Was Michael Jackson Framed?

Before O.J. Simpson, there was Michael Jackson -- another beloved black celebrity seemingly brought down by allegations of scandal in his personal life. Those allegations -- that Jackson had molested a 13-year-old boy -- instigated a multimillion-dollar lawsuit, two grand-jury investigations and a shameless media circus. Jackson, in turn, filed charges of extortion against some of his accusers. Ultimately, the suit was settled out of court for a sum that has been estimated at $20 …

…Jackson was not charged with any crime. In 1994, Jackson reached an out- of-court settlement in a molestation lawsuit stemming from his friendship with the boy. The boy's father filed a follow-up lawsuit in 1996, claiming Jackson, by calling the allegation ``lies, lies, lies, lies'' in an interview, harmed the reputations of the father and son. The settlement agreement called for binding arbitration of any disputes, said an attorney for Jackson, Steve Cochran. AP-NY-08-20-99 1439EDT