July 10, 2025
The Michael Jackson property says Frank Cascio, defender and accuser of the singer, is making an attempt to extort tens of millions.
On July 8, Michael Jackson’s property filed a lawsuit accusing Frank Cascio of extortion.
Cascio was a former buddy and enterprise affiliate of Jackson’s. The swimsuit claims Cascio threatened to disclose false abuse allegations concerning the late singer if he was not paid as much as $213 million, Folks reported.
The swimsuit, filed in Los Angeles Superior Court docket particulars Cascio’s alleged extortion try. Representatives for the property declare Cascio met with them on the Sundown Marquis Resort swimming pool to intentionally keep away from recording units as he levied his threats. In addition they declare he acted in a threatening method designed to intimidate.
“The negotiation with Respondents morphed right into a shakedown during which Frank and his cohorts every demanded substantial quantities of cash, in any other case they threatened to concoct false allegations in opposition to Michael, which have been the alternative of their prior glowing statements about Michael that they had made in his protection over the prior many years,” the petition claims. “And so they have been free to do that as a result of there isn’t any safety in opposition to defamation for a deceased individual.”
Cascio, as soon as a defender of Jackson, recanted his assist after the discharge of the 2011 HBO documentary Leaving Neverland. After the discharge of the documentary, Cascio was paid a $3.3 million settlement. The settlement phrases included confidentiality with a purpose to defend Jackson’s kids and property from slanderous allegations. Moreover, future disputes by Cascio have been required to undergo the arbitration course of. By threatening to talk out on the alleged allegations attorneys contend Cascio is breaking the settlement.
Jackson property lawyer Martin D. Singer spoke out in opposition to the extortion and vowed to defend Jackson’s title.
“This can be a clear case of civil extortion,” Singer instructed The Blast. “We is not going to stand by as Michael Jackson’s legacy is threatened by falsehoods and monetary schemes.”
Cascio’s authorized illustration contains lawyer Mark Geragos, who the property claims renegotiated the demand. But, Geragos nonetheless calls for tens of tens of millions on behalf of his shopper and threatened additional allegations until paid.
Property executors John Branca and John McClain argue the extortion try breaches the arbitration clause and request that Cascio be compelled to maneuver ahead privately, somewhat than by public court docket paperwork
“Mr. Cascio was a part of Michael’s life for over 30 years, publicly defending him and calling himself household,” a spokesperson for the property stated in an announcement. “Now, years after Michael’s loss of life, he’s searching for to revenue from claims he as soon as rejected as false.”
As an alternative of honoring the settlement, the property claims Cascio and his authorized crew escalated their calls for to $213 million, later decreasing the quantity to $44 million. They allegedly warned they might fabricate damaging allegations publicly or leak claims to publishers until the property complied. Property executors stress that Jackson’s property is now valued at over $3 billion.
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