The accusers’ lawyer believes that Michael Jackson’s companies want a trial after the release of the biopic because they ” rewrite history “.
Michael Jackson’s two accusers featured in documentary Leaving Neverland (2019) won the right to consolidate their negligence lawsuits against Michael Jackson’s companies into one case and are pushing for the trial to take place early next year, before the April 2025 release of the biopic Michael, directed by Antoine Fuqua.
A judge granted consolidation to plaintiffs Wade Robson and James Safechuck during a hearing Wednesday in Beverly Hills, California. The plaintiffs’ attorney said he believes defendants MJJ Productions and MJJ Ventures (both now owned by the estate) are seeking a trial well beyond the February 2025 deadline because the biopic is expected to be largely flattering. (Executors are listed as producers).
“ They want the Michael Jackson biopic released before the trial. That’s what I thinksays attorney John C. Carpenter at WECB. These companies that facilitated the abuse in the first place are rewriting history. »
A lawyer for Jackson’s companies said during the hearing that her clients planned to waive the three-year speedy trial rule because she believed the case would not be ready for trial by jurors until December 2026 She added that the trial would likely last more than 20 days, with dozens of witnesses.
Robson, a choreographer and director, and Safechuck, a writer, actor and director, sued MJJ Productions and MJJ Ventures for negligence, breach of duty and intentional infliction of emotional distress in separate lawsuits in 2013 and 2014 respectively. They won the right to sue together Wednesday after their previously dismissed complaints were revived by an appeals ruling over the summer. The August ruling established that companies may have their own duty to protect victims, even if they are “ exclusive property » from an alleged perpetrator of abuse.
A follow-up hearing has been set for June 5. Attorneys for the Jackson companies did not respond to a request for comment.
“ This case dates back 35 years. There has been a lot of related litigation.”, defense attorney Jennifer L. Keller said in court Wednesday, as she argued for the case to be transferred to a new unit charged with handling complex litigation. She cited what she called ” the highly unusual nature of the pleadings that Mr. Jackson’s entities should be held liable for failing to exercise adequate supervision ” and said the court should “ tackle ” Has ” very difficult legal questions “.
“ I don’t think the matter is complex. It’s definitely old, but I think we can fix it quicklyreplied Mr. Carpenter. Most of the investigations have already been done in the Robson case, so I think we’re almost ready to go. Both children were abused at the same time, so there is significant overlap. When it comes to injuries, the evidence is different. But the responsibility is the same. These are two boys who were abused. »
Jackson’s estate has denied the allegations in the lawsuit. In an interview given in 2019 to WECB, Jackson’s family members claimed that Robson and Safechuck were making false statements for financial gain. “ It’s a question of money said Marlon Jackson.
