The legal battle between Michael Jackson’s accusers and the late pop star’s companies is heating up again. James Safechuck is scheduled to sit for a deposition on September 14, while his mother, Stephanie Safechuck, will face questioning over two days, October 15 and October 20.
Stephanie could prove to be a critical witness. She appeared prominently in the 2019 documentary Leaving Neverland, describing how Jackson became like a member of the Safechuck family after James met the singer while filming a Pepsi commercial around his ninth birthday. She called Jackson’s attention a “fairytale” and admitted she got swept up in it.
Stephanie has said she and her husband eventually allowed James to sleep in Jackson’s room. James claims that is when the alleged sexual abuse began. Stephanie later said she asked her son if anything inappropriate happened, but he denied it at the time. Her testimony could shape how the jury understands the family’s relationship with Jackson and what they knew, or didn’t know, as events unfolded.
The James Safechuck deposition Jackson lawsuit is part of a broader case. James and Wade Robson accused Jackson of molesting them as children and are suing his companies, MJJ Productions and MJJ Ventures, claiming the businesses failed to protect them. The companies have denied the allegations.
The case has bounced through the legal system for years. Initially filed in 2013 and 2014, the lawsuits were dismissed and revived multiple times. In 2024, an appellate court ruled that companies can hold an independent duty to protect potential victims — even when the alleged abuser is the sole owner. That decision cleared the path for the cases to move forward.
A trial date has been set for February 14, 2028. Both sides have agreed to extend certain deadlines, citing scheduling conflicts and limited availability of the discovery referee overseeing depositions. The plaintiffs had hoped to go to trial before the release of the Michael biopic, but repeated delays made that impossible.
