Four siblings from New Jersey have filed a lawsuit against Michael Jackson's estate, alleging that the late pop star sexually abused them as children. The plaintiffs – three brothers and a sister, now adults – claim they were groomed, drugged and assaulted over many years, beginning when some were as young as seven or eight.
The complaint, filed in Los Angeles federal court, names the Jackson estate and its lead attorneys, John Branca and John McLain, as well as private investigator Herman Weisberg. It alleges that Weisberg and other lawyers were falsely presented as representing the family's interests during settlement negotiations. The abuse is said to have occurred in various locations, including the siblings' own home in New Jersey when Jackson visited with his children.
Representatives for the estate have denounced the suit as 'a desperate money grab' and a 'shakedown attempt'. Attorney Martin Singer noted that the Cascio family had defended Jackson for more than 25 years, and that the claims come over a decade after his death, meaning there is no risk of a defamation countersuit. The filing coincides with the release of the biopic 'Michael', which opened this weekend.
The complaint details alleged methods of control, including giving the siblings drugs and alcohol, showing them child pornography, and isolating them from adults. It states: 'Jackson groomed and brainwashed each Plaintiff, without the knowledge of the others or their parents, throughout their childhood years.' The siblings came into contact with Jackson through their father, who worked at a hotel where Jackson stayed.
