The complex legal legacy of Virginia Giuffre, who gained international prominence for her allegations against Prince Andrew and Jeffrey Epstein, has taken a significant step forward with an Australian court appointing an interim administrator for her estate.
Court Intervention in Multi-Million Pound Estate
The Western Australia Supreme Court has appointed lawyer Ian Torrington Blatchford to take interim control of Giuffre's estate following her death in April at age 41. The estate is believed to be worth millions and likely includes remaining funds from her reported £12 million out-of-court settlement with Prince Andrew in 2022.
Giuffre died without a valid will at her small farm 80km north of Perth, creating legal complications that stalled multiple lawsuits. The court's decision means these proceedings, stretching from Perth to New York, can now resume with Blatchford acting as the estate's legal representative at A$400 per hour.
Family Dispute and Legal Challenges
Court documents reveal that Giuffre's sons, Christian and Noah, had initially sought administration of their mother's intestate estate. However, this bid faced legal challenges from Giuffre's lawyer, Karrie Louden, and her housekeeper, Cheryl Myers, who contested the brothers being granted authority over the estate.
The appointment of an independent administrator resolves this family dispute and provides clarity for the numerous legal matters involving Giuffre's estate. The court orders specifically note that Blatchford is authorised to act as Giuffre's legal personal representative in any proceedings existing before her death.
Revival of High-Profile Lawsuits
Among the most significant cases affected by Giuffre's death was the US$10 million defamation lawsuit filed by Rina Oh in October 2021. Oh, who claims she was also abused by Jeffrey Epstein, alleged that Giuffre's social media posts, memoir, and podcast statements wrongly portrayed her as Epstein's accomplice rather than a victim.
Oh told The Guardian before Blatchford's appointment: "I still suffer from post-traumatic stress disorder, especially when I am asked to provide more documents and go through the discovery materials and looking at the court documents. I get flashbacks. We were waiting for the estate to be established. It has been six years, and I just want it over."
The legal battle involved cross-lawsuits in New York courts, including a December 2022 counter-action filed by Giuffre alleging that Oh played an abusive role within Epstein's circle. Oh strongly denies these allegations.
Broader Legal Legacy and Ongoing Investigations
The WA Supreme Court orders detail four specific legal proceedings involving Giuffre's estate:
- The defamation case against Rina Oh
- A 2015 defamation lawsuit against Ghislaine Maxwell that was resolved in Giuffre's favour
- An arbitration involving US attorney Alan Dershowitz, whom Giuffre sued for defamation before dropping the case in 2022
- Matters concerning Giuffre's memoir "Nobody's Girl", co-written with journalist Amy Wallace
Meanwhile, Western Australian police continue their investigation into Giuffre's death, with major crime detectives preparing a report for the coroner. A police spokesperson confirmed that her death is not being treated as suspicious, despite claims from her father, Sky Roberts, who publicly stated he didn't believe she committed suicide.
The coroner's court has not provided a timeframe for completing investigations into the circumstances surrounding Giuffre's death on her remote West Australian property.
