Los Angeles: A choreographer and television personality who was a keywitness in Michael Jackson's successful defense against child molestationcharges is seeking permission to file a claim against the singer's estatealleging the pop superstar sexually abused him as a child, court records and anattorney said.
Wade Robson was abused by Jackson during a seven-yearperiod, the choreographer's attorney, Henry Gradstein, wrote in a statementWednesday. The attorney said Robson, 30, suffered a breakdown last year but hasnot stated how much his client is seeking to recoup from Jackson's estate if ajudge permits him to pursue his abuse allegations.
Details on Robson's accusations were filed under seal.
The molestation allegations have been fiercely denied by anattorney for Jackson's estate and the singer's criminal defense attorney,Thomas Mesereau Jr.
"Mr. Robson was one of my strongest witnesses inMichael Jackson's criminal trial," Mesereau said. "I called him tothe stand at the beginning of the defense case and he was adamant that he hadnever been improperly touched or molested. This makes no sense.
"Robson was the first defense witness during the 2005 trialthat ended with Jackson's acquittal on molestation charges. He also spokefavorably about Jackson after the singer's death in June 2009.
"Last year, on a career trajectory that was off thecharts, (Robson) collapsed under the stress and sexual trauma of what hadhappened to him for seven years as a child," Gradstein wrote in astatement that referred to Jackson as a sexual predator.
"There are significant legal issues involved in thiscase that have the potential to impact lives beyond just our client," hewrote.
Gradstein said he could not discuss specifics of the case,but he cited Robson's recent breakdown as the choreographer's reason forreversing his previous statements about Jackson. "As a result, he startedintensive treatment which ultimately led to his ability to come forward,"Gradstein said.
Robson, an Australian-born choreographer, has appeared onthe Fox series "So You Think You Can Dance" and worked with BritneySpears and other stars.
"Mr. Robson's claim is outrageous and pathetic,"Jackson estate attorney Howard Weitzman wrote in a statement. "This is ayoung man who has testified at least twice under oath over the past 20 yearsand said in numerous interviews that Michael Jackson never did anythinginappropriate to him or with him. Now, nearly four years after Michael has passedthis sad and less than credible claim has been made. We are confident that thecourt will see this for what it is.
"Gradstein filed a motion seeking permission to file a latecreditor's claim against Jackson's estate on May 1, nearly four years after thesinger's death, court records show. Most of the documents are sealed pending aJune court hearing, but a summary of the documents states the choreographerincludes a declaration from a psychiatrist and an "Unfiled Complaint forChildhood Sexual Abuse.
"The period for filing claims against Jackson's estate haslong since passed, but a California civil statute allows victims of abuse tofile a lawsuit within three years of discovering "that psychologicalinjury or illness ... was caused by the sexual abuse."
The judge overseeing Jackson's massive probate case willhave to determine whether Robson's claim can go forward.
Gradstein's statement did not address any specifics aboutwhen or where Jackson's alleged molestation occurred, but the choreographertestified extensively in 2005 about the time he spent with Jackson.
"Wade Robson, in addition to being one of the mosttalented people on the planet, is one of the kindest, most gentle, decent andintrospective human beings one will ever meet. He is the loving father of ayoung son and happily married," Gradstein wrote in a statement firstobtained by celebrity website TMZ.
His claim was filed nearly eight years to the day afterRobson testified Jackson never inappropriately touched him. He was 22 at thetime he testified, telling jurors in Jackson's criminal case that he metJackson when he was 5 years old and had spent the night at Jackson's NeverlandRanch more than 20 times, sleeping in the singer's bedroom on most visits.
During the trial, Robson bristled at testimony by otherwitnesses that they had seen Jackson molest him. "I'm very mad aboutit," he told jurors. "It's not true and they put my name through thedirt. I'm really not happy about it.
"The claims come as Jackson's mother, who supported her sonthroughout the molestation trial in Santa Maria, Calif., is in a Los Angelescourtroom pursuing a negligent hiring case against the promoter of Jackson'splanned series of comeback concerts.
Katherine Jackson has not addressed Robson's allegations,and her attorney, Perry Sander Jr., said Mesereau was the appropriate person tocomment on the molestation claims.Marvin S. Putnam, an attorney for concert promoter AEG LiveLLC, said he wasn't familiar with the specifics of Robson's claims but doubtedit would come up in the civil trial filed by Jackson's mother. "I don'tsee how it has anything to do with our case," he said.