A lawsuit by choreographer Wade Robson against two companies owned by Michael Jackson's estate has been dismissed by a California judge.
Robson, who is now 35, had filed negligence claims against MJJ Productions and MJJ Ventures, two companies owned by the late King of Pop, and had accused the singer of years of molestation, according to The Hollywood Reporter.
Judge Mitchell L Beckloff has ruled that the companies were not liable for Robson's exposure to Jackson as "no one other than Michael Jackson had the legal ability or authority to control Michael Jackson."
"As demonstrated by the defendants, Neverland Valley Ranch, where some of the abuse is alleged to have occurred, was owned by Michael Jackson, not either of the corporate defendants," Beckloff said.
"Similarly, Michael Jackson in his individual capacity owned the apartments where other abuse is alleged to have occurred," the judge added.
Beckloff also wondered why a complaint was not filed within the statute of limitations.
"There is no dispute plaintiff brought this action well after his 26th birthday. Today plaintiff is 35 years old, he was 30 years old when he filed this action four years too late, and his action is barred by the statute of limitations," he said.
Four years after Jackson's death, Robson in 2013 had filed a lawsuit against his estate, saying the pop star molested him for more than seven years.
A judge had ruled in 2015 that Robson cannot pursue his allegations against Jackson's estate because he waited too long to file the legal action.
(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)