Lawyers have begun searching for survivors of sex trafficker Jeffrey Epstein’s abuse following a successful lawsuit against Bank of America for ignoring Epstein’s suspicious financial transactions. Up to 75 women may be eligible for compensation under the $72.5 million settlement. The bank continues to deny wrongdoing but has agreed to settle to “put this matter behind us.” Bank of America is the third major banking institution to settle with survivors.

The bank “recklessly” ignored warning signs 

The lawsuit, filed by a woman identified as “Jane Doe,” accused the bank of ignoring suspicious financial activity linked to Epstein’s trafficking network. Her lawyers further claimed that the bank provided Epstein with wire transfers and cash withdrawal services that helped fund his sex-trafficking operations.

The case is part of a broader wave of lawsuits targeting institutions accused of enabling Epstein’s abuse. Earlier settlements underscore the scale of the issue. JPMorgan Chase agreed to pay $290 million, while Deutsche Bank paid $75 million to resolve similar claims. Legal experts say these cases hinge on whether institutions knowingly benefited from or ignored red flags tied to trafficking.  

Al Jazeera reports on the statement of the presiding judge: 

While it’s perhaps extremely likely that the victims of Jeffrey Epstein’s monstrous acts can never be fully compensated, the victims are entitled to receive just compensation from any person or entity that knowingly, recklessly or otherwise unlawfully facilitated his sexual trafficking. 

Presiding judge Jed Rakoff has pushed for broad outreach to ensure victims are not excluded while also stressing limits to liability. Importantly, he emphasized the need to notify as many survivors as possible, saying efforts should ensure “nobody is left out.

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