Michael Jackson's Will // Alles zum Testament und Katherines Mühen um mehr Mitsprache

Jackson family in legal bid for his money

Mother accused of 'frankly improper race to courthouse' before funeral

By Guy Adams in Los Angeles
Monday, 6 July 2009

The next round in the billion-dollar battle over Michael Jackson's estate will play out in a Los Angeles court today, as the singer's family spends the eve of his funeral applying for his possessions to be transferred to their control.

Judge Mitchell Beckloff will decide whether the King of Pop's worldly goods should be temporarily turned over to a trust that will benefit his mother, three children, and various charities.

Although the Michael Jackson Family Trust was created by what appears to be the singer's final will, written in 2002, the speed of the family's attempt to get its hands on the inheritance has prompted widespread criticism.

A lawyer for John Branca and John McClain, who are Jackson's executors, last week accused Katherine Jackson, 79, of "a race to the courthouse that is, frankly, improper".

A stone's throw from Los Angeles Superior Court, where a record 70 news organisations have applied to broadcast live from 9am local time [5pm GMT], plans are taking shape for Jackson's private funeral and public memorial service tomorrow. More than 1.6 million people registered for tickets to the service at the Staples Centre, a sports arena and concert venue in central Los Angeles. Just 8,750 of them learnt last night that they had two free passes in a computerised lottery.

Details of the event have yet to be announced, but the organiser Randy Phillips said to expect a mixture of songs, readings and speeches, rather than the razzmatazz of a pop concert. The Jackson family has been given 9,000 tickets to distribute to friends.

"In his private life, Michael was something of a traditionalist, so it would be wrong for this to be anything but a reverent, poignant, memorial," Mr Phillips said. "It won't be a show; it's a service. There will be a time, in the future, to celebrate him. But now is the time to bury him." Mr Phillips, the head of AEG Live, the firm that was promoting Jackson's comeback concerts at the O2 Arena in London, is "conceptualising" the memorial with Ken Erlich, who masterminds the Grammys, and Kenny Ortega, the producer of Dirty Dancing. He said they have "a list of people" who are being asked to perform or appear.

No decision has yet been made on whether Jackson's gold-plated coffin will be transported to the Staples Centre, or whether it will go straight to the Forest Lawn Cemetery, where he is to be buried tomorrow. "The casket is a public safety issue and, like every detail of the memorial, it must also be signed off by Katherine Jackson," Mr Phillips said.

He has faced criticism for allowing the 50-year-old singer to attempt a demanding series of 50 gigs. But he says Jackson was in perfect shape, and last week released video footage of him singing and dancing during rehearsal on 23 June, just 48 hours before he died.

"In the past year, I knew Michael Jackson more than anybody, and the only problem I had with him was that he was a bit like an absent-minded professor when it came to eating," Mr Phillips said. "He was too slim. Other than that, he was fit and healthy, and the video proves it."

Some reports have suggested that AEG could lose as much as £100m from the cancelled concerts. But Mr Phillips insisted they have "no financial concerns". Ticket-holders have been offered a refund, but between 20 and 30 per cent are choosing instead to be given specially designed, hologrammed tribute tickets, to keep as a memento.

AEG also owns 100 hours of video footage of rehearsals for the comeback concerts, together with audio recordings of the singer practising. "Obviously, I wish he were still here," Mr Phillips added. "I loved him. But we were filming the last days of Michael Jackson's rehearsals, and we have enough audio for two live albums. It could eradicate, or at least minimise our losses."

Los Angeles police are hoping to prevent hundreds of thousands of people descending on the streets, and have vetoed any procession. People without tickets will be banned from several blocks around the venue

Jackson family in legal bid for his money - News, Music - The Independent

Michael Jackson's Estate Open For Business


July 14, 2009 10:02 AM ET

Two weeks after Michael Jackson's death, administrators of his estate are temporarily authorized to reopen for business and negotiate, among other things, agreements relating to the singer's ill-fated "This Is It" concert tour.

