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Epstein Survivors Win Class Certification Against FirstBank Puerto Rico (10/23/26)
Published 5 hours ago
Description
A federal judge handed Jeffrey Epstein survivors a significant legal victory by certifying a class-action lawsuit against FirstBank Puerto Rico and its parent company, First BanCorp. Judge Jed Rakoff ruled on October 20 that the case could proceed on behalf of all women who were abused or trafficked by Epstein between January 1, 1998, and August 10, 2019, dramatically expanding the potential reach of the litigation beyond lead plaintiff Julia Molchonova. The lawsuit alleged that FirstBank maintained more than 30 accounts connected to Epstein and related entities over roughly two decades and processed millions of dollars in transactions involving Epstein, his associates and companies tied to his operations. The survivors alleged that the bank continued doing business with Epstein despite increasingly obvious warning signs surrounding his sexual abuse and trafficking and continued servicing him even as other major financial institutions eventually terminated their relationships with him.
The ruling did not find FirstBank liable, but it represented an important procedural breakthrough because survivors would now be able to pursue their claims collectively rather than being forced to litigate individual cases against the bank. Rakoff had already refused to dismiss the central claim alleging that FirstBank participated in a trafficking venture under the federal Trafficking Victims Protection Act, although he dismissed a separate claim accusing the bank of obstructing enforcement of the law. FirstBank opposed class certification and has denied the allegations, but the case will now move forward toward discovery and potentially trial or settlement with a class covering more than two decades of Epstein’s abuse. The case continued the widening effort to hold Epstein’s financial institutions accountable on the theory that his trafficking operation could not have functioned on its enormous scale without banks willing to provide accounts, move money and maintain financial relationships despite the red flags surrounding him.
to contact me:
bobbycapucci@protonmail.com
Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-epstein-chronicles--5003294/support.
The ruling did not find FirstBank liable, but it represented an important procedural breakthrough because survivors would now be able to pursue their claims collectively rather than being forced to litigate individual cases against the bank. Rakoff had already refused to dismiss the central claim alleging that FirstBank participated in a trafficking venture under the federal Trafficking Victims Protection Act, although he dismissed a separate claim accusing the bank of obstructing enforcement of the law. FirstBank opposed class certification and has denied the allegations, but the case will now move forward toward discovery and potentially trial or settlement with a class covering more than two decades of Epstein’s abuse. The case continued the widening effort to hold Epstein’s financial institutions accountable on the theory that his trafficking operation could not have functioned on its enormous scale without banks willing to provide accounts, move money and maintain financial relationships despite the red flags surrounding him.
to contact me:
bobbycapucci@protonmail.com
Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-epstein-chronicles--5003294/support.