by Kandiss Edwards
March 11, 2026
After the verdict, Howard King, an attorney for the three Cascio siblings, released a statement saying the supposed victory was meaningless.
Michael Jackson’s estate celebrates a legal victory in a lawsuit alleging child sex trafficking. A California judge ruled that the dispute must be decided through private arbitration rather than a public court.
Lawyers for the Jackson estate argued that a previous agreement signed by members of the Cascio family required disputes arising from the allegations to be resolved through arbitration. In a statement following the ruling, probate attorney Marty Singer said the court concluded “there is a valid and binding arbitration clause” and rejected the plaintiffs’ argument that the agreement was unfair.
The plaintiffs, identified in court filings as siblings Edward, Dominic, Marie-Nicole and Aldo Cascio, claim Jackson groomed them with gifts, according to documents obtained by People. Additionally, they claim he lured her into a comfortable space with travel options and access to his celebrity lifestyle before abusing her. The lawsuit also alleges the singer provided alcohol and drugs and exposed the children to pornographic content.
After the verdict, Howard King, an attorney for the three Cascio siblings, released a statement saying the supposed victory was meaningless in the grand scheme of things. Only Frank Cascio is required to participate in the arbitration; The remaining three siblings can continue with their case, King said.
“The only issue moving to arbitration is the estate’s unfounded allegations against Frank Cascio that he attempted to extort the estate…Given that Frank was already involved in arbitration, the decision was not noteworthy. The decision has no bearing on the federal court lawsuit brought by the other four Cascio children against the Jackson companies,” he added.
Jackson’s estate has denied the allegations, describing the claims as contradicting previous public statements. The Cascio family had previously been questioned and defended the singer during his lifetime.
“Frank Cascio and his siblings have consistently and repeatedly insisted for decades that Michael Jackson did not harm them or anyone else. This includes their statements praising Michael in a nationally televised interview with Oprah Winfrey, which directly contradicts what they now claim,” Marty Singer, a Jackson estate attorney, said in a statement.
The case is just one of many legal disputes surrounding Jackson’s legacy. The pop star, who died in 2009 at the age of 50, was accused of multiple counts of child sexual abuse. However, he denied any wrongdoing and was acquitted of all criminal charges in a high-profile trial in 2005.
Although the court’s decision does not resolve the allegations themselves, the verdict significantly changes the way the case proceeds. Arbitration proceedings generally take place out of public view and are governed by different rules than traditional civil proceedings. This allows the procedure to be initiated without being heard in the court of public opinion. Although the King of Pop prevailed in his previous lawsuit, the public nature of the allegations and subsequent trial damaged both his personal and professional image. Although he is no longer alive to deal with the backlash from the allegations, his legacy remains strong.
RELATED CONTENT: Michael Jackson Biopic Taps;Human Jukebox, Sonic Boom and ;Marching 100; To honor his legacy