Michael Jackson estate lawsuit moved to private arbitration

A federal judge in California has ruled that a child sex trafficking and abuse lawsuit filed against the Michael Jackson estate must be resolved through confidential arbitration rather than a public trial.

Judge Hernán D. Vera dismissed the claims brought by four siblings—Edward, Dominic, Marie-Nicole, and Aldo Cascio—citing a 2019 settlement agreement. The judge noted that while the allegations are “horrific,” the court is bound to enforce the arbitration clause contained within that agreement.

The Cascio siblings, who once considered themselves part of Jackson’s “second family,” alleged they were groomed and abused by the late singer over a decade. They claimed their perspective changed following the release of the HBO documentary “Leaving Neverland.”

The siblings argue that the 2019 settlement, which included a $3.5 million payment from the estate without an admission of wrongdoing, is void because they were coerced into signing it. Attorney Howard King expressed disappointment with the ruling, stating the family had hoped for a public trial and a jury to hear the case.