Separate Trials, the Court should sever Epstein's
claim against Rothstein because the only pending claim against Rothstein
is a Conspiracy to
Commit Abuse
of Process count contained in the Second Amended Pleading, to which no default
has been entered and which has not been set for trial.
FILED: PALM BEACH COUNTY, FL, SHARON R. BOCK, CLERK, 03/02/2018 05: 12: 19 PM
NOT A CERTIFIED COPY
Edwards adv. Epstein
Case No. 502009CA040800:XXXXMBAG
Supplement to Motion for Separate Trials or, in the Alternative,
to Adjust the Order of Proof
Supplement
1. Epstein filed his Initial Complaint against Defendant Rothstein on December 7,
2009, which pied the following counts against Rothstein:
a. (1) Violation of§ 772,101 -Florida Civil Remedies for Criminal Practices Act
b. (2) Violation of§ 895.01 - Florida's RICO Act
c. (3) Abuse of Process
d. (4) Fraud
e. (5) Conspiracy to Commit Fraud
2. On January 21, 2010, a clerk's default was entered against Defendant Rothstein as
to the Initial Complaint and the five counts listed above (see Exhibit A).
3. On April 12, 2011, Epstein filed an Amended Complaint against Defendant
Rothstein. The Amended Complaint asserted a single count against Defendant Rothstein,
Abuse
of Process. The remaining counts against Rothstein in the Initial Complaint (Florida Civil
Remedies for Criminal Practices Act, Florida's RICO Act, Fraud, and Conspiracy to Commit
Fraud), were abandoned.
4. Pursuant to black-letter Florida law, the Amended Complaint against Rothstein
superseded the Initial Complaint. See State Farm Fire & Cas.
Co. v. Higgins, 788 So. 2d 992, 995
(Fla. 4th DCA 2001), approved, 894
So. 2d 5 (Fla. 2004) ("An amended complaint supersedes an
earlier pleading where it does not express an intention to save any portion
of the original
pleading.") (internal quotations omitted); accord Downtown Investments, Ltd.
v. Segall, 551 So.
2d 561, 562 (Fla. 3d DCA 1989). Moreover, the Initial Complaint against Rothstein was not only
superseded, but
"cease[] to be a part of the record" in Epstein's case against him. Babb v. Lincoln
Auto Finance Co.,133
So. 2d 566, 568 (Fla. 3d DCA 1966) (emphasis added).
2
NOT A CERTIFIED COPY
Edwards adv. Epstein
Case No. 502009CA040800:XXXXMBAG
Supplement to Motion for Separate Trials or, in the Alternative,
to Adjust the Order of Proof
5. Thus, although a tenuous argument remained that the clerk's default applied to the
Abuse
of Process claim that was re-pied, the clerk's default as to the four abandoned counts in an
inoperative pleading that was no longer part
of the record was now a nullity.
6. On August 21, 2011, Epstein filed a Second Amended Complaint against
Defendant Rothstein. In his Second Amended Complaint, which supersedes the Amended
Complaint, Epstein abandoned his Abuse
of Process claim against Rothstein and instead asserted
a brand-new count: Conspiracy to Commit Abuse
of Process.
7. Thus, Epstein had now abandoned every count pied in the Initial Complaint to
which the clerk's default applied. The clerk's default was rendered a nullity.
8. No default has been entered against Rothstein as to the Second Amended
Complaint, which
is the operative pleading against that party, and the brand-new Conspiracy to
Commit Abuse
of Process count contained therein.
9. Moreover, even if Epstein were to proceed without a default as to liability, the
Second Amended Complaint has not been noticed for trial. Pursuant to Rule 1.440, the Court may
not set Epstein's Conspiracy to Commit Abuse
of Process case for trial against Rothstein without
first entering an order fixing the date for that trial, which "shall be set not less than
30 days from
the service
of the notice for trial."
10. Given that the damages being sought by Epstein against Rothstein for Conspiracy
to Commit Abuse of Process are unliquidated, it would be reversible error for the Court to permit
Epstein to try his case against Rothstein on March
13
th
.
