“We were brainwashed,” said Eddie Cascio, one of the plaintiffs in a new lawsuit against Michael Jackson’s estate. Multiple siblings from the Cascio family claim they were groomed to defend the late pop star from allegations of sexual abuse. They filed the suit after initially defending him for over 25 years.
The siblings allege that Jackson manipulated them into supporting him during his life, particularly regarding child abuse allegations. They met Jackson through their father, Dominic Cascio Sr., who managed the Helmsley Palace in Manhattan. In 2020, they reached a settlement with Jackson’s estate, receiving roughly 16 million dollars.
According to the lawsuit, the Cascio siblings claim they were brainwashed and groomed by Jackson. Their new legal action seeks to address what they describe as years of manipulation. “This new court filing is a transparent forum-shopping tactic in their scheme to obtain hundreds of millions of dollars from Michael’s estate and companies,” said attorney Marty Singer.
The siblings are not alone in their claims. Michael Jackson faced numerous accusations of child sexual abuse throughout his career. His legacy remains controversial, especially following the release of documentaries like Leaving Neverland.
Jackson also had a notable incident in 1984 when he sustained severe burns during a Pepsi commercial accident. He received an out-of-court settlement worth 1.5 million dollars after that incident.
The Jackson estate plans to request that the lawsuit be dismissed or placed on hold while arbitration continues. The next expected development will focus on whether the court allows the case to proceed.
