A Civil Lawsuit Against Michael Jackson’s Estate Moves Forward
Key Allegation: The suit claims Michael Jackson sexually abused five siblings from the Cascio family, beginning when they were as young as seven years old.
A civil lawsuit filed in Los Angeles federal court in 2024 and actively pursued in 2025 alleges that the late singer Michael Jackson sexually abused five siblings from the Cascio family. The suit also accuses Jackson's estate of enabling the alleged abuse and mismanaging subsequent legal negotiations. The estate has denied the allegations, characterizing the legal action as an attempt to obtain financial compensation.
The Plaintiffs and Defendants
The lawsuit was filed by siblings Dominic Savini Cascio, Edward Joseph Cascio, Marie-Nicole Porte, and Aldo Cascio. A fifth sibling is listed in one report but is noted as unable to participate in the lawsuit. The defendants named in the complaint include Michael Jackson's estate, estate attorneys John Branca and John McLain, and private investigator Herman Weisberg.
Allegations of Abuse
The plaintiffs allege that Jackson sexually abused them over a period of years, beginning when they were approximately 7 or 8 years old and continuing into their teenage years. The alleged abuse is said to have occurred during concert tours and at the family home in New Jersey.
The complaint states that Jackson used code words, including "Yogi Tea" and "Jesus Juice," to conceal the abuse and that he supplied alcohol and pornography to the children. The plaintiffs claim that Jackson's handlers and security systems enabled the alleged abuse by not intervening.
Background of the Cascio-Jackson Relationship
The Cascio family met Jackson through the father, Dominic Cascio, who owned a hotel in Manhattan where Jackson stayed. The family was described as Jackson's "second family." For over 25 years, the siblings and their parents publicly defended Jackson against prior molestation allegations, including statements made on television programs.
In 2019, following the release of the HBO documentary Leaving Neverland, the Jackson estate reached a financial settlement with the family. According to reports, the agreement paid each of the five siblings approximately $2.8 million over five years, or roughly $690,000 per year.
Changing Allegiance: The plaintiffs now allege that estate attorneys Howard Weitzman and Bryan Freedman misrepresented themselves as representing the family's interests during those negotiations. Some siblings have stated that they gained clarity regarding their own experiences after watching Leaving Neverland.
Response from the Jackson Estate
Attorney Martin Singer of Lavely & Singer, representing the estate, issued a statement calling the lawsuit "a desperate money grab" and a "shakedown attempt." The estate noted that the family had previously affirmed Jackson's innocence in interviews and in a 2011 book written by Frank Cascio.
The estate also stated that the Cascios demanded $213 million and subsequently $40 million before filing the lawsuit. In 2025, the estate filed a legal petition to compel arbitration, citing the terms of the 2019 settlement agreement.
Legal Context
The lawsuit seeks unspecified damages. The case is ongoing in federal court.