Four individuals who were once close family friends of Michael Jackson have launched a lawsuit against his estate and associated companies, accusing the late pop icon and his business empire of sex trafficking and prolonged abuse during their childhood.
In a federal complaint filed on Friday (Feb. 27), Edward Cascio, Dominic Cascio, Marie-Nicole Porte, and Aldo Cascio claim Michael Jackson groomed and abused them for over a decade, starting when some of them were just seven or eight years old. They allege he leveraged his celebrity status, fortune, and influence to win their trust with gifts, trips, and emotional manipulation, before isolating them and allegedly sexually assaulting them.
The lawsuit further claims that Jackson’s companies and close associates enabled the alleged misconduct. According to the plaintiffs, employees and members of his inner circle allegedly helped arrange access to the children, provided drugs and alcohol, and created situations that allowed Jackson to be alone with them during trips and at his Neverland Ranch.
Beyond accusing Jackson himself, the suit also names his estate and multiple affiliated entities, including The Michael Jackson Company, along with estate co-executors John Branca and John McClain. The plaintiffs contend these parties played a role in concealing alleged wrongdoing and later used legal agreements and financial settlements to keep them silent.
The filing lists several legal claims, including sex trafficking of minors, negligence, emotional distress, fraud, and breach of contract. The plaintiffs are requesting a jury trial and seeking monetary damages.
The Cascio siblings, once known as members of Jackson’s inner circle who publicly defended him, now allege that following the release of the HBO documentary Leaving Neverland, they attempted to pursue accountability but were instead pressured into signing agreements that offered small payouts and restricted their ability to speak out.
Michael Jackson, who died in 2009, was never criminally convicted of child sexual abuse. His estate has repeatedly denied any wrongdoing and has characterized similar allegations as false and financially driven.
