A new law allows Wade Robson and James Safechuck to file a lawsuit against two companies that manage Michael Jackson’s estate, reports Rolling stone. The two accuse Jackson of sexual abuse.
The law came into force in California on January 1 and allows victims of child sexual abuse to bring a civil lawsuit against a third party who is bound by the alleged abuse or who knew or should have known that there was abuse and that there was no took reasonable steps.
In 2017, the California court ruled on the indictment of Robson and Safechuck stating that they were MJJ Productions, Inc. and MJJ Ventures, Inc. could not sue because neither of the companies could be held liable for the alleged actions of Jackson. That makes the new law possible now.
Robson and Safechuck’s lawyer says Rolling stone: “We are pleased with this new law and the recognition that victims of sexual abuse get with it.”
Robson testified before Jackson in 1993 and 2005 and denied any form of abuse. In 2013, however, he went to court to sue the singer. His complaint was declared inadmissible due to his previous testimonials. Safechuck also went to court in 2014, but his case was dismissed a year later. In the HBO documentary Leaving Neverland they spoke extensively about the alleged abuse.
“It is absurd that employees are held responsible”
In a statement shared with Rolling stone, Howard Weitzman, the lawyer who manages Jackson’s estate, repeated that the heirs themselves are still exempt from legal proceedings. Regarding the new ruling, he said: “The ruling has given new life to the lawsuits against Michael Jackson’s companies. In these cases, it is absurdly claimed that Jackson employees are somehow responsible for sexual abuse that never occurred”.
It is not yet clear when the case will be dealt with.
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