Legal War Begins in Michael Jackson Estate

A legal war erupted Friday over earnings from Michael Jackson’s estate with a former manager claiming a 15 percent stake and the singer’s executors seeking to block any payments to the former adviser.

Attorneys for Jackson’s estate and Tohme R. Tohme filed dueling cases over the adviser’s claims that along with Jackson’s mother and three children, he is entitled to a sizable share of the singer’s post-death earnings. The estate has earned more than $300 million since Jackson’s June 2009 death.

Jackson’s estate claims Tohme used undue influence to get Jackson to sign several deals that lined his pockets and that he improperly gave away some of the singer’s property. The contracts involved a refinancing of Jackson’s debt related to Neverland Ranch and a producer’s fee that Tohme negotiated for himself for Jackson’s series of planned comeback concerts in London.

Tohme’s lawsuit, filed in Santa Monica, California, claims he was influential in reviving Jackson’s career after he was acquitted of child molestation charges. His lawsuit states he worked diligently to create “a financial and career strategy that would provide stability for Jackson and his children.”

Full Article and Source:
Jackson Estate, Ex-manager Sue Over Earnings Share

Court Rejects Michael Jackson’s Father’s Appeal

A California appeals court rejected a bid by Michael Jackson’s father to challenge the administration of his son’s lucrative estate.

A three-justice panel of the California Second District Court of Appeal unanimously affirmed a probate judge’s ruling that Joe Jackson didn’t have standing to intervene in his son’s estate.

A copy of the opinion was not immediately available.

Despite being excluded from his son’s 2002 will, Joe Jackson had been seeking to have some control over financial affairs.

Source:
Court Rejects Michael Jacson’s Father’s Appeal

Jackson Kids ‘Doing Wonderfully’

A judge says he’s pleased with how Michael Jackson’s children are adjusting to being in their grandmother’s care.

Los Angeles Superior Court Judge Mitchell Beckloff says he received a report and is “very pleased” with its contents. The judge says: “It looks like the children are really doing wonderfully with their grandmother guardian.”

Michael Jackson chose Katherine Jackson in his 2002 will to care for his children, and a court has appointed her their permanent guardian.

Nearly three months after the pop superstar’s death, his estate began paying a $60,000 per month stipend to care for and protect them.

Full Article and Source:
Judge: Jackson Kids ‘Doing Wonderfully’

Another Custody Battle?

MICHAEL JACKSON’s estate is facing another challenge for custody of the pop superstar’s three children from a woman who alleges she was married to the singer and is the kids’ biological mother. Claire Elisabeth Fields Cruise has filed three petitions for guardianship of Prince Michael, 12, Paris, 11, and seven-year-old Prince Michael II, aka Blanket.

According to TMZ.com, Cruise states in her legal papers, “I am the biological mother of Prince Michael Jackson II and all of his siblings.”

Full Article and Source:
JACKSON FAMILY FACE ANOTHER BIZARRE CUSTODY CHALLENGE

More information:

Attorneys for Katherine Jackson and Michael Jackson’s estate were in court on Monday handling matters relating to the singer’s fortune and two women with various maternity claims also showed up creating a media circus. One, who calls herself Billie Jean Jackson, and the other, Claire Elisabeth Fields Cruise – who believes she’s the mother of Tom Cruise’s son – both showed up in the courtroom at the Los Angeles Superior Court. During the middle of the estate hearing, Billie Jean stood up and said, “I’m Blanket’s mother,” referring to Jackson’s youngest son, Prince Michael II.
Jackson Estate Hearing Turns Into 3-Ring Circus

A Los Angeles judge is considering whether there should be a special guardian appointed to represent Michael Jackson’s three children in financial matters relating to the singer’s estate, says a new report.
Latest: Judge Considers Special Guardianship for Jackson’s Children

See also:
Michael Jackson – Guardianship

A Will and A Way

http://www.youtube.com/v/qLz8Qd03K0o&color1=0xb1b1b1&color2=0xcfcfcf&feature=player_embedded&fs=1

See also:
Katherine Jackson Granted Permanent Guardianship

Katherine Jackson Withdraws Petition

A Will and A Way

See also:
Katherine Jackson Granted Permanent Guardianship

Katherine Jackson Withdraws Petition

Katherine Jackson Granted Permanent Guardianship

Michael Jackson’s mother was granted permanent guardianship over the singer’s three children.

Katherine Jackson and Debbie Rowe, the mother of Jackson’s two older children, had submitted an agreement with the court in which custody of the children would go to their grandmother.

L.A. County Superior Court Judge Mitchell Beckloff ordered a court investigator’s report in eight weeks on how the children are being cared for.

Full Article and Source:
Michael Jackson’s mother granted guardianship of his children, allowance

http://www.youtube.com/v/CiWj00MGy8U&color1=0xb1b1b1&color2=0xcfcfcf&feature=player_embedded&fs=1

More information:
Jackson Guardianship Agreement, Allowance For Kids

See also:
Guardianship Hearing Postponed Again

Jackson Guardianship Case

Katherine Jackson Granted Permanent Guardianship

Michael Jackson’s mother was granted permanent guardianship over the singer’s three children.

Katherine Jackson and Debbie Rowe, the mother of Jackson’s two older children, had submitted an agreement with the court in which custody of the children would go to their grandmother.

L.A. County Superior Court Judge Mitchell Beckloff ordered a court investigator’s report in eight weeks on how the children are being cared for.

Full Article and Source:
Michael Jackson’s mother granted guardianship of his children, allowance

More information:
Jackson Guardianship Agreement, Allowance For Kids

See also:
Guardianship Hearing Postponed Again

Jackson Guardianship Case

>Katherine Jackson Withdraws Petition

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Katherine Jackson withdrew her petition for control of Michael Jackson’s estate when the Los Angeles Superior Court resumed its probate hearing.

Michael Jackson’s will, drafted in 2002, appointed Michael’s close friends John Branca and John McClain as executors of his estate that is estimated to be worth $500 million.

Katherine had filed her petition seeking control of the estate before the existence of the will was made public by the executors.

Full Article and Source:
Katherine Jackson withdraws petition for control over her son’s estate

See also:
Battle in Jackson Probate Case

Katherine Jackson Withdraws Petition

Katherine Jackson withdrew her petition for control of Michael Jackson’s estate when the Los Angeles Superior Court resumed its probate hearing.

Michael Jackson’s will, drafted in 2002, appointed Michael’s close friends John Branca and John McClain as executors of his estate that is estimated to be worth $500 million.

Katherine had filed her petition seeking control of the estate before the existence of the will was made public by the executors.

Full Article and Source:
Katherine Jackson withdraws petition for control over her son’s estate

See also:
Battle in Jackson Probate Case