COMPLETE STATIC READING EDITION

What changed in 2026

The year’s lawsuits, rulings and records, checked through 22 October.

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The year in the record

Lawsuits, rulings and a film.

The biggest new development was the Cascio lawsuit, filed on 27 February 2026 by four siblings who had defended Jackson for decades. [1] On 12 August a federal judge sent it to arbitration under a 2019 settlement. [2]

The Robson and Safechuck cases against Jackson’s companies were set for trial on 14 February 2028 [3], and depositions were scheduled for the autumn. [4]

In probate court, Paris Jackson won an order requiring lawyers’ bonuses to be returned and then sought her own fees. [5][6] The estate reported large spending on the family. [8] The biopic Michael earned more than $1 billion. [7]

What we can’t tell you. Checked through 22 October 2026.

The sources

  1. Cascio v. The Michael Jackson Company, federal docket 2:26-cv-02129 (mirror retrieved August 14, 2026) ↗

    Docket entries include the August 12 stay and August 14 inactive-list order. The mirror was retrieved August 14; it is not a live PACER audit through October 21.

  2. Rolling Stone: August 12 arbitration order, legal reasoning and denials (August 14, 2026) ↗

    Courtroom reporting. One paragraph names Frank among the federal plaintiffs; the actual docket names Edward, not Frank. This guide follows the docket and treats Frank’s dispute separately.

  3. Rolling Stone: June 12 hearing sets trial for February 2028 (published June 13, 2026) ↗

    Reporter’s account of the June 12, 2026 hearing. This guide has not obtained a later certified trial-calendar order; February 2028 is a reported setting, not a guaranteed current date.

  4. TMZ: James Safechuck and his mother scheduled for depositions (September 10, 2026) ↗

    Reports dates from court papers. A deposition schedule, not testimony.

  5. Los Angeles Superior Court: order on the 2018 bonus payments (April 29, 2026; Deadline-hosted PDF) ↗

    The probate ruling that $625,000 in 2018 bonuses to outside law firms must be returned. Concerns fees, not the allegations.

  6. Washington Times: Paris Jackson and the estate dispute her $1.16 million fee request (September 17, 2026) ↗

    Reports the executor’s objection to her fee claim. Pending when checked.

  7. Box Office Mojo: Michael (2026) grosses ↗

    Tracked grosses, budget and release dates. Figures can be revised.

  8. TMZ: the estate’s 2024 accounting of spending on the children and Katherine Jackson (October 6, 2026) ↗

    Reports figures from an accounting filed by the executor. Not independently audited here.

What has not happened

Claims that ran ahead of the record.

No arbitrator has ruled on the Cascio claims, despite headlines that the case was “thrown out”. [1] No civil jury has heard the Robson or Safechuck cases. [2] No new criminal investigation has been announced, and Jackson, who died in 2009, cannot be prosecuted. His only criminal verdict remains the 2005 acquittal. [3]

What we can’t tell you. Absence of a ruling was checked against the dockets and reporting cited.

The sources

  1. Rolling Stone: August 12 arbitration order, legal reasoning and denials (August 14, 2026) ↗

    Courtroom reporting. One paragraph names Frank among the federal plaintiffs; the actual docket names Edward, not Frank. This guide follows the docket and treats Frank’s dispute separately.

  2. Rolling Stone: June 12 hearing sets trial for February 2028 (published June 13, 2026) ↗

    Reporter’s account of the June 12, 2026 hearing. This guide has not obtained a later certified trial-calendar order; February 2028 is a reported setting, not a guaranteed current date.

  3. ABC Australia: the ten not-guilty verdicts, June 14, 2005 Australian time ↗

    Contemporary courtroom reporting of the actual dispositions; American verdict date was June 13, although the Australian page is dated June 14.

WHAT PEOPLE SAY ABOUT THIS FILE

The claims, rated.

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