Michael Jackson’s estate sued by four siblings over child sex trafficking allegations
Michael Jackson‘s estate is the subject of a new lawsuit, accusing the late singer of child sex trafficking and abuse.
The legal filing was made by siblings Frank, Dominic, Marie-Nicole, and Aldo Cascio in a federal court in Los Angeles on February 27th.
Per Rolling Stone, the new lawsuit comes after they previously tried to void a financial settlement last month with the estate that they claim is “an unlawful agreement to silence victims of childhood sexual abuse”.
TMZ states that the Cascios initially sought compensation from Jackson’s estate after watching Leaving Neverland in 2019. They were reportedly paid $690,000 each year for five years, which they now allegedly believe to be an inadequate sum.
Now, they have filed a new legal document, which alleges, “Michael Jackson was a serial child predator who, over the course of more than a decade, drugged, raped, and sexually assaulted each of the plaintiffs, beginning when some were as young as seven or eight.”
It claims that Jackson grew close to the Cascio family after meeting their father, who worked at a luxury hotel that he regularly frequented.
It is alleged that Jackson exposed them to drugs, alcohol, and pornography, as well as sexually abusing them individually.
According to TMZ, Edward Cascio alleges that he was abused in Elizabeth Taylor’s home in Switzerland and Elton John’s home in the UK.
The lawsuit includes claims of child sex trafficking, negligence, intentional infliction of emotional distress, breach of contract, negligent hiring, and fraud.
The Cascio family previously were staunch defenders of Jackson when he was acquitted of child sex abuse during a 2005 trial.
Marty Singer, the attorney for the Michael Jackson estate, has refuted the allegations.
Singer said of the new lawsuit in a statement shared to TMZ, “This lawsuit is a desperate money grab by additional members of the Cascio family who have hopped on the bandwagon with their brother Frank, who is already being sued in arbitration for civil extortion.”
The attorney continued, “This lawsuit is a desperate money grab by additional members of the Cascio family who have hopped on the bandwagon with their brother Frank, who is already being sued in arbitration for civil extortion.”
His statement added, “Statements by the Cascios, including those appearing in dozens of passages throughout Frank Cascio’s 2011 book, as well as in interviews with Oprah Winfrey and others, directly contradict what is being alleged now. Throughout, the Cascios consistently and repeatedly asserted that Michael never harmed any of them or anyone else.”
For help, advice or more information regarding sexual harassment, assault and rape in the UK, visit the Rape Crisis charity website. In the US, visit RAINN.
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