Michael Jackson’s child sex trafficking lawsuit TOSSED OUT of court; Judge sends dispute to arbitration

Federal Judge Directs Cascio Family Lawsuit Against Michael Jackson Estate to Arbitration

LOS ANGELES, CA – August 12, 2023 – A federal judge has decisively thrown out a child sex trafficking lawsuit brought by four members of the Cascio family against the estate of Michael Jackson, ruling that the dispute must be resolved through confidential arbitration as per a prior settlement agreement. The decision, delivered on Wednesday, August 12, by US District Judge Hernan D. Vera, underscores the enforceability of arbitration clauses in previously reached legal settlements.

The lawsuit, filed by Edward, Dominic, Marie-Nicole, and Aldo Cascio, alleged child sex trafficking and abuse by the late pop superstar. However, Judge Vera sided with the Jackson estate, determining that the terms of a 2019 settlement agreement between the Cascio family and the estate mandate that all related disputes be handled in confidential arbitration, rather than in public court proceedings.

Cascio Siblings Challenge 2019 Settlement

The allegations from the four Cascio siblings first surfaced publicly in 2019, following the release of the HBO documentary ‘Leaving Neverland.’ This documentary featured similar allegations of sexual abuse against Jackson by Wade Robson and James Safechuck, which the Cascio siblings stated prompted them to re-evaluate their own past experiences with the singer.

Subsequently, the siblings reached a settlement with the Jackson estate in 2019, receiving USD 3.5 million. It is crucial to note that, as part of this agreement, the estate did not admit to any wrongdoing.

The Cascio siblings later sought to challenge this 2019 agreement, contending that it was allegedly ‘invalid and unenforceable’ because they claimed to have been coerced into signing it. In their most recent lawsuit, the family had aimed to pursue their allegations in federal court, invoking applicable laws that they believed superseded the previous settlement.

Conversely, the Jackson estate steadfastly maintained that the current claims were explicitly covered by the arbitration provision embedded within the 2019 settlement agreement.

Judge Upholds Arbitration Clause

In his ruling, Judge Vera emphasized the court’s limited discretion in such matters. "Although the allegations are horrific," Judge Vera wrote, "the court is without discretion to do aught but enforce the language of the arbitration clause." This statement highlights the legal principle of upholding contractual agreements, even in the face of grave allegations.

The plaintiffs, who had previously described themselves as part of Jackson’s "second family," had filed the lawsuit alleging that the late singer sexually abused them during their childhood over a period spanning more than a decade.

Jackson Estate Denies Allegations

The Jackson estate has consistently and vehemently denied the allegations made by the Cascio siblings. Their stance has remained firm throughout the various legal proceedings initiated by the family.

In a related development earlier this year, another California court directed a separate lawsuit involving the Cascio siblings’ brother, Frank Cascio, to arbitration. This decision was also made under the terms of the same 2019 settlement agreement, reinforcing the estate’s consistent application of the arbitration clause across multiple claims from the family.

Michael Jackson, who died in 2009, faced allegations of child sexual abuse during his lifetime. He was famously acquitted of all charges in a high-profile 2005 criminal trial. Additionally, he had reached a civil settlement with an earlier accuser in 1994, without admitting any wrongdoing at that time.

The latest ruling by Judge Vera serves as a significant legal victory for the Michael Jackson estate, affirming the binding nature of the 2019 settlement and directing these sensitive and serious claims away from public litigation and into the confidential realm of arbitration.