There were, according to news reports, many other lawsuits (they were discussing his money woes)... they too were paid off.
I'm going to divulge a little something here. I raised four children two girls, two boys. One girl is Alana. The other children were "step" children.
The oldest girl came forward when she was in her early twenties to say my best friend's husband had molested her before I came on the scene.
Four other girls eventually came forward and it went to court. The incidences happened when these girls were little kids... 6 years to 10 years of age. They were victimized by a teacher/principal (some pal). He was not convicted. The judge didn't disbelieve the girls, but, here's the kicker, their memories were too muddy to be definitive proof.
So not all are convicted. Shannon you mentioned them taking pictures of Mr. Jackson's genetalia. I can guarantee you... not one of the children would be able to describe the object... just the act.
I believe someone mentioned that Mr. Jackson had a terrible childhood. I don't doubt that. However, that doesn't give anyone license to take away another child's innocence.
Alana suffered at the hands of her older step brother (he's now a medical doctor practicing in Toronto thanks to my hard work and efforts on his behalf... if I k new then...). I watched my beloved daughter fade into a fear-filled shell and I had no clue why. The agressors threaten you see. Her panic attacks were soul destroying and still I had no idea (there was a history of mental illness in my family and I thought it had skipped a generation). She had an abject terror of going to the doctor. Again, why? She would collapse on the floor writhing in pain for no apparent reason and she would beg me to make her "normal". How? We went to a psychiatrist who as it turned out had a religious bent and her tried to "save" her. Are you kidding me? He had no idea what it took to get her there and that's what he bloody does.
Finally the clues started falling in to place. She wrote a remarkable poem which I may share here someday. My blood turned to ice and my stomach to water when I read it. She looked at me and said, "Don't worry Mommy, it's not autobiographical". The paper received an A+ and I allowed myself to not believe what was blasting through my head.
She wanted to "protect" the new girl children of the perpetrator. I asked why? She just said, "Oh, you know what he's like... thinks he's the smartest on earth". She wouldn't brook any more conversation. But I think I knew then. All the changes in my dear Alana now made sense. But I couldn't pursue it. That had to be her victory.
Because I worked in Victim's Services I had access to many experts. I eventually sent the poem off without any names and asked their opinion. Several weeks later they confirmed my worst fears (mental illness would have been a gift). She had been sexually molested and almost certainly by a family member.
She eventually (years later after yet another broken relationship), confirmed what I had known for so long. She did tell her other siblings (step) and I sent a letter to her father. He forwarded the letter to the guility party. I have no idea how or if it affected him. I do know that eventually he will pay for destroying my daughter's childhood and damaging her adulthood.
She works hard every day to keep the wolves at bay. She hasn't had a panic attack for about 4 years now. She gets on planes (with terror in her heart), she has found a wonderful doctor who gets her, and she does everything she can to give herself the best life she can.
Some people think she travels to run away. I think she travels to grab some of the robbed childhood and adventures she missed. She'll not marry and she'll not have children... she has made that very clear. I respect her decision. She will see the world and share her pictures and her words and that's okay... at least she's moving towards her "normal".
V