PRINCE Andrew’s legal team says his sexual abuse lawsuit should be thrown out – because it wasn’t properly filed.
Hollywood legal eagle Andrew B. Brettler has tonight represented the royal in a New York court.
And he argued the case made by accuser Virginia Roberts Giuffre’s team should be thrown out.
Just hours after it was reported that US lawyers for Andrew would stonewall tonight’s hearing altogether, Mr Brettler was appointed to the duke’s team in a “very last-minute and 11th-hour” U-turn.
He said tonight that Andrew was not properly served with the lawsuit – rendering it null and void.
Ms Robert’s lawyers insist the royal has been served court papers in accordance with English and international law.
They say a copy of the summons was left with police at the gate of Windsor Royal Lodge on August 27.
However, Andrew’s team say correct procedure wasn’t followed – as the papers should be served through a British court official.
Manhattan federal court judge Lewis Kaplan has asked Ms Robert’s legal team to detail their efforts to serve the prince, 61, with the papers.
At the hearing tonight, David Boies, for Ms Roberts, told the court the team served papers “in several ways”, including delivering it directly to Andrew’s last-known address.
He added: “We would ask the court to grant an alternative means of service in the interests of moving the lawsuit along.”
Mr Brettler replied: “We do contest the validity of service” – adding that the High Court in the UK will have to determine if the Duke has been properly served.
And he blasted the claim against Andrew as “baseless, non-viable and potentially unlawful”.
The judge told Mr Boies he has a week to find an alternative means of serving the papers.
However, he also warned Mr Brettler that the case against the royal “will be litigated” in the US – regardless of a High Court intervention.
In a notice submitted to the court today by the royal’s legal team, it was revealed that Andrew had hired Mr Brettler to argue his case.
ROYAL HIRES STAR LAWYER
The lawyer attended the pre-trial hearing, which began at 9pm UK time, “for the purpose for contesting purported service of process and challenging jurisdiction.”
Mr Brettler also represents actor Armie Hammer, who has been accused of rape.
In addition, he took on a number of cases after the #MeToo movement, and has represented Danny Masterson of That 70s Show, singer Ryan Adams and performer Chris Brown.
He is based in LA, with an office an hour-and-a-half from Meghan Markle and Prince Harry’s Montecito home.
Ms Roberts claims she was trafficked by Andrew’s former friend and convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein to have sex with the prince.
At the time of the allegation, she says she was 17 – a minor under US law.
DUKE AT BALMORAL
Prince Andrew vehemently denies the allegation.
He took part in a shooting party yesterday – and remains cloistered at the Queen’s private 550-acre Balmoral estate tonight.
Those invited to the Scottish retreat are thought to have included the Crown Prince of Bahrain, 51, who is linked to human rights abuses in his home country.
The Prince stated in a disastrous Newsnight interview in 2019 that he had “no recollection” of meeting Ms Roberts.
He told Emily Maitlis: “I can absolutely categorically tell you it never happened.”
Royal aides are said to be furious he fled his Windsor home last week and arrived at his mum’s summer home.
They fear it makes it look to Brits as if the monarch is harbouring him.
A spokesperson for Andrew has refused to comment.
