The Cascio siblings, Edward, Dominic, Marie-Nicole, and Aldo, sued the estate in February 2026, claiming that Jackson raped and molested them as children over a period of more than a decade. They were once close to the pop star and had described him as “second family,” even defending him when previous allegations surfaced. But in their lawsuit, they claimed that watching the 2019 HBO documentary Leaving Neverland “deprogrammed” them and made them recant their previous defense of Jackson.
The estate argued that the siblings’ claims were barred by a 2019 settlement agreement, in which the family received a reported $3.5 million but agreed to resolve all future disputes through private arbitration. The judge found that the arbitration provision was enforceable, leaving the court with no choice but to send the case to arbitration. Jackson’s estate has categorically denied the allegations.
Attorney Howard King, representing the siblings, expressed disappointment: “It’s disappointing, but not surprising, that the decision on whether the Cascios were duped into signing an unconscionable agreement will be made by an arbitrator rather than a jury”. He added, “The family had hoped the court would allow for a public trial. Instead, the family will seek justice from the dark confines of a private conference room”. The estate declined to comment.
