A California appeals court has breathed new life into lawsuits brought by Wade Robson and James Safechuck, two individuals who claim they were sexually abused by Michael Jackson during their childhood years. The appeals court’s three-judge panel ruled that the lower court’s dismissal of their cases was not justified.
In their decision, the judges determined that Robson and Safechuck have valid claims against the Jackson-owned corporations named as defendants in the lawsuits, asserting that these entities had a responsibility to protect them. This legal revival was made possible by a temporary expansion of sexual abuse case parameters under a recent California law.
Wade Robson and James Safechuck gained wider recognition for sharing their stories in the 2019 HBO documentary series “Leaving Neverland.” The lawsuits, originally brought by Robson in 2013 and Safechuck in the subsequent year, were initially dismissed in 2021 by a judge who argued that the Jackson-owned corporations could not be held to the same standards of protection as institutions like the Boy Scouts or a church.
However, the appeals court disagreed with this rationale. The judges emphasized that a corporation owned by an individual responsible for facilitating child abuse should still carry an affirmative duty to safeguard those children. The higher court’s decision marks the second time these lawsuits have been revived after dismissal.
Notably, Michael Jackson, who passed away in 2009, was the sole owner and shareholder of the corporations in question. Despite the legal battles, his estate continues to maintain his innocence and contest the allegations brought forth by Robson and Safechuck.
While the revived lawsuits do not directly address the veracity of the allegations, they pave the way for a future jury trial in Los Angeles to determine the ultimate outcome. This latest development underscores the ongoing controversy and legal proceedings surrounding Michael Jackson’s legacy and allegations of child sexual abuse.
Follow “Michael Jackson”
Written by:
Dana Sterling-Editor
