Wade Robson and James Safechuck, who have long claimed that the late Michael Jackson sexually abused them during their childhood, and were prominently featured in the 2019 documentary “Leaving Neverland,” have been granted the opportunity to revive their previously dismissed lawsuits against Jackson’s estate. This development stems from a court opinion filed on Friday and obtained by CNN.
The California Second District Court of Appeal’s recent ruling determined that “a corporation that facilitates the sexual abuse of children by one of its employees is not excused from an affirmative duty to protect those children merely because it is solely owned by the perpetrator of the abuse.” The court’s summary of the ruling also emphasized the notion that dismissing the duty based solely on the corporate defendant’s singular shareholder would be unjust, leading to the reversal of the previous judgments for the corporations involved.
Robson and Safechuck both alleged instances of sexual abuse by Michael Jackson when they were minors, having initially crossed paths with the entertainer through their professional engagements. Safechuck appeared in a 1986 Pepsi commercial with Jackson when he was eight years old, while Robson, at the age of five, won a dance competition that allowed him to perform alongside Jackson in Brisbane, Australia.
The documentary “Leaving Neverland” portrayed their stories, revealing strikingly similar accounts of the alleged sexual abuse they endured. The documentary was aired on HBO and shed light on how the abuse purportedly escalated over a span of several years, accompanied by alleged pressure from Jackson to keep the events hidden.
Although Michael Jackson passed away in 2009, Robson and Safechuck sought damages from two entertainment companies that Jackson solely owned and operated for a significant portion of their existence.
The cases, consolidated within the appeals court, will now be reconsidered in a trial setting.
Jonathan Steinsapir, representing the Estate of Michael Jackson, expressed disappointment with the court’s decision, reiterating the estate’s belief in Jackson’s innocence. On the other hand, Vince William Finaldi, legal counsel for Safechuck and Robson, welcomed the appellate court’s overturning of the previous rulings. He deemed those rulings as incorrect and against California law, and he anticipated a trial on the merits with eagerness, indicating a desire for justice to be served.
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