Harvard law professor Alan Dershowitz has filed a lawsuit in a Miami federal court against Netflix and film producers over their portrayal of him in a docuseries that recounted the details of convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. The lawsuit targets the producers and production company of the docuseries and their alleged ill-willed portrayal of the law professor.
The Netflix docuseries Filthy Rich, which was directed by Lisa Bryant, focuses on the many victims of Epstein’s predatory behavior and the girls who were pulled into his sex trafficking ring. The survivors of Epstein’s sexual abuse detail their encounters with Epstein and other high-profile individuals who allegedly knew about his interactions with underage girls. The docuseries primarily revolves around one of Epstein's most outspoken survivors, Virginia Giuffre. During her testimony in the docuseries, Giuffre points the finger at Dershowitz and his part in Epstein's wide-reaching sex trafficking ring. Guiffre alleges that Epstein trafficked her to high-profile men and that Dershowitz was one of several wealthy, powerful men she had sex with.
The docuseries exposes the close relationship the two men had even though it was no secret that Dershowitz and Epstein have had close ties. In 2005, Dershowitz served as Epstein's lawyer in a Florida case after Epstein was accused of having sexually abused and molested several middle school and high school-aged girls in the Palm Beach area.
Dershowitz’s lawsuit, which was filed last Wednesday, explains that Dershowitz was misled in his appearance in the documentary. Dershowitz’s lawsuit explains that the production company, Radical Media, along with director Bryant promised Dershowitz that the docuseries would include evidence he provided that refuted Giuffre’s claims of sex trafficking. Instead, Dershowitz argues the docuseries painted him in a dishonest light by leaving that evidence out. The prominent lawyer contends that the storyline of the docuseries leaned into a “he said/she said'' narrative and ignored the facts provided by the alleged evidence.
The lawsuit explains that “To have presented that evidence in ‘Filthy Rich,’ as had been promised, would have undercut the credibility” of Giuffre’s lawyers on whose “comments” ‘Filthy Rich’ depended upon.”
The lawsuit also explains, “Giuffre’s accusations that she had sex with Professor Dershowitz are categorically false, and Professor Dershowitz has denied and disproved the accusations — including under oath subject to the penalties of perjury.”
Dershowitz himself went on to describe Giuffre as “a serial liar who has deliberately made up stories about me and others in the hopes of cashing in on millions of dollars.”
A spokesman for Netflix responded to Dershowitz’s lawsuit by stating, “Mr. Dershowitz’s lawsuit is without merit, and we will vigorously defend our partners and the series.”
As part of his defamation lawsuit against the streaming service and the producers, Dershowitz is seeking $20 million in damages. In addition to being a cornerstone of this lawsuit against Netflix, Giuffre is in a separate defamation legal battle in the New York federal courts system with Dershowitz.
Dershowitz is also entangled in yet another legal battle in the federal court in Miami in which Dershowitz is suing CNN over their coverage of statements the lawyer made in connection to Trump's impeachment trial. During the trial, Dershowitz served as Trump's legal representation.
