Robson and Safechuck seek $400M from Michael Jackson estate as Paris Jackson challenges legal spending

Wade Robson and James Safechuck are seeking $400 million in damages from Michael Jackson’s estate, according to court filings that surfaced amid a separate dispute between Paris Jackson and estate executors over mounting legal costs.

Robson and Safechuck, who sued the estate in early 2025, had not publicly disclosed a damages figure until the sum emerged in papers tied to Paris Jackson’s objections. She has challenged what she characterizes as exorbitant legal expenditures, noting the estate has retained multiple law firms to manage different facets of the case.

Estate co-executors John Branca and John McClain argue the spending is necessary to defend against the suit and avoid a potential default judgment for the full $400 million. In recent filings, they warned that restricting payments could undermine the estate’s ability to meet deadlines for depositions, discovery, and motions scheduled over the coming months.

“The Estate would likely have to default … where numerous depositions, discovery matters, and other matters are scheduled to take place,” the executors wrote, calling the funds essential to protect Jackson’s assets and business operations.

The court’s decision on Paris Jackson’s objection could shape how aggressively the estate is able to litigate—and by extension, the financial health of Jackson’s legacy.

Robson first sued in 2013, alleging sexual abuse beginning when he was seven; Safechuck filed a similar suit in 2014, alleging abuse starting at age ten. Their accounts drew widespread attention following the 2019 documentary Leaving Neverland, which the estate has forcefully disputed. Jackson, who died in 2009, denied misconduct during his lifetime, and the estate continues to reject all allegations.

A hearing on the spending dispute is expected to clarify how the estate will fund its defense as the high-stakes case proceeds.