Michael Jackson’s Estate Sues Former Associate Frank Cascio for Alleged Extortion

Michael Jackson’s estate has filed a lawsuit against Frank Cascio, a former friend and business associate of the late pop icon, accusing him of extortion in Los Angeles Superior Court.

According to court documents, Michael Jackson’s estate claims that Cascio demanded up to $213 million and threatened to go public with false abuse allegations against Jackson if he was not paid.

The suit alleges that Cascio and his associates met with estate representatives at the Sunset Marquis Hotel in Los Angeles, specifically choosing the pool area to avoid surveillance and recording devices, where they issued their threats.

“The negotiation with Respondents morphed into a shakedown,” the petition states, describing how Cascio and his team threatened to fabricate damaging claims about Jackson, despite years of previously defending him.

The estate’s lawyers argue that since Jackson is deceased, there are no legal protections against defamation of his character, making the threats even more damaging.

Cascio, once a public supporter of Michael Jackson, withdrew his support following the 2011 HBO documentary “Leaving Neverland.” He reportedly received a $3.3 million settlement at the time, which included confidentiality clauses designed to protect Jackson’s children and estate.

The estate contends that by now threatening to go public, Cascio is violating the terms of that agreement, which required any future disputes to be handled through arbitration.

“This is a clear case of civil extortion,” estate attorney Martin D. Singer told The Blast. “We will not stand by as Michael Jackson’s legacy is threatened by falsehoods and financial schemes.”

The suit further claims that Cascio’s legal team, led by attorney Mark Geragos, continued to demand large sums—lowering their request from $213 million to $44 million—and threatened to make damaging allegations public if not paid.

The estate, now valued at more than $3 billion, is seeking to compel Cascio to resolve the dispute through arbitration as agreed.

“Mr. Cascio was part of Michael’s life for over 30 years, publicly defending him and calling himself family,” a spokesperson for the estate said. “Now, years after Michael’s death, he is seeking to profit from claims he once rejected as false.”

If the court sides with Jackson’s estate, Cascio would be required to move the dispute out of the public eye and into private arbitration, as per his original settlement agreement.