AceShowbiz - A group of siblings known as the Cascio family has filed a federal lawsuit against the Michael Jackson estate, accusing the late King of Pop of child sex trafficking and abuse. The suit, brought by four of the five Cascio siblings—Edward, Dominic, Marie-Nicole, and Aldo—alleges that Jackson sexually abused them repeatedly during their childhoods over more than a decade.

The abuse is alleged to have taken place at various locations, including Jackson’s Neverland Ranch and while on tour for the Dangerous and HIStory world tours throughout the 1990s. The fifth sibling, Frank Cascio, has made similar claims in a separate ongoing legal case.

According to the lawsuit filed on Friday, February 27, by attorney Howard King, Jackson groomed and brainwashed the siblings. The suit asserts that after the abuse began, he isolated them emotionally and sometimes physically from adults and from each other. It claims he supplied them with drugs and alcohol, showed them pornography—including images of unclothed children—to normalize and desensitize them to the abuse. The complaint further alleges that Jackson instilled fear and distrust in the siblings, convincing them that their lives and the lives of their family members would be destroyed if anyone discovered what he was doing.

The estate’s lawyer, Marty Singer, responded on the same day, denying the accusations and describing the lawsuit as a "desperate money grab" and a "transparent forum-shopping tactic" aimed at extracting hundreds of millions of dollars from the estate and its affiliated companies.

The Cascios, who once grew up close to Michael Jackson and considered themselves his "second family," had previously been outspoken defenders of the star against allegations of pedophilia. However, after the 2019 HBO documentary Leaving Neverland brought renewed attention to claims of abuse by Jackson, the siblings reversed course and began publicly alleging they were abused by him as children.

In 2019, without admitting any wrongdoing, the Jackson estate reached a multimillion-dollar settlement with the Cascio family. This agreement included a release of all claims and a confidentiality clause. Since then, the siblings have attempted to reopen the matter, prompting the estate to file extortion claims against Frank Cascio in arbitration during 2024.

The arbitration matter spilled over into California state court last year. Frank Cascio sought to invalidate the family’s settlement, claiming they were coerced into signing without the benefit of independent legal counsel or a full understanding of the terms. The estate has rejected these claims as false. During a January hearing, a California judge indicated a probable ruling in favor of the Jackson estate, upholding the original settlement.

Now, the other four Cascio siblings are challenging the settlement in federal court, arguing that after being "deprogrammed" from Jackson’s alleged brainwashing by Leaving Neverland, they were manipulated into signing a "deceptive and unconscionable document." Their lawsuit requests a federal court order to void the settlement and seeks unspecified damages related to claims of child sex trafficking, negligence, infliction of emotional distress, breach of contract, and fraud.

The complaint states that the plaintiffs reject what they describe as the Jackson estate’s "morally bankrupt efforts to control and silence them." They intend to hold not only the estate but also its affiliates and those acting on its behalf accountable for the alleged abuse and related misconduct.

Attorney Howard King expressed that the Cascios are seeking "fair compensation for more than a decade of abuse of an entire family," adding that they hope their legal action encourages other victims and enablers to come forward and break their silence.

In contrast, Marty Singer highlighted the siblings’ prior public defense of Michael Jackson, noting that they had spent decades affirming his innocence. For instance, in a 2010 appearance on The Oprah Winfrey Show, the siblings stated that Jackson was "never" inappropriate with them. Frank Cascio also authored a 2011 memoir proclaiming that Jackson’s love for children was "innocent" and "profoundly misunderstood."

Michael Jackson, who passed away in 2009, was never convicted or held legally responsible for child sex abuse during his lifetime. He settled a civil claim in 1994 without admitting wrongdoing and was acquitted at a criminal trial in 2005. Nevertheless, allegations have persisted, particularly after Leaving Neverland detailed disturbing claims from Wade Robson and James Safechuck.

The Jackson estate has consistently denied all sexual misconduct allegations and described Leaving Neverland as a "one-sided hit job." The estate took legal action against HBO, resulting in the documentary’s removal from the streaming platform. Robson and Safechuck continue to pursue civil lawsuits against the estate.

Despite the controversy, the estate has successfully monetized Michael Jackson’s legacy. Although the star died with $500 million in debt, the estate has generated more than $3 billion through catalog deals and new live shows leveraging Jackson’s intellectual property. The estate’s upcoming project includes the release of the biopic Michael, scheduled for next month.

Marty Singer contended that the timing of these abuse allegations coincides with the estate’s financial success. He stated, "Notably, these shakedown attempts come more than 15 years after Michael’s death, thus carrying no risk of being sued for defamation." Singer added that in life and death, Michael Jackson’s extraordinary talents and achievements continue to make him a target.

The full complaint detailing the Cascio siblings’ allegations and claims is publicly available for review.