Michael Jackson's accusers Wade Robson and James Safechuck unite for trial against singer's companies
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA: Wade Robson and James Safechuck, the two men who have accused Michael Jackson of sexual abuse during their childhood, have joined forces in their legal fight against the late pop star's companies.
In a recent development, Jackson's companies have agreed to consolidate the lawsuits brought forth by Robson and Safechuck into one trial.
Wade Robson and James Safechuck unite in legal battle against Michael Jackson's companies
Court documents obtained by RadarOnline.com reveal that lawyers representing Jackson's companies have consented to the plea made by Robson and Safechuck to combine their cases into a single trial.
The motion to consolidate the lawsuits was filed by Robson and Safechuck's legal team, arguing that both cases arise from similar allegations of harmful conduct by Jackson and involve common questions of law and fact.
"Plaintiffs’ counsel did not contact Defendants’ counsel before filing their consolidation motion. Had Defendants’ counsel been contacted, the parties could likely have resolved this matter without unnecessary motion practice," the motion read.
The court recently granted Robson and Safechuck's request to fight Jackson's companies together, according to reports.
“This motion is made on the grounds that all actions arise out of the same type of harmful, abusive, course of conduct, by the same Defendants, at the same locations and physical places, in the presence of the same employees, employed by Defendants, during the same time period, in a pattern of abuse that was common to both Plaintiffs,” their lawyers said in a recent filing.
“All matters involve common questions of law and fact; all matters will involve the same witnesses and their respective testimonies, and two separate trials may also result in entirely different verdicts and a waste of judicial resources," the motion added. “Complete consolidation and a single trial for all of these matters will significantly reduce redundant costs and delays and further serve the interests of judicial economy and convenience of all of those involved.”
However, the lawyers representing Jackson's companies criticized Safechuck for not consulting with them before filing the motion for consolidation, suggesting that the matter could have been resolved without unnecessary hassle.
Michael Jackson accusers' lawsuits revived
In a significant turn of events, the lawsuits filed by Wade Robson and James Safechuck against Michael Jackson's estate have been revived, with the California Court of Appeals ruling that the cases will proceed to trial.
Robson and Safechuck allege that they were sexually abused by the late pop star during their childhood.
Robson, who claimed he was abused by Jackson starting at the age of 7 in 1990, asserted that the abuse persisted for several years. Safechuck, on the other hand, alleges that he was sexually assaulted by Jackson during his 1988 Bad Tour, which began when he was 10 years old, and that the abuse continued for four years.
The lawsuits, initially filed in 2013, were dismissed by the lower court on multiple occasions over the past decade. However, the recent decision by the California Court of Appeals has overturned the dismissal, paving the way for the cases to proceed to trial.
In response to the court's ruling, Jonathan Steinsapir, a lawyer for Jackson's estate, expressed disappointment and reiterated the estate's confidence in Jackson's innocence. Steinsapir emphasized that the allegations against Jackson were made years after his death and are contrary to credible evidence and independent corroboration.
"We trust that the truth will ultimately prevail with Michael’s vindication yet again. Michael Jackson himself said, 'lies run sprints, but the truth runs marathons,'" Steinsapir stated.
