What next for Prince Andrew? US sex assault lawsuit explained

A US judge has ruled that a sexual assault lawsuit brought against Britain's Prince Andrew, seen in November 2019, can move forward

Britain's Prince Andrew is stuck between a rock and a hard place: He either settles out of court with his sexual assault accuser or endures a grilling by lawyers under oath, experts say.

After New York judge Lewis Kaplan ruled Wednesday that Virginia Giuffre's civil lawsuit against the royal can proceed, AFP takes a look at the possible next steps in the case rocking Britain's monarchy.

Yes. His attorneys can ask the Second Circuit Court of Appeals to overturn Kaplan's decision.

An appeal would delay proceedings. The clock is already ticking on the submission of evidence and it would buy Andrew more time.

A deadline of January 14 has been set for the parties to file "letters rogatory," which are formal requests for assistance from a court in one country to another court in a foreign country.

He has told both sides to complete discovery by July 14. Discovery is the exchanging of information that is to be presented at trial, including emails and text messages, and includes depositions under oath.

Once he is deposed he would have to sit down and answer questions by Giuffre's attorneys. It would likely happen in Britain.

Andrew's answers would be submitted as evidence in the event of a jury trial to settle Giuffre's claim for unspecified damages.

- How can he get out of testifying? -

Lawyers for both sides would have to thrash out terms, including how much the prince would pay Giuffre and whether there would be a clause stipulating that the agreement doesn't mean an admission of guilt.

If Giuffre and Andrew do not settle then the case will proceed to a civil trial that Kaplan has said would likely occur between September and December this year. There, a jury would decide if Andrew owes Giuffre damages. 

- Could criminal charges follow? -

Media reports in Britain say Andrew would not have diplomatic immunity but prosecutors believe it would be very difficult to get him extradited to the United States.

"I think it's time-barred and also just not practical," he told AFP.

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