Everyone remembers the criminal trial against Michael Jackson, in which he was acquitted of child molestation charges. What is less well known is that one of the witnesses from that trial is currently suing Jackson for child molestation, a witness who testified in the criminal trial that Jackson did not molest him.
Ordinarily, you cannot sue a dead person. A judge and a court do not have power over the deceased. Instead, you have to sue the deceased person’s estate.
Wade Robson, however, sued two of Michael Jackson’s companies, as well as an unknown defendant, listed as Doe 1. It is clear to everyone involved in the case that Doe 1 is Michael Jackson. Robson is perhaps best known for testifying in Jackson’s 2005 criminal trial that Jackson did not molest him, yet in this case he is alleging molestation.
Because you cannot sue a deceased person, Michael Jackson’s estate asked that Doe 1, Jackson, be removed from the case as a defendant. As reported by L.A. Watts Times, in an article titled “Judge denies motion in Jackson estate case,“ the judge ruled for now that Doe 1 could remain as a defendant. However, it appears that the judge would like a clearer statement from Robson regarding what his case is about, as the judge has requested an amended complaint. It is not clear why Robson did not sue the estate in the first place. His lawyer claims it was for discovery purposes.
This is just one of many legal issues that Michael Jackson’s estate has had to face. The biggest is a feud with the IRS over estate taxes. Given the high-profile nature of the estate and its immense wealth, the estate will likely be involved in litigation in some form or another for decades.
Please contact our office today at 239-225-7911 to schedule an appointment with Barbara M. Pizzolato if you are interested in protecting your legacy and need to create or update your estate plan. You may also wish to attend one of our free seminars.
Reference: L.A. Watts Times (October 2, 2014) “Judge denies motion in Jackson estate case“
