Michael Jackson accusers seek $400 million payout in lawsuits against estate as fee dispute widens

Wade Robson and James Safechuck are seeking $400 million in damages in civil lawsuits against Michael Jackson's companies, according to court documents filed this week. The figure comes as the estate grapples with a dispute over legal fees, with Paris Jackson, 27, challenging the executors' authority to pay certain bills tied to ongoing litigation and other business matters.

The estate cautions that if lawyers are not paid, it could default in Robson and Safechuck's lawsuits, a consequence it calls potentially disastrous for its legal defenses and its management of the Jackson intellectual property portfolio. Executives say maintaining counsel is essential to safeguarding projects such as the MJ One Cirque show, MJ: The Musical, and a forthcoming Michael Jackson motion picture, as well as the estate’s broader business interests. Paris contends some fees are excessive and seeks to limit the executors' payments, while the executors argue the fees are industry standard and necessary to navigate a complex slate of disputes.

Robson, now 43, and Safechuck, 47, allege they were sexually abused by Jackson as children, claims they brought to light in the HBO documentary Leaving Neverland. Jackson was never convicted in a criminal case, and his companies continue to deny the allegations. Robson says Jackson groomed him from age seven until 14 after they met during a Michael Jackson dance-impersonation context, and he and Safechuck have jointly pursued civil claims against the estate in pursuit of what they describe as justice. Safechuck has said joining the suit was a significant decision, and he filed his claim in 2014, a year after Robson.

The legal path for Robson and Safechuck has featured several twists. In 2017, a court dismissed the cases because the statute of limitations had expired. The law later changed, extending the reporting window for childhood sexual abuse claims from age 26 to age 40, allowing the suits to proceed. Three California Supreme Court justices heard arguments remotely in 2023 and ruled in favor of allowing Wade and James to bring their civil claims to court. The ongoing actions target Jackson's former companies, MJJ Productions and MJJ Ventures, which remain under the control of the estate’s executors.

The broader litigation picture surrounding Jackson’s estate is sizable. The executors are managing multiple lawsuits and arbitrations, and there are ongoing questions about how legal fees are allocated and paid across different matters. Paris has argued for tighter oversight of how funds are disbursed, which could affect the estate’s ability to defend itself in the Robson-Safechuck actions and other disputes. The estate contends that the disputed fees are within industry norms given the complexity and scope of the litigation and business ventures tied to Jackson’s IP portfolio.

Michael Jackson’s death in 2009, at age 50, followed a heart attack attributed to an overdose of Propofol administered by his personal physician, Dr. Conrad Murray, who was later convicted of involuntary manslaughter in 2011. In the years since, the estate has sought to protect and monetize Jackson’s legacy through various projects and partnerships, while facing scrutiny over past allegations and the handling of his business interests. The estate’s leadership emphasizes the imperative of maintaining robust legal counsel to navigate trademark and intellectual property protections, licensing, and production ventures that form the backbone of ongoing revenue streams tied to Jackson’s name. The accusers and their attorneys, meanwhile, continue to pursue a damages remedy through the civil route, asserting harms they say were caused by Jackson’s actions during their childhoods.