Wells Fargo Bank, Nat. Ass'n v. Sawh,
194 So. 3d 475, 481 (Fla. 3d DCA 2016) ([T]he setting of unliquidated damages without the
required notice and without proof
is regarded as fundamental error.").
3
NOT A CERTIFIED COPY
Edwards adv. Epstein
Case No. 502009CA040800XXXXMBAG
Supplement to Motion for Separate Trials or, in the Alternative, to Adjust the Order
of Proof
Conclusion
Thus, in addition to the reasons set forth in Edwards' Motion to Separate Trials, et al, the
Court should grant that Motion for the reasons stated above.
I HEREBY CERTIFY that a true and correct copy
of the foregoing was sent via E-Serve
to all Counsel on the attached list, this 2nd day
of March, 2018.
Isl Davia P. Yita{e Tr.
JACK SCAROLA
Florida Bar No.: 169440
DAVID P. VITALE JR.
Florida Bar No.: 115179
Attorney E-Mails: jsx@searcylaw.com; and
mmccann@searcylaw.com
Primary E-Mail: _scarolateam@searcylaw.com
Searcy Denney Scarola Barnhart & Shipley, P.A.
2139 Palm Beach Lakes Boulevard
West Palm Beach, Florida 33409
Phone: (561) 686-6300
Fax: 561-383-9451
Attorneys for Bradley
J. Edwards
4
NOT A CERTIFIED COPY
Edwards adv. Epstein
Case No. 502009CA040800XXXXMBAG
Supplement to Motion for Separate Trials or, in the Alternative, to Adjust the Order
of Proof
Scott
J. Link, Esq.
Link & Rockenbach, P.A.
Scott@linkrocklaw.com
Kara@linkrocklaw.com
1555 Palm Beach Lakes Boulevard
Suite
301
West Palm Beach, FL 33401
Phone: 561-727-3600
Fax: 561-727-3601
Attorneys for Jeffrey Epstein
COUNSEL LIST
Jack A. Goldberger, Esquire
jgoldberger@agwpa.com; smahoney@agwpa.com
Atterbury Goldberger & Weiss, P.A.
250 Australian A venue
S, Suite 1400
West Palm Beach, FL 33401
Phone: (561)-659-8300
Fax: (561)-835-8691
Attorneys for Jeffrey Epstein
Nichole
J. Segal, Esquire
njs@FLAppellateLaw.com; kbt@FLAppellateLaw.com
Burlington & Rockenbach, P.A.
444 W Railroad Avenue, Suite 350
West Palm Beach, FL 33401
Phone: (561)-721-0400
Attorneys for Bradley
J. Edwards
Bradley
J. Edwards, Esquire
staff.efile@pathtojustice.com
425 N Andrews A venue, Suite 2
Fort Lauderdale, FL 33301
Phone: (954)-524-2820
Fax: (954)-524-2822
5
NOT A CERTIFIED COPY
IN
THE
CIRCUIT
COURT
OF
THE
FIFTEENTH
JUDICIAL
CIRCUIT
IN
AND
FOR
PALM
BEACH
COUNTY,
FLORIDA
Case
Number:
502009CA040800XXXXMB
JEFFREY
EPSTEIN
Plaintiff(s),
-vs-
Division:
AG
SCOTT
ROTHSTEIN,
individually,
BRADLEY
J.
EDWARDS
individuaJly
and
L.M.
individually
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A default
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require
DONE
AND
ORDERED
at the
Clerk'
JANUARY,
2010.
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Entities
0 total entities mentioned
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- Document ID
- 5a683e20-e82e-4e1a-9f14-796f7d703d76
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- court-records/ia-collection/Epstein v. Rothstein, No. 50-2009-CA-040800-XXXX-MB (Fla. 15th Cir. Ct. 2009)/Epstein v. Rothstein, No. 50-2009-CA-040800-XXXX-MB (Fla. 15th Cir. Ct. 2009)/1246.pdf
- Content Hash
- 3fadcb6f9334bf39a19109241508cdd5
- Created
- Feb 13, 2026