Michael Jackson: Lawsuits against estate after death

A man pursuing a civil case against the estate of Michael Jackson says the King of Pop once enacted a mock wedding with him.

James Safechuck, who filed suit after Jackson's death, says he was eight years old when he they met in 1987 and that Jackson repeatedly molested him. He claims Jackson once pretended to marry him and produced a wedding certificate and a ring as keepsakes.

Wade Robson, who is also pursuing a case against the estate, testified in Jackson's criminal trial in 2005. At the time, he denied that sharing a bed with the singer involved any inappropriate contact. He now says that starting his own family led him to admit the truth. “I lived in silence and denial for 22 years.”

While there have been reports in the past of payments Jackson made to buy the silence of his accusers, lawyers representing Safechuck and Robson believe he may have given as much as $200 million in hush money to the families of 20 adolescents. (Page 6)

Quickies:

• This sad story just keeps getting worse. Now that Jackson is dead, it's unlikely the whole truth will ever be known.
• Jackson was a sitting duck for extortion and viewed as a possible sexual predator, yet families kept letting their young sons spend time alone with him. 
• It's ironic that the estate of an icon who constantly professed his love for children may end up going to a handful of them. If these cases succeed, there will be no end to it.
• I kind of wish that people would leave Michael alone. He's dead after all. This is just about money.