A long-simmering legal fight involving the Michael Jackson estate resurfaced in court this week, marked by emotional testimony, sharp accusations, and a striking reversal of loyalties. Attorney Howard King, who now represents the Cascio family, spoke publicly after the hearing, shedding light on why former Jackson allies have become his estate’s fiercest opponents.
Frank Cascio and his siblings previously reached a multimillion-dollar settlement with the estate in 2020, resolving allegations that the late pop icon abused them during their childhood. However, Frank later claimed that agreement was signed under intense pressure, alleging he acted under duress. That assertion reopened the dispute and brought the family back into court in 2024.
Now facing the estate once again, the Cascios are being opposed by attorney Marty Singer, who argues the family’s renewed claims amount to an attempt to shake down the estate. The accusations represent a complete about-face from Frank Cascio’s earlier public defense of Jackson, a shift King attributes to years of therapy and personal reckoning. According to King, that process helped Frank distance himself from what he described as blind loyalty to Jackson.
The emotional strain of the case was visible in court, particularly for Frank’s brother Aldo, who broke down in tears before proceedings began and had to leave the courtroom with King by his side. King described the family as deeply traumatized, emphasizing that one sibling in particular continues to suffer severe psychological harm. He criticized the estate for publicly dismissing the allegations as lies, saying such statements only deepen the damage.
King said that after being retained by the family in 2024, his first step was to record detailed accounts from all five siblings. Those interviews reportedly produced roughly ten hours of video testimony outlining the abuse they allege they endured. King claims he later shared a portion of that footage—about an hour—with Singer in hopes of reaching a resolution.
According to King, Singer allegedly dismissed the idea of the material becoming public and suggested the matter could be settled privately. King maintains that while an offer was later made, he was blindsided when the estate instead accused him of extortion in public filings.
With arbitration no longer an option, King says the family is pursuing damages exceeding $200 million, pointing to past settlements involving other Jackson accusers as a benchmark. Attorney Howard King says the Cascio children are entitled to $200 million from Michael Jackson’s estate, calling the claims “extortion.”
Singer, however, flatly rejects King’s account. He insists no such statements were made and says an independent witness supports his version of events. Singer claims King formally demanded $213 million, a figure he says underpins the estate’s extortion allegations and has already been reported to authorities.
As the dispute intensifies, the next steps remain uncertain. Frank Cascio’s attorney of record, Mark Geragos, is expected to determine how the case will proceed, setting the stage for what could become another high-profile chapter in the long-running legal controversies surrounding Michael Jackson’s legacy.
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