A federal judge in New York granted preliminary approval Tuesday to a $35 million settlement agreement between Jeffrey Epstein's estate and accusers who filed a lawsuit against two of the late financier's advisers.

U.S. District Judge Arun Subramanian signed the preliminary approval for the agreement, which requires Epstein's estate to pay up to $35 million to settle claims in the lawsuit. The legal action accused two of Epstein's advisers of intentionally assisting and facilitating his sex trafficking of women and underage girls.

The settlement represents the latest legal resolution stemming from the extensive civil litigation that followed Epstein's 2019 death in federal custody. Epstein had been awaiting trial on federal sex trafficking charges when he died by suicide in a Manhattan jail cell.

The preliminary approval allows the settlement process to move forward, though final court approval will be required before any payments are distributed to the accusers. The agreement specifically targets claims against Epstein's advisers rather than the estate's broader legal obligations.

Epstein's estate has faced numerous lawsuits from women who alleged they were sexually abused by the financier, often when they were minors. The estate has previously reached settlements in other cases as part of efforts to resolve the extensive litigation surrounding Epstein's crimes.