Breaking News: Michael Jackson Judge Grants Lawyers Requests
Posted on Oct 02, 2009 @ 06:26PM - 5 comments
The judge in the Michael Jackson estate case has ruled that lawyers John Branca and John McClain will remain as the special administrators for his estate until January, 4, 2010.
He also gave them general powers, which Michael’s mother Katherine opposed.
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Basically, this means that the lawyers can fight the creditors claims that have been filed against Michael Jackson’s estate.
At a hearing Friday concerning Michael’s three children, who have stayed with their grandmother, Katherine, in the wake of the Thriller singer's death, the judge also ruled that the custody arrangement will remain the same.
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Katherine was appointed permanent guardian of her son's three children August 3. During the hearing Judge Mitchell Beckloff received a report about the children and said, "children doing wonderfully. Was excellent report, they are settling in with their grandmother."
In related news, surprise details from Jackson's autopsy report surfaced Thursday, stating that the Thriller singer was in relatively good health for a 50-year-old man and that no illegal drugs were detected in his system. The info could be used by prosecutors and if they decide to charge Jackson's live-in doctor, Dr. Conrad Murray, in connection with Jackson's death.
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Jackson died after suffering a sudden cardiac arrest June 25 in Los Angeles; police have ruled his death a homicide.
Katherine Jackson Camp Going To Court Wednesday; Wants Say In Michael's Estate
Posted on Sep 09, 2009 @ 06:39AM - 3 comments
The battle over Michael Jackson's estate continues in Los Angeles Wednesday afternoon, as a judge will determine whether the late entertainer's mother, Katherine, can formally contest the named executors in her son's will -- without compromising her 40 percent stake as a beneficiary.
Michael Jackson's Funeral To Be Paid By His Estate
Posted on Sep 02, 2009 @ 01:47PM - 3 comments
Michael Jackson will finally be laid to rest on Thursday and the drama over who would foot the bill for the anticipated event is over. A judge ruled on Tuesday that the special administrators for his estate can use his money to pay for the funeral.
Los Angeles Superior Court Judge Mitchell Beckloff said he would leave it to the administrators John Branca and John McClain to decide wither they would honor Katherine Jackson's request that estate funds be used since he did not have enough information one what was in the best interests of the estate.
"The expenses will be extraordinary, but Michael was extraordinary," Jeryll Cohen, Branca and McClain's attorney, said. She also mentioned that the estate is solvent and declined to go into specifics costs for the funeral. An attorney for Jackson's three children did not object to estate funds being used.
Michael Jackson's Brother To Testify Against Proposed Nostalgia Tour
Posted on Aug 21, 2009 @ 08:47AM - 3 comments
Michael Jackson's younger brother Randy is on the witness list and could possibly testify Friday in Los Angeles County Superior Court against a proposal by concert promoter AEG Live for a 3-city memorabilia tour that would begin this October, according to the Associated Press. The tour will coincidence with the release of a feature film using footage from Jackson's final rehearsals.
Judge OKs Michael Jackson Movie Plans
Posted on Aug 10, 2009 @ 01:14PM - Add a comment
Michael Jackson is coming to the silver screen one last time.
Plans for a Columbia Pictures film chronicling the final days of Michael Jackson -- including footage shot at the late Thriller singer's last series of rehearsals -- were approved at a Los Angeles Superior Court hearing, officials announced Monday.
Hearing To Determine Fate Of Michael Jackson Movie
Posted on Aug 10, 2009 @ 06:55AM - Add a comment
Plans for a Columbia Pictures film chronicling the final days of Michael Jackson -- including footage shot at the late Thriller singer's last series of rehearsals -- are likely to be approved Monday at a Los Angeles Superior Court hearing.
The executors of Jackson's estate, John Branca and John McClean, negotiated the pending deal, in which Columbia Pictures will pay AEG $60 million for rights to the footage. If Judge Mitchell Beckloff approves the deal, Michael Jackson's estate would receive around 90 percent of the profits, with the other 10 percent going to AEG.
New Legal Docs: Jackson Estate Administrators Are Made Official
Posted on Aug 05, 2009 @ 08:40PM - 4 comments
The ink is now dry. John Branca and John McClain are offfically the Special Administrators with Special Powers for the Estate of Michael Jackson.
In legal documents obtained by RadarOnline.com, Judge Mitchell Beckloff signed off on what was verbally announced in his court room on Monday.
