Michael Jackson’s estate and the companies it controls have been found not liable in a child molestation lawsuit brought forth by celebrity choreographer Wade Robson. The lawsuit, filed in 2013, was reportedly thrown out by Judge Mitchell L. Beckloff because it wasn’t filed within the statute of limitations. Additionally, it was determined that only Michael Jackson himself, and not the companies he owned, can be held liable if the alleged abuse did take place.
Robson, who has worked with some of the biggest names in pop including Britney Spears and NSYNC, alleged that Michael Jackson sexually abused him for multiple years. He also claims that MJJ Ventures were operations “specifically designed to locate, attract, lure and seduce child sexual abuse victims.” The dancer first met Jackson at 5 years old where he was hand picked from a talent competition run by the King of Pop’s MJJ Productions. At the age of 7, Robson and his family were invited to stay at the Neverland Ranch, where he claims is where the sexual abused byJackson first started. Robson was 26 years old when he originally sued the Jackson estate.
Judge Mitchell L. Beckloff determined that the companies listed as defendants, MJJ Productions and MJJ Ventures, have no connection to or responsibility for Robson’s relationship with Jackson as “no one other than Michael Jackson had the legal ability or authority to control Michael Jackson.” The credibility of the allegations themselves were not discussed in court.
Howard Weitzman, the attorney representing Jackson’s estate, spoke on the ruling, reducing Robson’s lawsuit as just another attempt to make a quick buck off the late singer: “The Estate of Michael Jackson believes the court made the correct decision in dismissing Wade Robson’s claim against it. In my opinion Mr. Robson’s allegations, made 20 plus years after they supposedly occurred and years after Mr. Robson testified twice under oath — including in front of a jury — that Michael Jackson had never done anything wrong to him were always about the money rather than a search for the truth.”
