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<\/a><\/p>\nNEW YORK (Reuters) – JPMorgan Chase & Co could be liable to women who accused Jeffrey Epstein of sexual abuse if they can show that former executive Jes Staley had first-hand knowledge that the financier ran a sex-trafficking venture, a U.S. judge said on Monday.<\/p>\n
U.S. District Judge Jed Rakoff in Manhattan discussed Staley’s alleged role, which Staley denies, in a decision explaining why he refused to dismiss lawsuits accusing JPMorgan and Deutsche Bank AG of enabling Epstein’s sex trafficking.<\/p>\n
“If the allegations in plaintiffs’ complaints are taken as true, Mr. Staley had actual first-hand knowledge that Epstein conducted a sex-trafficking venture,” Rakoff wrote.<\/p>\n
By attributing that knowledge to JPMorgan, Epstein’s accusers might show that JPMorgan “actually knew” about the venture or “recklessly disregarded” its existence, Rakoff said.<\/p>\n
JPMorgan and lawyers for Staley did not immediately respond to requests for comment.<\/p>\n
The decision covers two lawsuits against the banks by Epstein’s accusers, and a lawsuit against JPMorgan by the U.S. Virgin Islands, where Epstein allegedly abused women on his private island Little St. James.<\/p>\n
Rakoff had issued his “bottom-line” rulings in those lawsuits on March 20.<\/p>\n
JPMorgan is separately suing Staley to cover its losses in the two lawsuits it faces, and forfeit eight years of pay.<\/p>\n
Staley has asked Rakoff to dismiss the bank’s case, accusing JPMorgan of using him as a “public relations shield” to deflect blame for its own failures in working with Epstein.<\/p>\n
The U.S. Virgin Islands case included accusations that Epstein and Staley swapped sexually suggestive messages about young women, including an email that Rakoff quoted where Staley said: “That was fun. Say hi to Snow White.”<\/p>\n
Staley, 66, led JPMorgan’s asset management business from 2001 to 2009, and its corporate and investment bank from 2009 to 2013. He later spent six years as Barclays Plc’s chief executive.<\/p>\n
All of the lawsuits are scheduled for trial this year.<\/p>\n
The cases in the U.S. District Court, Southern District of New York are: Jane Doe 1 v Deutsche Bank AG et al, No. 22-10018; Jane Doe 1 v JPMorgan Chase & Co, No. 22-10019; Government of the U.S. Virgin Islands v JPMorgan Chase Bank NA, No. 22-10904; and JPMorgan Chase Bank NA v Staley, in Nos. 22-10019 and 22-10904.<\/p>\n
\n(Reporting by Jonathan Stempel in New York, Editing by Rosalba O’Brien)<\/p>\n
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