Context:

The Michael Jackson Estate is facing a civil lawsuit from Cascio family members alleging sex trafficking and child sexual abuse by the late pop icon, with claims the abuse began when victims were as young as seven or eight and occurred on international trips. The filing accuses Jackson of grooming the siblings via gifts and access to his lifestyle, aided by a support system that concealed the conduct, and seeks substantial damages, reportedly around $200 million. The case highlights broader disputes over past settlements and the estate’s handling of finances, while the estate’s attorney decries the suit as extortion and forum-shopping. A court hearing is slated for March 5 as the family presses to void earlier financial agreements. The developments underscore a volatile intersection of legacy, wealth, and unresolved abuse allegations in a high-profile family dispute.

Dive Deeper:

• Siblings Frank Cascio, Dominic Cascio, Marie-Nicole Porte, and Aldo Cascio filed the lawsuit against The Michael Jackson Company, alleging sex trafficking of children by force, fraud, or coercion over a decade.

• The plaintiffs claim Jackson groomed them with gifts and access to celebrity lifestyle, isolating them from family before abusing them, with alleged incidents occurring on international trips across multiple countries.

• The case alleges sexual abuse began when some victims were seven or eight years old, with abuse described through the lens of drugs and coercive control, including exposure to pornography.

• The Cascio family previously received a financial settlement of about $690,000 annually for five years; they contend that amount was insufficient and are seeking hundreds of millions in damages in the current suit.

• Legal representation includes Mark Geragos and Howard King, with the estate’s attorney Marty Singer characterizing the suit as an extortionate bid for money and criticizing the plaintiffs’ prior public statements defending Jackson.

• TMZ and Page Six are cited as reporting details of the allegations, including locations (Switzerland, Florida, South Africa, United Kingdom) and the claimed use of drugs like Xanax and Vicodin by Jackson.

• A follow-up court hearing was scheduled for March 5 as the family seeks to void the prior financial settlement, intensifying the probate-era dispute surrounding Jackson’s estate.