It has been a while since we last checked in on the long-running legal cases brought by James Safechuck and Wade Robson against companies connected to Michael Jackson. But after years of motions, appeals, discovery and delays, the case is moving into another important phase and James Safechuck is about to answer questions under oath.
According to the latest court scheduling information, James Safechuck is scheduled to be deposed on September 14, 2026, while his mother, Stephanie Safechuck, is scheduled for depositions on October 15 and October 20.
So, what exactly does that mean?
A quick recap
For those who may have lost track, James Safechuck and Wade Robson filed separate lawsuits in 2013 and 2014, respectively, alleging that Michael Jackson sexually abused them when they were children.
Importantly, the current cases are not lawsuits against Michael Jackson himself. Instead, the claims being pursued are against MJJ Productions and MJJ Ventures, with the plaintiffs arguing that the companies had a responsibility to protect them from the alleged abuse.
Both men became widely known to the public through the 2019 HBO mocumentary Leaving Neverland, in which they repeated their allegations against Michael.
MJVibe has previously covered the many questions and disputed details surrounding the documentary and the men’s accounts. We remain firmly of the view that Michael Jackson was innocent of these allegations and that the claims against him are false. The mocumentary has also been heavily scrutinised by Michael Jackson fans, who have pointed to numerous inconsistencies and disputed details over the years.
But now, years after these lawsuits began, the focus is moving away from documentaries and television interviews and back into the legal process.
And that is where depositions become particularly important.
What is a deposition?
A deposition is essentially a formal question-and-answer session that takes place before trial.
The person being deposed gives testimony under oath, usually with attorneys from both sides present. It does not take place in front of a jury, and it is not itself a trial.
However, what is said during a deposition can become extremely important later.
Attorneys can ask detailed questions about a person’s allegations, memories, timelines, previous statements, documents, communications and other evidence relevant to the case.
If testimony given during a deposition later differs from statements made previously, those differences can potentially become an issue at trial.
That is particularly significant in these cases because the allegations date back decades and because Safechuck and Robson have already discussed their claims publicly on numerous occasions, including in Leaving Neverland.
James goes first
James Safechuck’s deposition is currently scheduled for September 14, 2026.
This is a significant step because Safechuck will be required to answer questions concerning his allegations and the claims he has brought against Michael Jackson’s companies.
For MJVibe readers who have followed this case over the years, there are plenty of questions that remain of interest.
The timeline of events, previous statements, details surrounding the allegations and information presented publicly since 2019 have all been subjects of intense discussion among Michael Jackson fans.
The deposition gives the defence an opportunity to examine those issues directly.
And this time, it isn’t a documentary interview.
It is testimony under oath.
Then comes Stephanie Safechuck
James’ mother Stephanie Safechuck is scheduled to be questioned over two days, on October 15 and October 20.
Stephanie has previously spoken publicly about Michael’s relationship with her family and appeared in Leaving Neverland.
Her testimony could therefore be significant to the case, particularly because she was a member of James’ family during the period in which the alleged events are said to have occurred.
According to her previous public account, the Safechuck family became close to Michael after James met him around the time of the Pepsi commercial.
She has also previously discussed the circumstances in which James was around Michael and was asked questions about whether she ever suspected anything inappropriate was happening.
Now those subjects can be explored through the formal discovery process.
What happens after the depositions?
The depositions do not mean that a verdict is coming immediately.
There is still substantial legal work to complete before this matter can reach a jury.
The cases have already survived several attempts to have the claims dismissed. In 2023, a California Court of Appeal ruled that Safechuck and Robson could pursue claims against MJJ Productions and MJJ Ventures based on alleged duties owed by those companies. The court’s decision concerned whether the corporations could owe the plaintiffs a duty of care; it did not determine whether Michael Jackson abused either man.
The case has consequently continued into extensive discovery.
That process involves both sides gathering evidence, questioning witnesses and dealing with disputes over what information should be produced before trial.
The timetable has also continued to move. In June 2026, it was reported that the proposed trial date had been pushed back to February 14, 2028, giving the case considerably more time to work through the remaining discovery and pre-trial issues.
In other words, September and October are important but they are not the finish line.
And now we wait
For years, much of the public discussion surrounding these allegations has taken place through documentaries, interviews and social media.
The legal process is different.
There are no dramatic documentary edits (or very bad edits and cuts from Reed), no carefully selected interview clips and no opportunity to simply move on to the next question.
There are lawyers asking questions, witnesses answering under oath and a court record being built.
For Michael Jackson fans who have followed this saga since 2013, that makes the upcoming Safechuck depositions worth watching closely.
James Safechuck goes first on September 14.
Stephanie Safechuck follows in October.
After that, discovery continues and the case moves another step closer to its eventual trial, currently scheduled for February 2028.
Time to testify.
