Michael Jackson Abuse Accusers Appear in Court as Judge Rules Lawsuit Likely Barred by Past Settlement

 Michael Jackson Abuse Accusers Appear in Court as Judge Rules Lawsuit Likely Barred by Past Settlement

Michael Jackson Abuse Accusers Appear in Court as Judge Rules Lawsuit Likely Barred by Past Settlement

Four siblings who claim Michael Jackson abused them as children appeared in a Los Angeles courtroom on Wednesday, Jan. 14, where a judge noted a previous settlement will likely prevent them from suing the “Thriller” icon’s estate, according to multiple outlets.

Frank, Aldo, Marie-Nicole, Dominic and Eddie Cascio previously defended Jackson against allegations of child abuse for decades before alleging they faced grooming, manipulation and molestation at the hands of Jackson during time spent with him in childhood. Their abuse claims came after the release of 2019’s Leaving Neverland docuseries.

The siblings (sans Eddie) traveled to L.A. with their parents for the Jan. 14 hearing, per the outlets, in an attempt to nullify a 2020 settlement their lawyer Mark Geragos claimed was “unlawful” in court documents filed days beforehand.

At the hearing, per Rolling Stone, a judge chose not to immediately rule on a petition filed by Jackson’s estate lawyer Marty Singer requesting the Cascios enter confidential arbitration, as required by the previous settlement agreement.

Michael Jackson in Pasadena in January 1993.

Steve Granitz/Getty

Rolling Stone reported Singer said in the courtroom that the siblings agreed on a deal with Jackson’s estate in 2020 before renegotiating for more money. He claimed they would go against the original agreement by filing a lawsuit publicly.

“We categorically dispute these claims [of abuse by Jackson],” he said, per Rolling Stone. “The reason this case is going forward is because there was an extortion demand of $213 million last summer.”

Lawyer Mark Geragos, who represents the Cascios, has claimed to PEOPLE the family members felt coerced into the agreement.

In October, per court documents, Geragos also claimed the agreement was “unenforceable” since it was meant to cover up abuse.

In a tentative ruling ahead of the Jan. 14 hearing, Rolling Stone reported, the judge said the court was prepared to compel arbitration. Geragos expressed in court that he felt “passionately” the tentative ruling was “wrong on the law.”

PEOPLE has reached out to both sides’ legal teams for comment.

After the Jan. 14 hearing, during which Rolling Stone and TMZ reported one of the siblings was seen crying, Geragos said in a statement to USA Today, “The family traveled to court to see for themselves Mr. Singer and Mr. Branca on behalf of the estate call them liars just five years after Mr. Branca paid the Cascio family in a secret deal because he believed they were truth tellers.”

Lawyer Howard King, who also represents the Cascios, told TMZ he has 10 hours of video footage featuring sworn testimony from the siblings detailing “horrific abuse” from Jackson. He also claimed Singer has seen portions of the testimony. 

Singer also gave a statement to USA Today and said King was “outright” lying. “I never made any of the statements that he claims were made,” he told the outlet.

“My co-counsel Jonathan Steinsapir, who was with me confirms that the statement made by Mr. King is a complete fabrication,” continued Singer. “Mr. King is simply trying to deflect from the fact that he communicated in an extortionate demand of $213 million which is the subject of our client's extortion claim pending against Frank Cascio and was reported to the authorities.”

Another hearing is set for March 5.

via