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In a tragic turn of events, Ms. Giuffre, aged 41, passed away in April at her farm located in Western Australia without leaving a valid will. Known for settling a high-profile sexual assault case against the former Duke of York, Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor, her unexpected death has led to significant legal proceedings concerning her estate.
Her sons, Christian and Noah Giuffre, initiated legal action in the Western Australia Supreme Court this June. This move comes amid widespread speculation that their late mother’s estate could potentially be valued over $20 million. However, court documents released to the media did not specifically mention any substantial legal settlement payments she may have received. Instead, the documents estimated her estate’s worth to “at least exceed the sum of $472,000.”
The statement of claim, submitted by Christian and Noah, detailed that their mother possessed various assets. These include a horse, two vehicles, the contents of her country home, jewelry, personal belongings, shares in Witty River Pty Ltd, and a portion of a family trust. Additionally, she had the potential entitlement to royalties from her memoir, “Nobody’s Girl,” which recounts the alleged abuse she suffered at the hands of disgraced financier Jeffrey Epstein, his associate Ghislaine Maxwell, and the former prince when she was just 17 years old.
Christian and Noah’s statement of claim says their mother owned a horse, two cars, the contents of a country home, jewellery, personal effects, shares in a company named Witty River Pty Ltd and a slice of a family trust.
She also had the potential right to receive royalties from her memoir Nobody’s Girl about the abuse to which she was allegedly subjected by disgraced financier Epstein, his friend and associate Ghislaine Maxwell and the former prince when she was 17.
Mr Mountbatten-Windsor has always denied the allegations.
Ms Giuffre’s former lawyer, Karrie Jean Louden, and housekeeper and carer Cheryl Mary Myers are named as defendants.
Their counterclaim said the estate was worth at least $501,000.
The case returned to court in Perth on Friday when lawyers for the parties put different views forward about whether and how Ms Giuffre’s daughter, who cannot be named for legal reasons, and her ex-husband Robert Giuffre should or could join the case as plaintiffs.
Registrar Danielle Davies said the matter should be decided by a judge or master and referred the issue to the court for a hearing.
Outside the court, defence lawyer Craig Hollett ran a media pack through the day’s hearing, saying it was “about whether the right parties have been joined” to the case.
“In these kinds of proceedings, it is important that all necessary parties are joined so that they have the opportunity to be heard to ventilate any issues, and so that the court can make a decision which represents all of the parties’ interests,” he said.
At Christian and Noah’s request, the court previously appointed an administrator who has been empowered to manage Ms Giuffre’s estate.
Lawyer Ian Blatchford will represent Ms Giuffre’s estate in any ongoing legal cases involving her, including in the United States.
Mr Blatchford will also take charge of Ms Giuffre’s interests regarding her memoir.
Ms Giuffre figured prominently in the downfall of Epstein, who was found dead in his New York jail cell in August 2019 while he awaited trial on sex trafficking charges. His death was ruled a suicide.
When confirming Ms Giuffre’s death in April, Ms Louden said she was honoured to have worked with someone who was “so strong and powerful and willing to advocate for victims of sexual abuse”.
A further case management hearing over the estate will be held on May 1.
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