Michael Jackson's estate is facing fresh sexual abuse allegations from four siblings from New Jersey, who claim they were groomed and abused by the late pop star over several years. The lawsuit, filed in February in Los Angeles federal court, gained attention after the plaintiffs gave an interview to the New York Times detailing the alleged abuse and legal manipulation they say they endured.
The complaint names the Jackson estate, attorneys John Branca and John McLain, and private investigator Herman Weisberg as defendants. It alleges that the siblings were abused by Jackson while he was travelling on concert tours and in their own home in New Jersey. The plaintiffs—Edward Joseph Cascio, Dominic Savini Cascio, Marie-Nicole Porte and Aldo Cascio—say the abuse began when they were as young as seven and continued into their teenage years.
The lawsuit describes Jackson giving the siblings drugs and alcohol, exposing them to child pornography, and isolating them from responsible adults. It claims that Jackson's handlers enabled the abuse. The siblings' father met Jackson while working at a luxury hotel where the singer frequently stayed.
Representatives for the Jackson estate have dismissed the lawsuit as a “desperate money grab” and a “shakedown attempt.” Attorney Martin Singer said the family had defended Jackson for over 25 years and that the claims come more than 15 years after his death, with no risk of defamation. The lawsuit was filed on the opening day of the Jackson biopic “Michael,” which is expected to perform well at the box office.
