Overview
- Los Angeles County Superior Court Judge Michael E. Whitaker granted the estate’s petition to compel arbitration, finding a valid and binding arbitration provision.
- The court rejected arguments that the agreement was unconscionable, noting Frank Cascio said he negotiated a larger payment after feeling family pressure to sign.
- The estate must submit a proposed order by March 18, with any objections due by April 1, according to the March 4 ruling.
- Four Cascio siblings have accused Jackson of grooming, drugging and sexually abusing them as minors across multiple locations, while the estate denies the allegations and calls the case a money grab.
- The ruling does not address the merits of the abuse claims, and Frank Cascio’s attorney says the separate federal action brought by the other siblings against Jackson-affiliated companies is unaffected.