Members of the Cascio family, longtime associates of Michael Jackson, filed a lawsuit against his estate last month — a move the estate’s attorney is now dismissing as a “desperate money grab.”
Edward, Dominic, Aldo Cascio, and their sister Marie-Nicole Porte submitted the lawsuit on February 27 in U.S. District Court for the Central District of California.
The filing marks the latest clash between the Cascio family and Jackson’s estate. According to USA Today, the estate previously paid several family members $2.8 million each in 2019. The estate says that settlement came after the Cascios allegedly threatened to raise new accusations unless they were paid what the estate described as “staggering sums.”
“This lawsuit is a desperate money grab by additional members of the Cascio family who have hopped on the bandwagon with their brother Frank, who is already being sued in arbitration for civil extortion,” said Marty Singer, the estate’s attorney. “This new court filing is a transparent forum-shopping tactic in their scheme to obtain hundreds of millions of dollars from Michael’s estate and companies.”
Attorney Howard King, known for representing figures like Dr. Dre and Marilyn Manson, reportedly began negotiations with a demand of $213 million. He was later replaced by Mark Geragos — a former Jackson defense lawyer who once described earlier allegations against the pop star as “a shakedown.”
Geragos is said to have lowered the demand to $40 million on behalf of the family, but the sides failed to reach an agreement. King was eventually brought back on the case, and the family moved forward by filing the lawsuit in federal court. “Still looking for their multi-million-dollar payday, the Cascios brought back Howard King and are grasping at straws through this frivolous filing,” Singer added.
The lawsuit claims that Jackson groomed and sexually abused members of the Cascio family over a period of more than ten years, starting when some of them were children. It also accuses Jackson’s companies and associates of enabling the alleged abuse and seeks financial damages from the estate and related entities.
However, members of the Cascio family had previously defended Jackson publicly.
In 2010, Eddie, Frank, and Marie-Nicole appeared on The Oprah Winfrey Show, where they were introduced as Jackson’s secret “second family.” When asked directly if Jackson had ever behaved inappropriately toward them, all three responded together: “Never, never.”
Eddie also said that Jackson “couldn’t harm a fly” and described him as “such a kind and gentle soul.” He brushed off the allegations from Jackson’s 2005 criminal trial as “ridiculous,” adding, “Michael was a target, and unfortunately, he was targeted.” Jackson was ultimately acquitted unanimously after a five-month trial.
Singer also pointed out that Frank’s 2011 memoir includes numerous passages defending Jackson, insisting that he never harmed the family or anyone else.
“Notably, these shakedown attempts come more than 15 years after Michael’s death, thus carrying no risk of being sued for defamation,” Singer said. “Sadly, in death just as in life, Michael’s talents and success continue to make him a target.”
