The court fight between Michael Jackson's companies and the two men who accuse the late singer of sexually abusing them as boys is getting more heated. Each side is now trying to put the responsibility somewhere else.

A judge in Los Angeles has sided with Wade Robson and James Safechuck. The ruling blocks the Jackson side from adding fresh arguments to its defense at this point in the case.

Who else is to blame?

Lawyers for the companies wanted to revise their responses to the lawsuits. Their goal was to argue that other people bear responsibility for what allegedly happened to the two men.

In their filing the attorneys flatly deny that Jackson ever abused any child. They also note that Robson, Safechuck and their parents were some of the singer's most loyal defenders for years after he died.

Even so, the companies said that if jurors do believe the abuse claims, they should be able to argue others share the blame for any damages. That group would include people who were never sued, such as those the companies say encouraged or helped the boys' friendships with Jackson.

Too late, the accusers say

Robson and Safechuck pushed back. They told the court the companies had waited far too long to raise the idea. They asked the judge to reject the request.

The judge denied the motion for now. The ruling still lets the companies try again later with a new request if the situation calls for it.

The claims

Robson says Jackson abused him after the two met when he was 7 years old. Safechuck says he met the star on the set of a Pepsi commercial in 1986. He claims the abuse took place in the years that followed.