Cascio siblings file federal lawsuit in opposition to Jackson property
*4 members of the Cascio household, as soon as shut buddies of Michael Jackson, filed a federal lawsuit Feb. 27, accusing the late pop star of intercourse trafficking and youngster sexual abuse spanning greater than a decade.
Edward Cascio, Dominic Cascio, Marie Porte, and Aldo Cascio allege Jackson “drugged, raped and sexually assaulted” them starting when some have been as younger as 7 or 8 years outdated, in keeping with courtroom paperwork obtained by a number of information retailers.
The lawsuit, filed in Los Angeles federal courtroom, names The Michael Jackson Firm and the property’s co-executors, John Branca and John McClain, as defendants. Claims embrace intercourse trafficking of kids by pressure, fraud, or coercion, negligence, emotional misery, breach of contract, and fraud.
Allegations element grooming, isolation, abuse
The siblings declare Jackson gained their belief by lavish items, entry to his superstar way of life, and declarations of affection earlier than isolating them from household and starting the abuse.
In keeping with the criticism, Jackson normalized the abuse by displaying the kids “pornography and footage of unclothed kids,” which he known as “candy.” The lawsuit alleges Jackson was ceaselessly underneath the affect of prescribed drugs together with Xanax and Vicodin throughout the incidents.
Alleged abuse occurred throughout interstate and worldwide journeys, together with at properties owned by Elizabeth Taylor in Switzerland and Elton John in the UK.
The siblings declare Jackson’s interior circle enabled and hid the misconduct.
Property legal professional calls lawsuit ‘determined cash seize’
Marty Singer, legal professional for the Jackson property, dismissed the lawsuit as a clear try to extort cash.
“This lawsuit is a determined cash seize by further members of the Cascio household who’ve hopped on the bandwagon with their brother Frank, who’s already in arbitration for associated claims,” Singer instructed a number of retailers.
Singer famous the household staunchly defended Jackson for greater than 25 years, together with in Frank Cascio’s 2011 e book “My Pal Michael” and interviews, during which they persistently maintained Jackson by no means harmed them.
“The household staunchly defended Michael Jackson for greater than 25 years, testifying to his innocence relating to inappropriate conduct,” Singer stated. He described the lawsuit as an try at civil extortion.
Earlier settlement now deemed insufficient
The siblings beforehand obtained funds from the property — reportedly $690,000 per 12 months for 5 years — following the 2019 HBO documentary “Leaving Neverland.” They now argue that quantity was inadequate.
Their legal professional, Howard King, instructed TMZ his shoppers imagine they deserve $200 million.
Broader context
Jackson died in 2009 at age 50. He was by no means criminally convicted of kid sexual abuse and was acquitted of all costs in his 2005 trial.
The Cascios’ shift from defenders to accusers has drawn skepticism in some circles given their previous involvement in Jackson-related initiatives, together with alleged pretend songs on a posthumous album.
The case is in early phases with no trial date set. The property is anticipated to push for arbitration or dismissal primarily based on the household’s earlier statements defending Jackson.
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