Four adult siblings filed a federal lawsuit Friday accusing the estate of the late pop star of child sex trafficking. Michael Jackson The suit names The Michael Jackson Company and related entities. The complaint alleges years of abuse that began when the plaintiffs were children.
Plaintiffs describe grooming and control
The plaintiffs — identified in court papers as Edward Cascio, Dominic Cascio, Marie-Nicole Porte and Aldo Cascio — say Jackson used fame and money to groom them. They claim he isolated them from adults, gave drugs and alcohol, and exposed them to pornography. The suit describes assaults in multiple countries and private homes. The filing seeks damages exceeding $200 million, according to the family’s attorney.
One passage in the complaint recounts alleged abuse beginning when some plaintiffs were as young as seven. The siblings say they feared retaliation if they spoke. The suit also seeks to void a prior settlement, which plaintiffs’ lawyers called unlawful.
Marty Singer, an attorney for the estate, rejected the allegations in blunt terms. He told media outlets, “This lawsuit is a desperate money grab by additional members of the Cascio family.” The estate noted past statements in which some family members previously defended Jackson.
The estate said earlier legal steps protect it from some claims. A judge in January suggested a prior settlement could bar new lawsuits. But the new complaint asks a court to set that settlement aside. The parties will return to court in early March for related hearings.
Jackson died in 2009. His career and finances remain tied to ongoing litigation. The estate has faced multiple suits alleging abuse. Some of those claims produced high-profile trials and settlements in recent years. The new filing adds another chapter to a long legal record.
Lawyers for the siblings said their clients delayed filing to protect themselves. Their attorney described the complaint as the start of a bid for accountability. “They deserve justice and a chance to be heard,” the plaintiffs’ counsel said in a statement.
The estate did not immediately file a detailed court response. Federal filings list the Los Angeles federal courthouse as the venue. Court calendars show motions and hearings stemming from the complaint.