Frank Cascio and his siblings accuse Michael Jackson of manipulating, deliberately influencing and sexually abusing them for decades. From the late 1980s until his death in 2009. On Wednesday, they appeared with their parents in a Beverly Hills courtroom to have an alleged “settlement agreement” with the pop star’s estate declared null and void. They describe this as an “illegal agreement to silence victims of child sexual abuse.”
A judge heard arguments from both sides. But he declined to make an immediate decision on the estate’s request to force the Cascios into confidential arbitration.
Marty Singer, attorney for Michael Jackson’s estate, said in court that members of the Cascio family signed an initial agreement in January 2020 but later renegotiated it for “significantly more money up front.” They were now attempting to file a public lawsuit that violated the original agreement’s arbitration and confidentiality clauses.
Dispute over settlement and confidentiality
“We categorically deny these allegations,” Singer said in court, referring to allegations that Jackson sexually abused all five children in the Cascio family. “The reason this case is moving forward now is because of a $213 million extortion claim last summer.”
Mark Geragos, an attorney for the Cascios, told the court he was “deeply convinced” that the judge’s preliminary assessment – made before the hearing and holding out the prospect of forcing arbitration – was “legally incorrect and contrary to current legislative trends.” In briefs before the hearing, Geragos argued that the Cascios were pressured into signing the agreements.
“The rushed process was designed, and actually resulted, to exploit the shock and trauma of the Cascio siblings when they realized that this had happened to all of them. Without them knowing about each other and contrary to what they had been told,” Geragos wrote in a filing in October. “At this vulnerable time, before the Cascios could fully process what had happened, the estate took advantage of their confusion and vulnerability by pressuring them into a detrimental agreement and misrepresenting both the extent of their rights and the consequences of refusing.” Geragos argues the agreements are unenforceable. Because they contained unacceptable confidentiality clauses that served to cover up sexual abuse.
Emotions in the courtroom
After the hearing, Geragos spoke to family members in the hallway, with one of the brothers visibly crying. “They wanted to see for themselves what attitude the estate was taking, which was basically portraying them as liars,” Geragos told Rolling Stone when asked why the relatives had traveled from the East Coast. He said the family would appeal if the judge adopted his preliminary assessment and forced arbitration.
In a remarkable twist, Geragos had previously represented Michael Jackson himself when the pop star was criminally investigated for child abuse in 2003. Jackson was charged and acquitted after a trial in 2005.
In affidavits filed in October, siblings Aldo Cascio and Marie Cascio said they remembered being with Jackson at various locations. Including at a hotel in Las Vegas when Jackson allegedly told them to “hide” when Geragos arrived for meetings. “Michael insisted that Mr. Geragos not see us or know that we were with him,” Aldo Cascio wrote.
Statements about targeted isolation
“I remember Michael giving similar instructions to my siblings and I when he met with one of his other defense attorneys, Thomas Mesereau, shortly thereafter,” Aldo continued. “At the time, I followed Michael’s instructions without question. But looking back, it was clear that he was deliberately hiding us.”
In pleadings opposing the estate’s request for arbitration, Geragos said the siblings were “brainwashed.” They believed they were something unique and “special” to Jackson and that their relationship with him was “exclusive.” Michael Jackson used “psychological conditioning” to ensure their loyalty. A turning point occurred after family members saw the documentary “Leaving Neverland” in 2019.
The documentary series was a shock for the family. It led them to share their experiences with each other, said Geragos. The focus was on Wade Robson, choreographer and director, and James Safechuck, writer, actor and director, who accuse Jackson of abusing them in the 1980s and 1990s – sometimes during overnight stays at Jackson’s Neverland Ranch. Robson only made his allegations after testifying in Jackson’s defense at the trial.
Previous defense and new statements
Frank Cascio told CourtTV during jury deliberations in the criminal trial that he “wouldn’t be here if I thought this man was a pedophile.” Robson and Cascio claim they were still under the singer’s influence during the criminal trial.
Howard King, another lawyer for the Cascio family, said after Wednesday’s hearing that he had 10 hours of recorded video and audio depositions “in which all five family members speak in detail about the horrific abuse they suffered at the hands of Michael Jackson.” The recordings were taken in 2024. “If they can silence this, it will never be made public,” King said, referring to the estate.
King also said he showed portions of the video footage to Marty Singer and another attorney for the estate. “Marty Singer told me, ‘We’re going to sort this out. This video will never see the light of day.'” Singer declined to comment as he left the courthouse Wednesday.
Frank Cascio, his sister Marie, brothers Aldo and Dominic and their parents also left the courthouse without comment. Another hearing related to the sealing of documents in the case has been scheduled for March 5.