The problem with your thinking is that with battery larceny, or even murder there is clear evidence. There was absolutely no evidence in the MJ case besides personal testimony. So I can walk into MJ's bedroom when no body is looking and get money out of him by accusing him in court of molestation just because no one can prove other-wise. So MJ's lawyer likely gave him 2 choices.
First of all being that he was in the media spotlight, and he was acused. His reputation was going to be damaged no matter what happened.
So his choices where:
A: go through a long process of "he said, she said" bullshit that keeps MJ's face in court and on the news ultimately leading nowhere because of the lack of any evidence that was not circumstantial.
or B: spend less money in the long run to end the proceedings quickly and privately, keeping court pictures of MJ out of the press and proving no better that nothing happened than if it had gone to court. Don't forget this trial would've been based on juror opinion more than anything else, and regardless of MJ's possible innocence, his personality can be seen to fit the profile when looked at from the right perspective. (like i said, salem witch hunt.)