Any hopes that Prince Andrew and his legal team had that a New York judge would dismiss Virginia Giuffre's sexual assault case against him have been dashed after that request was denied. Now analysts believe Prince Andrew has two choices: settle or go to court.
It's unclear which path Prince Andrew will go down, but many believe that Virginia Giuffre will want to see him in court.
A settlement could result in a huge financial blow for Prince Andrew, though fielding questions from Giuffre's legal team would likely be even more damaging. A trial would also likely have a devastating impact on the royal family as a whole.
Any trial would take place in the autumn of 2022, only months after Queen Elizabeth will celebrate her Platinum Jubilee in June of the same year. Buckingham Palace has issued only a single sentence about the matter: "We would not comment on what is an ongoing legal matter."
Judge Lewis Kaplan detailed his rejection in 46 pages, fully denying Prince Andrew's claim that Giuffre had previously lost her right to sue. Judge Kaplan added, "For the foregoing reasons, defendant’s motion to dismiss the complaint or for a more definite statement is denied in all respects."
His ruling continued, "Given the court’s limited task of ruling on this motion, nothing in this opinion or previously in these proceedings properly may be construed as indicating a view with respect to the truth of the charges or counter-charges or as to the intention of the parties in entering into the 2009 agreement."
Legal experts are also stating that it's possible trying to have the case dismissed has actually harmed Prince Andrew's efforts as a whole. As media lawyer Mark Stephens said, "Andrew’s got no good options now. He can’t make things better so, essentially, I think he’s either going to have to engage in the trial process or he’s going to have to settle, and that may well be his least worst option."
A full trial could potentially mean that Prince Andrew would need to have several high-profile witnesses involved, including Princess Beatrice, as he's claimed that he spent the night in question with his daughter at a birthday party.
