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Post by Liberian Girl on Dec 20, 2017 7:57:12 GMT
I felt this deserved its own thread...
APNewsBreak: Michael Jackson Sex Abuse Lawsuit Dismissed APNewsBreak: A judge has dismissed the lawsuit of a choreographer who alleged Michael Jackson molested him as a child.
LOS ANGELES (AP) — A judge on Tuesday dismissed the lawsuit brought by a choreographer who alleged Michael Jackson molested him as a child, resolving one of the last major claims against the late singer's holdings.
Judge Mitchell L. Beckloff's summary judgment ruling against the now-35-year-old Wade Robson found that the two Jackson-owned corporations, which were the remaining defendants in the case, were not liable for Robson's exposure to Jackson. He did not rule on the credibility of Robson's allegations themselves.
Robson's attorney, Vince Finaldi, said he strongly disagrees and plans to appeal.
Robson, a native of Australia who has worked with Britney Spears and NSYNC, met Jackson when he was 5 years old.
He testified in Jackson's defense at the singer's 2005 criminal trial, saying he had spent the night at Jackson's Neverland Ranch more than 20 times and usually slept in Jackson's room, but Jackson never molested him. Jackson was acquitted in that trial.
Then in 2013 about four years after the singer's death, Robson sued the Jackson estate for what his attorneys described as molestation that spanned a seven-year period.
A court ruled in 2015 that Robson had filed his lawsuit too late to get any of Jackson's estate. That left two remaining defendants, both corporate entities owned by Jackson in his lifetime: MJJ Productions, Inc., and MJJ Ventures, Inc.
The judge ruled Tuesday that those two corporate defendants could not be held responsible for Robson's exposure to Jackson, the way a school or the Boy Scouts can be found liable for bringing together an abusive adult and a child victim.
Finaldi said the reasoning sets a dangerous precedent.
"What the judge is saying is that you if own a corporation or a company, you can hire people, use these people to facilitate your sexual abuse, use them to facilitate victims," Finaldi told The Associated Press by phone. "So long as you're the sole owner of that corporation, the corporation can't be held liable."
Jackson estate attorney Howard Weitzman said in a statement that he "believes the court made the correct decision in dismissing Wade Robson's claim against it. "In my opinion Mr. Robson's allegations, made 20 plus years after they supposedly occurred and years after Mr. Robson testified twice under oath — including in front of a jury — that Michael Jackson had never done anything wrong to him was always about the money rather than a search for the truth."
Finaldi replied that the Jackson camp's interest in the truth was "hollow."
"If someone's trying to search for the truth, why not let the lawsuit proceed?" Finaldi said. "Why not exonerate him and let a jury decide."
During the criminal trial, Robson bristled at testimony by other witnesses that they had seen Jackson molest him.
"I'm telling you nothing happened," Robson testified at the time when a prosecutor challenged him.
Another Robson attorney said when his lawsuit was filed that stress and sexual trauma led Robson to finally accept that he had been molested by Jackson.
www.usnews.com/news/enterta...k-michael-jackson-sex-abuse-lawsuit-dismissed
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Post by MattyJam on Dec 20, 2017 8:06:02 GMT
Fantastic news. And I completely agree, it deserved its own thread.
Finaldi's arguments, as usual, make absolutely no sense whatsoever. How did Wade prove that Michael used anybody to "facilitate" sexual abuse? They were clutching at straws using this angle and they must've known their case was hanging by a thread.
I'm sure this isn't the last we'll hear of Wade, and unfortunately, I doubt this will be the last "victim" to try and cash-in in this way. But bravo to MJ's estate for not settling to avoid the bad publicity, despite the many conveniently-timed smear campaigns headed by Wade's lawyers. It paid to hang tough, and at least Wade is not seeing a dime from PPB's rightful inheritance.
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Post by Liberian Girl on Dec 20, 2017 8:17:11 GMT
All I keep thinking is, this is the best Christmas present I could ever receive. I can't believe how long it took to get to this point (over three years?) but I am just thankful that the judge here saw sense. Surely anybody outside of Wade's circle would see sense. This is a man who is basically an expert at lying - who took the stand and vehemently defended Michael in court before. Changing tack when you suddenly want a pay-out is an ugly thing and I'm glad it didn't work out for him. Merry Christmas and Happy New Year Wade.
UNFORTUNATELY, the only good thing about the law suit was that it kept him quiet - now he has nothing to lose, and will be desperate, so I'm afraid out will come the interviews, press releases, book, anything he can clutch onto for media and money. Shit.
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Post by kaeleah on Dec 20, 2017 8:18:00 GMT
I'd like to think that maybe both Safechuck and Wade's cases being dismissed will discourage more alleged "victims" from trying to cash in, as the track record so far has been so bad, that the gamble may not look worth it anymore.