Branca and McClain can now negotiate and litigate, sign contracts and do all that other fun stuff Special Administrators with Special Powers get to do. And for the privilege, they've had to post a $1 million bond to protect the Estate's interests.
The order stays in place until October 2. That's when they're all back in court to hear whatever objections Katherine Jackson may have to leaving the two men in charge of her son's assets.
BREAKING NEWS: Jackson Executors To Stay In Place
Posted on Aug 03, 2009 @ 05:52PM - 8 comments
Monday’s L.A. County Superior Court hearing on all things Michael Jackson has now come to a close and the judge has ordered that the two men the singer designated to be his executors – attorney John Branca and music mogul John McClain – remain in charge of his estate for the next 60 days.
Michael’s mother Katherine has opposed their appointment as executors and may still be hoping to get some control over his son’s assets by being named as a third executor.
The parties will all be back in court on August 11 on several issues regarding Michael’s AEG contract.
"The Special Administrators are in the process of creating significant value for Michael Jackson's beneficiaries -- his three children, his mother Mrs. Katherine Jackson and the charitable causes that were so important to him during his lifetime," stated Howard Weitzman, attorney for Mr. Branca and Mr. McClain said in a statement to RadarOnline.com.
He also points out "the court granted the request of the Special Administrators that Mrs. Jackson and her attorneys sign a confidentiality agreement, previously provided them, so that they could receive information to review on three important business transactions."
EXCLUSIVE: John Branca Deposition Delayed
Posted on Jul 28, 2009 @ 06:46PM - 3 comments
Katherine Jackson's request to have the executor of her late son's will, John Branca, deposed on July 31st has been delayed, RadarOnline.com has learned exclusively.
Michael Jackson's will was the subject of a deposition being sought by Katherine because she alleges Branca has yet to turn over her son’s AEG Live contract to her.
A source close to the situation says "the court put off Mrs. Jackson's request to take depositions," and that no further discoveries can be made until August 3.
The source is also sure that nothing pertinent is being kept from the singer's mother.
"The executors have no secrets," the insider said.
"Any inference that we have not been forthcoming in providing information to Katherine Jackson's attorneys is not accurate," a spokesperson for the executors said.
"In his will Michael was very specific that his mother act as the Guardian of his children and that Mr. Branca and Mr. McClain be the Executors of his Will and Trustees of his Trust."
Legally, Branca cannot release the contract to Jackson with AEG's consent. The source says that Londell McMillan, Katherine's attorney, will not agree to certain confidentiality agreements attached to viewing the document.
Michael Jackson's Mom Continues Court Battle With Estate Administrators
Posted on Jul 28, 2009 @ 02:35PM - 4 comments
Michael Jackson's mother Katherine is continuing her battle with the administrator's of her son's estate, filing new court papers Tuesday.
Katherine previously failed in an attempt to be appointed administrator and now she's asking the court to shorten the time needed to obtain access to documents related to the estate.
Tellingly, the bad blood between Katherine and administrators John Branca and John McClain is evident in the new papers. Her lawyers write that their negotiations with the Special Administrators to obtain documents without subpoenas and discovery methods have "ultimately proven to be fruitless."
Read the court papers here.
EXCLUSIVE: Katherine Jackson Lawyer's Comments Disputed -- Estate Battle Continues
Posted on Jul 27, 2009 @ 05:27PM - 10 comments
Katherine Jackson has not had a role in Michael Jackson's business dealings during the past four years, despite her lawyer saying she did.
That's what a source close to the situation tells RadarOnline.com exclusively about statements made by Londell McMillan on The Today Show Monday.
"The past four years Michael has demanded and required that she (Katherine) had a seat at the table for any of his major business assets," said McMillan, who represents both Katherine and Joe Jackson.
But that statement is refuted by a close source, who says: "There is absolutely no evidence that Katherine played any role in Michael's business dealings. There has been nothing presented in court that Katherine had any role in Michael's 'business assets' as Londell claimed."
McMillan also indicated the estate's administrators "should have been working together" with him to coordinate requests for cash to be doled out to the Jackson family, including Michael's children. But the source says the estate executors, John Branca and John McClain "asked how much Katherine Jackson, and Michael's three children would need for a monthly allowance. The amount that Katherine requested was agreed upon by the executors without any hesitation. The amount is under court seal and has been redacted from court records."
McMillan has been attempting to help Katherine get control of the estate through various court filings. Looks like he's not done.
