Michael Jackson’s sexual abuse lawsuits could be revived (Picture: Getty)

Sexual abuse lawsuits against Michael Jackson could be revived, years after the musician’s death.

The Thriller singer, dubbed the King of Pop, died in 2009 at the age of 50.

Following his death, his estate was sued in two separate legal actions, by Wade Robson and James Safechuck, amid claims that he sexually assaulted them when they were children – and that his companies, MJJ Productions and MJJ Ventures, facilitated the conduct.

Although both suits were dismissed in 2021, when it was ruled that the two corporations – which Jackson was in sole control of – had no legal duty to protect them, AP reports that an appeals court in California is considering reviving them.

Last month, California’s 2nd District Court of Appeal reversed Superior Court Judge Mark A Young’s initial ruling in a tentative decision, ordering the cases back to trial.

Today, it is thought that the Jackson estate’s lawyers are hoping to put a stop to this by convincing the appeals court to change the decision.

Wade Robson launched legal action in 2013 (Picture: Getty)

Robson, 40, launched legal action in 2013, claiming he met Jackson at the age of five, and has alleged that he was sexually abused by the late star – beginning when he was left alone with the singer at his Neverland property.

Safechuck, 45, filed a separate lawsuit the following year, alleging that they met when he was nine, and that Jackson gave him gifts before sexually abusing him.

Their allegations were detailed in HBO’s 2019 documentary, Leaving Neverland – with Jackson’s estate fiercely denying all claims against him.

Both cases were dismissed in 2017 after it was determined that they exceeded the statute of limitations, but were later resurrected three years later when California enacted a law that extended the age by which people can file sexual assault claims against third parties.

James Safechuck filed paperwork against Jackson’s estate the following year (Picture: HBO)

In 2021, Judge Young ruled that neither MJJ Productions or MJJ Ventures – or any employees connected to either corporation – had a legal duty to protect Robson and Safechuck.

‘There is no evidence supporting Plaintiff’s contention that Defendants exercised control over Jackson. The evidence further demonstrates that Defendants had no legal ability to control Jackson, because Jackson had complete and total ownership of the corporate defendants.

‘Without control, there is no special relationship or duty that exists between Defendants and Plaintiff. In addition, there is no evidence of misfeasance by Defendant.’

Metro.co.uk has contacted Michael Jackson’s estate for a comment.

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Jackson died in 2009.