While fans in London on Monday lit candles and placed flowers outside the O2 Arena where the entertainer was due to begin his run of 50 concerts, lawyers were in a Los Angeles Superior Court ironing out details of the powers given to two men named by Jackson to administer his estate.

Superior Court Judge Mitchell Beckloff conferred wide-ranging authority on attorney John Branca and recording executive John McClain, at least until Aug. 3 when another hearing is scheduled.

The list of powers for the administrators includes taking control of all of Jackson's physical assets and placing them in secure storage facilities; hiring people with expertise in handling various aspects of the estate with fees subject to court approval; and handling tax matters.

The judge also authorized Branca and McClain to negotiate with AEG, the producers of the concert, for the benefit of the estate.

Attorney Paul Gordon Hoffman, a member of the team representing Branca and McClain, said a quick court order was needed so the two men could "begin to take the actions necessary to preserve the assets of the estate and address the needs" of Jackson's three children.

Meanwhile, papers filed in court showed Jackson's mother, Katherine, is seeking a stronger role in her late son's affairs.

Hoffman said in a nine-page declaration that as late as 4:10 p.m. Sunday, an attorney for the Jackson family sent an e-mail "stating that it was his intent to have the order reflect that Katherine Jackson should be treated like a third trustee."

Hoffman argued that to gain that power, attorneys for Katherine Jackson would need to appear and submit a competing proposed order. No such order was submitted.

The judge signed the papers without hearing further argument.

Hoffman said in his filing that Branca and McClain have been submitting to Katherine Jackson's lawyers "voluminous and continuous information on the business opportunities being presented and their responses or intended responses."

Hoffman said Katherine Jackson's lawyers "have stated that they were pleased with the information being provided, and that their objections were not predicated on the actual provision of information, but rather on the lack of a formal role for Katherine Jackson or a court-ordered requirement that the information be provided."

Attorney Burt Levitch, who appeared for Katherine Jackson, referred questions to New York lawyer Londell McMillan. A call to McMillan was not immediately returned on Monday. Branca's lawyer, Howard Weitzman, declined to comment.

Beckloff stated at a hearing July 6 that he was not appointing Katherine Jackson as a co-administrator but suggested she should be kept aware of what the administrators are doing. He suggested he should be notified as well.

Also Monday, the judge formally revoked his earlier order that gave Katherine Jackson limited powers over some of her son's possessions when it was believed he died without a will.

Jackson died on June 25, leaving a will that provided for a trust to be administered by Branca and McClain. The beneficiaries named were his mother, his three children and an unnamed group of children's charities.

Michael Jackson's Estate Open For Business

^tjoa, was denn wohl...

Zitat von coffeeshop

wenn debbie paris und prince bekommt, werden diese zum einen von Blanket getrennt und zweitens hätte sie Macht über fast 70 mio. dollar der Kinder, was katherine vermutlich nicht will (im sinne der kinder) und die kiddies bei ihr wahrscheinlich besser aufgehoben sind, als bei debbie.

wie kommsch auf debbie...?

Jackson Family War Over Michael's Will

Posted Jul 21st 2009 2:30AM by TMZ Staff

Jackson family sources tell us there's a bitter dispute over who will call the shots in probating Michael Jackson's will.

Katherine Jackson has hired an attorney -- Londell McMillan -- and we're told it's a done deal that McMillan will challenge the co-executors Michael selected. We're told most of the brothers -- Randy the notable exception -- are angry that McMillan has asserted himself by challenging co-executors John Branca and John McClain, both long time advisors and friends of M.J.

Ultimately, Joe Jackson has asserted his influence over Katherine to hire McMillan for the dirty work. We're told Katherine is really being manipulated and doesn't even have real objections to Branca and McMillan.

Randy is coy on who Joe and McMillan wants as executor instead, but the family is worried Joe and McMillan wants someone who will do anything but look out for the best interests of the estate -- especially since Joe is cut out of the will like a bad cancer.

It's all shaping up to be an ugly mess.

Jackson Family War Over Michael's Will | TMZ.com