2025
January 03 : Frank Cascio’s lawyer, Howard King, notifies Signature Resolution that Frank and other Respondents intended to assert counterclaims against MJC, Branca and other individuals and entities related to Michael Jackson, including presumably for defamation. Thus, the Respondents have clearly acknowledged through their then-attorney that any affirmative claims they may have against MJC and the released parties under the Agreement must be resolved pursuant to arbitration.
May 15 : The parties participate in a mediation at JAMS before the Honorable Dickran Tevrizian (Ret.). The matter does not resolve, but the mediation is not terminated, and settlement discussions continue.
July 08 : In a dramatic petition filed in Los Angeles Superior Court on July 8th, the Estate of Michael Jackson accuses Frank Cascio of masterminding a jaw-dropping extortion plot demanding up to $213 million, threatening to flip decades of fierce public support into salacious allegations about Michael. For over 30 years, the Cascios, Frank, his siblings Eddie, Dominic Jr., Aldo, and Marie Nicole, were by Michael’s side, vacationing with him, enjoying lavish gifts, and repeatedly defending his innocence on global TV.
July 09 :
Michael Jackson Estate Identifies ‘Extortionate’ Abuse Accuser as ‘My Friend Michael’ Author
Michael Jackson Estate Files Court Petition Alleging $213 Million Extortion Plot by Frank Cascio
Court document for the Estate to compel arbitration to Frank Cascio and his cohorts via The Blast.
July 10 : The Estate Goes Public About Frank Cascio
Taj Jackson : “My brothers and I tried to warn you guys over a decade ago about this family. They lost all respect from me when they chose to purposely scam the public with fake Michael Jackson songs, sung by a sound a like. Then even went on Oprah to help sell this lucrative lie to the world. Money and greed can do horrible things to weak people. I’m so disgusted but not surprised unfortunately. They sold their soul and integrity awhile ago. I’m just pissed that my uncle wasted so much time, energy and money with these vultures.”
TJ Jackson : “It disgusts me how deceitful vultures can be. They act like they are true and real but they aren’t. They only care about themselves and the money they can make off of their connection to achievers. I’ve seen this so many times it’s not even surprising anymore. #anythingformoney”
October 06 : Mark Geragos files a legal memorandum on behalf of Frank Cascio, opposing the Michael Jackson Estate’s petition to compel arbitration. In essence, Geragos argues that the supposed settlement and confidentiality agreement the Estate relies on is void and unenforceable under California law and public policy. He claims it was designed to silence victims of Michael Jackson’s alleged sexual abuse and therefore violates statutes prohibiting nondisclosure agreements related to sexual misconduct. The brief alleges the Estate coerced and manipulated the Cascio family—longtime associates of Jackson—into signing the agreement in 2019–2020 under emotional duress and without legal counsel. It accuses the Estate of breaching the agreement itself by publicly filing confidential details and misusing the court system to “smear” Cascio. Geragos asks the court to deny arbitration, void the agreement entirely, and stay any pending arbitration, framing the petition as a bad-faith effort to suppress victims and protect the Estate’s financial and reputational interests.
October 30 : Michael Jackson’s Alleged Victim Accuses Estate of Attempt to Smear Him After $44 Mill ‘Shakedown’ (Exclusive)
November 07 : Cascio Cries Pressure, Estate Cries Shakedown, Trailer Steals Spotlight : “In a declaration dated October 27, Frank Cascio, once part of Michael Jackson’s inner circle, claimed, “In late December 2019, I learned that [members of my family] had already signed a settlement agreement with the Estate but that the agreement would not become effective absent my signature.” According to him, chaos was already brewing at home: “At the time, my family was in severe turmoil, and the agreement appeared to offer them a sense of closure. Knowing that, I felt immense pressure to sign as well, to avoid causing more conflict within the family during this unbelievably difficult chapter.” Cascio said he has struggled with reading comprehension since being diagnosed with dyslexia in fifth grade and struggled to understand the contract: “I had difficulty understanding many of its terms, particularly the legal concepts.”
Cascio’s sister, Marie-Nicole Porte, backs his version, saying the estate rushed them into a single-copy, read-aloud agreement in a private room above their father’s restaurant. She describes feeling powerless and pressured: “I had no lawyer… It was a take-it-or-leave-it situation.” She also claims the family “realized” they’d had similar experiences with Michael Jackson and the Estate quickly tried to shut them down.
December 01 : The Cascio hearing has been rescheduled again; this time until January 14, 2026.
Jackson Dynasty 