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Post by MattyJam on Dec 20, 2017 9:17:26 GMT
I'd like to think that maybe both Safechuck and Wade's cases being dismissed will discourage more alleged "victims" from trying to cash in, as the track record so far has been so bad, that the gamble may not look worth it anymore. It’s hardly much of a gamble though. I guess it depends who’s footing the bill for the legal costs. I’m sure the various Radar Online exclusives helped pay for Robsons legal representation, so it wasn’t really much of a gamble for Wade. Where there is the potential for millions of dollars to be made, you can bet there will be other opportunists who had contact with MJ who will be prepared to take their chances. All it takes is someone who is desperate for money and has no moral conscience, and hey presto, you have another accuser. Maybe I come across jaded, but I don’t think Wade will be the last. I sincerely hope I’m proven wrong, but I don’t have much faith in mankind, especially a lot of the people who managed to infiltrate themselves into MJs life. MJ was so open in welcoming and accommodating children into his life and unfortunately, his generousity has just made him an open target for more accusers. I’m just thankful he’s not here to witness this any longer.
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Post by Russg on Dec 20, 2017 9:22:46 GMT
Great news!!! Hopefully it will be a lean Christmas in the Robson household this year. Go curl up in a hole and die you opportunistic scumbag.
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Post by mjjfan810 on Dec 20, 2017 9:54:15 GMT
At last.
As for Finaldi’s remarks, why should the estate have to fight to exonerate MJs name against allegations which have no credibility? Wade has proven time and time again that his story has no consistency and that he was prepared to say anything to get his case moving forward. Why should MJ be expected to face the indignity of yet another trial when he isn’t even here to defend himself? It would only be his children and those who loved him that would suffer.
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Post by HIStoric on Dec 20, 2017 10:06:08 GMT
BRAVO to Judge Mitchell L. Beckloff and a big ol' FUCK YOU to that lying swine Robson 🖕🏻
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ChrisC
Wondering Who
Posts: 200
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Post by ChrisC on Dec 20, 2017 13:16:31 GMT
I'd like to think that maybe both Safechuck and Wade's cases being dismissed will discourage more alleged "victims" from trying to cash in, as the track record so far has been so bad, that the gamble may not look worth it anymore. It’s hardly much of a gamble though. I guess it depends who’s footing the bill for the legal costs. I’m sure the various Radar Online exclusives helped pay for Robsons legal representation, so it wasn’t really much of a gamble for Wade. Where there is the potential for millions of dollars to be made, you can bet there will be other opportunists who had contact with MJ who will be prepared to take their chances. All it takes is someone who is desperate for money and has no moral conscience, and hey presto, you have another accuser. Maybe I come across jaded, but I don’t think Wade will be the last. I sincerely hope I’m proven wrong, but I don’t have much faith in mankind, especially a lot of the people who managed to infiltrate themselves into MJs life. MJ was so open in welcoming and accommodating children into his life and unfortunately, his generousity has just made him an open target for more accusers. I’m just thankful he’s not here to witness this any longer. Yes BUT the media were scarcely interested in this. And now after years of legal wrangling a judge has said no to this. These are two big reasons that would put off any would be accuser from turning on Michael. I would feel fairly confident to say this represents the end of any serious accusation. Other than Wade perhaps repeating himself in the media - should they give him a platform. But hey who knows, maybe he'll undergo more counselling and recover repressed memories that Michael was someone who extended his hand of friendship and was nothing other than a positive influence on his life... It is annoying reading that article though. It gives two opportunities for the losing side to tell their story and rebut. Would they give the the Estate lawyers that opportunity had it been the other way around? No, absolutely not. There would be a one liner at the end of the article saying they refute or are disappointed. And that would be it
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TonyR
The Legend Continues
Posts: 8,423
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Post by TonyR on Dec 20, 2017 13:37:41 GMT
Great stuff.
Although I'm inclined to agree with Matt that this won't be the last, I'm also hopeful that because this barely made a ripple in the news & it failed that this will put people off.
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Post by suzie on Dec 20, 2017 15:06:21 GMT
At last. As for Finaldi’s remarks, why should the estate have to fight to exonerate MJs name against allegations which have no credibility? Wade has proven time and time again that his story has no consistency and that he was prepared to say anything to get his case moving forward. Why should MJ be expected to face the indignity of yet another trial when he isn’t even here to defend himself? It would only be his children and those who loved him that would suffer. Also why would the estate need to fight a case that the judge doesn't see fit to move forward? Such an idiot
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Post by Thriller on Dec 20, 2017 17:49:18 GMT
Excellent news. A great Christmas present for that lying scumbag. Lie after lie after lie didn't pay off.
I guess he'll have to return to the entertainment business now, despite saying he never could... Oh wait, he returned to it long ago.
Also, Mr 'can't direct in any capacity whatsoever' Robson was back directing mere months after going public with his claims.
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Post by respect77 on Dec 20, 2017 18:03:45 GMT
Merry Christmas and Happy New Year Wade.
You mean like
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Post by Snow White on Dec 20, 2017 22:45:30 GMT
When Safechuck's lawsuit was dismissed, Robson was doomed, they basically had the same nonsensical claims. I'm glad Beckoff did the right thing even if it took him years to do so. I truly hope it throws off opportunistic low lives, Michael was innocent no matter how many alleged "victims" come forward. Sneddon gave them plenty of chances to "seek justice." Merry Christmas and Happy New Year Wade.
You mean like
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Post by respect77 on Dec 21, 2017 5:39:40 GMT
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