Uma ação judicial sobre tráfico sexual de crianças contra o espólio de Michael Jackson foi rejeitada pelo tribunal.
Quatro irmãos – Edward, Dominic, Marie-Nicole e Aldo Cascio – acusaram o falecido cantor de abuso em uma ação judicial neste mês de fevereiro, de acordo com o Billboard.
No entanto, o espólio de Jackson nega fortemente essas acusações.
The Cascios grew up with Jackson and once referred to themselves as his “second family”, according to the outlet.
Despite the family members having previously defended the star against pedophilia claims, the siblings alleged that Jackson raped and molested them as children over the course of more than 10 years.
They first spoke out about the claims in 2019 following the release of the HBO documentary Leaving Neverland, in which James Safechuck and Wade Robson alleged that Jackson sexually abused them as children.
His estate has continually denied these allegations, too.
Now, Judge Hernán D. Vera has thrown the Cascios’ accusations out of a public courtroom. The federal judge explained that, under the terms of a 2019 settlement between the family and Jackson’s estate, all related disputes must go through confidential arbitration.
Vera escreveu: Embora as alegações sejam horríveis, o tribunal não tem discricionariedade para fazer outra coisa senão aplicar a linguagem da cláusula de arbitragem.
The four members of the Cascio family reportedly claimed privately after Leaving Neverland‘s release that the two-part doc had “deprogrammed” them, as well as their fifth sibling Frank.
Ontem (quarta-feira, 12 de agosto), a juíza Vera reconheceu que as alegações na ação judicial eram sérias, mas decidiu que elas não pertenciam a uma sala de tribunal pública de acordo com os termos do acordo.
Ele escreveu: Enquanto os autores estão totalmente dentro de seus direitos para levantar questões sobre a falta de equidade, esses desafios devem ser apresentados posteriormente perante um árbitro.
Similarly, in a separate ruling in March, a different judge said Frank’s signature on the same settlement agreement required arbitration of all further disputes.
The Cascios’ lawyer, Howard King, responded to yesterday’s decision by saying it was “disappointing, but not surprising”. He continued, claiming that the family had been “duped into signing an unconscionable agreement”.
Referring to the ruling that the decision would now be made by an arbitrator rather than a jury of peers, King said: “Instead, the family will seek justice from the dark confines of a private conference room.”.
Martin Singer, a lawyer for Jackson’s estate, previously described the lawsuit as a “desperate money grab”, saying the siblings had “hopped on the bandwagon with their brother Frank, who is already being sued in arbitration for civil extortion”.
Os irmãos disseram durante uma aparição em 2010 no The Oprah Winfrey Show que Jackson nunca foi inapropriado com eles (via Billboard). Enquanto isso, Frank escreveu em sua memória de 2011, My Friend Michael: An Ordinary Friendship With An Extraordinary Man: “O amor de Michael pelas crianças era inocente, e foi profundamente mal entendido”.
Earlier this summer, James Safechuck and Wade Robson from Leaving Neverland were given a new trial date for 2028.
Safechuck previously shared a statement in support of child sex abuse survivors amid the release of the Jackson biopic Michael. Dan Reed, who directed Leaving Neverland, claimed this spring that the late singer was “worse than Jeffrey Epstein”, while also questioning why Michael failed to address the abuse allegations.
For more help, advice or more information regarding sexual harassment, assault and rape in the UK, visit the Rape Crisis charity website. In the US, visit RAINN.
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Fontes
Informação baseada em material público de NME, reescrito pela redação ULTRA NOTÍCIAS.
