1. Strategic Legal Decision: If Michael Jackson had not settled the civil case in 1994, the civil proceedings would have taken place before the criminal trial. This would have severely disadvantaged Jackson’s defense strategy by revealing their arguments and tactics to the prosecution, allowing them to adjust and circumvent his defense.
  2. No Admission of Guilt: The settlement document explicitly stated that there was no admission of guilt from Michael Jackson and the Chandlers willingly signed it. An accuser and his parents whose objective are not obtaining money but justice would not do that.
  3. Civil Settlement Does Not Imply Guilt: Jackson only settled the civil case after the court ruled that he must testify in the civil case even if the criminal case was still in process, thereby forcing him to expose his defenses to the DA before the trial.
  4. Advice from Legal Counsel: Jackson’s legal team, including attorneys, advised him that settling the civil case was the best course of action to protect his rights for a fair trial and ensure a strong defense in a possible criminal trial.
  5. Focus on Criminal Defense: Innocent people can also be convicted, while a civil case can only lead to a monetary loss, at a criminal trial your freedom is at stake. By settling the civil case with the Chandlers, Michael Jackson’s legal team could concentrate on the criminal investigation, where the stakes included potential imprisonment. This strategic move allowed them to avoid distractions and better prepare for the more demanding criminal trial.
  6. Financial Considerations: Although the settlement amount sounds significant, money was not the issue for Jackson, he would have lost that $15 million in any case thanks to the combined effects of legal fees and loss of earning. He lost far more than $15 million as a result of the 2005 trial despite winning on all counts.
  7. Questionable Legal Strategy by Chandler’s Attorneys: In their book the Chandlers admitted that their goal was to get a “highly profitable settlement” and opposed to the criminal case preceding the civil one. They also got rid of Gloria Allred after she declared that Jordan was ready to testify in criminal court. They replaced her with Larry Feldman who from the start was focused on how to get Jackson’s money without having to prove anything at trial.
  8. Prolonged Media Attacks: The media was heavily biased against Jackson from the moment the allegations were publicized. A drawn-out civil trial would have kept the allegations in the media spotlight which would potentially influence public opinion and prejudicing the jury pool for the criminal trial.
  9. A No-Win Situation: One of the Chandlers lawyers, Robert Shapiro stated, “A trial for Michael Jackson is a disaster, he can’t win. Because even if he’s acquitted, when the public hears what this boy has to say, you will have no endorsements, you will have no contracts, you are virtually finished. If we say that, it is my belief we have control of the situation, we have the power.”  This clearly showcases that Jackson would not have been able to clear his name no matter the outcome, thus the argument that an innocent man would not settle but fight and win a trial to clear his name does not hold water here.