Decision is expected to be finalized later this month
A judge’s tentative ruling Thursday will allow Michael Jackson’s estate to continue its $100 million lawsuit against HBO for airing the documentary “Leaving Neverland.”
U.S. District Court Judge George Wu is expected to issue a final decision at the end of September.
The Jackson estate filed the lawsuit against HBO in February on the grounds that the “Leaving Neverland” documentary violated the terms of a non-disparagement clause of a 1992 agreement that granted HBO the right to air video from his “Dangerous” tour.
HBO filed a motion in August asking that the estate’s lawsuit be dismissed, citing the First Amendment. The documentary details accusations by Wade Robson and James Safechuck that Jackson sexually abused them when they were children.
“The estate will never stop until justice has been obtained,”
said Bryan J. Freedman, a representative for the Jackson estate.
Howard Weitzman, attorney for the Jackson estate, told TheWrap: “I hope and believe he will adopt his tentative order.”
“We are waiting to see the judge’s final decision,” a spokesperson for HBO told TheWrap.
Jackson died in 2009. He consistently denied any wrongdoing, and was acquitted of child molestation in a criminal trial in 2005.