Michael Jackson Estate Wins Round as Judge Orders Arbitration in Cascio Siblings Trafficking Case
A US federal judge has ordered the four adult Cascio siblings to pursue their child sex-trafficking claims against Michael Jackson’s estate through private arbitration rather than a public trial. The ruling is significant because it prevents the allegations from being heard by a jury in open court, while allowing the underlying dispute to continue in a confidential process.
Judge Hernán D. Vera found that an arbitration clause in the siblings’ 2019 settlement agreement was enforceable. He ruled that the 2021 Ending Forced Arbitration of Sexual Assault and Sexual Harassment Act did not apply retrospectively; the estate denies the allegations, while the siblings’ lawyer criticised the loss of a public trial.
- Judge orders private arbitration of the Cascio siblings’ claims.
- A 2019 settlement’s arbitration clause was upheld.
- Jackson’s estate continues to deny the allegations.