In a bid to revive dismissed lawsuits, a California appeals court will be considering the cases of two men who allege that Michael Jackson sexually abused them during their childhood. The court’s tentative decision indicates that it is inclined towards ordering the cases to be retried in a lower court. Wade Robson filed his lawsuit in 2013, followed by James Safechuck the next year. The men gained wider recognition after they shared their stories in the 2019 HBO documentary, “Leaving Neverland.” The lawsuits named MJJ Productions Inc. and MJJ Ventures Inc., both corporations solely owned by Jackson.
Previously, in 2021, Judge Mark A. Young of the Superior Court ruled that the corporations and their employees had no legal obligation to protect Robson and Safechuck from Jackson, resulting in the dismissal of the suits. However, last month, the California 2nd District Court of Appeal, in a tentative decision, overturned the judge’s ruling and ordered the cases to be retried. Today, lawyers representing the Jackson estate will try to convince the appeals court to change its course.
These lawsuits have already overcome a previous dismissal in 2017 based on the statute of limitations. The appeals court reinstated them due to a temporary expansion of sexual abuse case parameters in California law. In 2015, Jackson’s personal estate was removed as a defendant.
Robson, a 40-year-old choreographer, alleges that Jackson molested him over a period of seven years. His lawsuit claims that he was an employee of Jackson and that the two corporations had a duty to protect him, similar to how the Boy Scouts or a school would need to protect children from their leaders.
Safechuck, now 45, alleges that he met Jackson while filming a Pepsi commercial at the age of 9. He claims that Jackson frequently contacted him and showered him with gifts before engaging in a series of incidents of sexual abuse.
The Jackson estate vehemently denies the allegations, reiterating that Robson had testified in Jackson’s 2005 criminal trial stating that he had not been abused. Safechuck had also made similar statements to the authorities.
It is important to note that the Associated Press typically does not disclose the identities of individuals who claim to be victims of sexual abuse. However, Robson and Safechuck have willingly come forward and consented to the use of their names in relation to these allegations.
In summary, the California appeals court is considering reviving the dismissed lawsuits against Michael Jackson for alleged sexual abuse. The court’s tentative decision suggests a likelihood of ordering the cases back to trial. The lawsuits were brought by Wade Robson and James Safechuck, who gained public attention through the documentary “Leaving Neverland.” The lawsuits target two corporations owned by Jackson. The Jackson estate refutes the allegations and highlights past testimony from Robson and Safechuck.
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