Why is Michael's Mom Mounting Legal Challenge?

31. Katherine comes across as not concerned about money, and I seriously doubt that 80% versus 40% of a fortune is all that important to a woman who still shops at Target like the rest of us. I suspect she is wary of everyone because she has seen so many people take advantage of MJ over the years. The fact that MJ had reason to fire this lawyer in the past alone may account for her suspiciousness, especially in the very likely event that she wasn't privy to the events leading up to that decision. Joe has been public about his feeling that MJ was not business-savvy and people were easily able to take advantage of him, and it's reasonable to believe he's making Katherine paranoid and urging her in this direction. Despite Joe's flaws, even MJ referred to his father as a "genius" and a "warrior" - odds are he was speaking of his business acumen and not his parenting skills. Money becomes this dirty word right after someone dies, but the truth is someone has to mind the store. People have a hard time with Joe because he's known as the guy who beat MJ when he was a child. What if MJ hadn't told that to the world? Then he'd be a harmless old man with a big mouth. He is not polished and has a knack for inappropriateness; but if he were able to present himself in a more balanced way, people would think he was just being a responsible father and trying to ensure the family maintained control over the money. I'm not implying Joe is more capable than the executors - quite the contrary - but you can imagine if it were just Katherine to contend with, people might be inclined to take advantage of her.

Posted at 3:13AM on Jul 19th 2009 by Aly

32. Money can drive some people
Out of their minds.....

MONEY MONEY MONEY MONEY......

MUH-NAY!

Posted at 3:16AM on Jul 19th 2009 by Dee OJ'S

33. Wow... this is plain greed on the Jackson part. Branca is a long time lawyer/confidant of MJ. He had been giving him great advise, 1.i. e creating the making of the video Thriller to pay off the cost of the video production which was over $1M...also he facilitated the ATV catalog purchase. He's been with MJ and knew the business well. I think MJ had a promonition that he reinstated Branca as his lawyer a week or so before his death.

She wants to know if the she will lose her inheritance if she contest the "no contest will" ???? wow...I hope the judge follows the wishes of MJ. May he rest in peace!

Posted at 3:20AM on Jul 19th 2009 by maria

34. I don't understand why she is doing this. What part of a "no contest" clause in the will, meaning anyone who files objections to the will automatically gets no money does she not understand? Do as the Will states and get what you get or get nothing at all if you object. Seems simple enough to me. So sad all this bickering, I pray peace comes soon to everyone...

Posted at 3:52AM on Jul 19th 2009 by Dirty

35. First of all, who knows the real deal..stop assuming and keep it moving. EVAN ROSS LOOKS LIKE MJ, COMPARE MJ EARLY YEARS PICS TO EVAN ROSS.....HMMMM, IS DIANA IN MOURNING FOR MORE THAN JUST MISSING HER FRIEND? MY NEICE KEEPS SAYING THAT BOY LOOKS LIKE MJ!!!! AND SHE'S RIGHT.

Posted at 3:21AM on Jul 19th 2009 by JAM

36. WHY? The lawyers representing Mrs Jackson want a legal challenge so THEY CAN GET PAID MORE MONEY. An estate worth approximately a BILLION dollars is at stake. I can't believe a gossip website run by a lawyer would ask such a silly question.

Posted at 3:32AM on Jul 19th 2009 by did a lawyer ask this question?

37. This is the reality of the Jackson family. They saw Michael as a meal ticket. How can you say that you are a devout Christian and yet you can't make due with 40% of a billion dollars? If the Jackson's have their way Michael's children will be left with nothing. The state of California needs to assign a permanent state appointed guardian to these children and make sure that they are not being taken advantage of. You would think that Janet could step in to take care of them since she has $200 million and won't need to use them for money. Maybe one of his exes Brooke Shields or Liza Marie Presley can step in and take them since their mother seems to want nothing to do with them.

I just heard on television that Michael was going to bring his children on stage with him at one of his shows and present his children to the world for the 1st official time. It's so sad. I hope that everybody learns from this and really sits down and take the time to think long and hard about who you want to raise your children if something happens to you and be specific about how you want your children to be raised. I think this is a wakeup call to every parent out there to get some people in your life who are trustworthy and can step in your place if something should ever happen to you. This has opened my eyes for sure.

Posted at 3:36AM on Jul 19th 2009 by Lauren

38. Mementos of Jackson buried
Sunday, July 19, 2009 » 10:57am


Two vaults filled with stuffed animals, photos and other items in memory of Michael Jackson have been buried.


Two vaults filled with stuffed animals, photos and other items that were put outside Detroit's Motown Museum in memory of Michael Jackson have been buried.

'Detroit was where he was able to capture that star, hold it in his hand and put it in his heart and become who he became,' John Mason, a radio personality and Detroit Pistons announcer said at a brief remembrance at the Woodlawn Cemetery.

Police led a small funeral procession that included two hearses packed with items from the museum to the cemetery where there were two donated plots, vaults and a granite headstone engraved with a tribute to Jackson. About 40 people attended the ceremony.

Mason said the hundreds of people that gave flowers, letters, cards, photos and other items to a temporary memorial outside the Motown museum wanted to share 'pieces of our love for Michael.'

Many felt 'as if a family member... had died without us having a chance to say goodbye,' he said.

Tracy Fowlkes-Elijah, area director for Woodlawn Cemetery, suggested to museum officials that the items be buried at the cemetery because of its link to Motown and she wanted to see the mementos treated with respect.

'There (were) people there at the museum tending to this shrine... every day, fixing it,' she said. 'It's no different than when you see somebody that gets killed in a car accident and you see a shrine at that corner. People go where they feel they can memorialise.'

The 50-year-old Jackson died June 25 in California. He signed to Motown Records in the late 1960s with his brothers as the Jackson 5.

Woodlawn is the final resting place for several high profile musicians and public figures, including Rosa Parks, three original members of the Four Tops, Temptations lead singer David Ruffin and family members of Aretha Franklin, Diana Ross and Stevie Wonder.

Again i ask why tmz have none of the stories up on the site..I'mstillwondering when MJ wil lfinally be rested..poor man

Posted at 3:25AM on Jul 19th 2009 by lankandiva

39. To Chico...Amen

Posted at 10:09PM on Jul 19th 2009 by alan

40. 29. Look Creepo - when a family member dies and you loved them - normally when you are grieving you go to the gravesite to feel a sense of closure - say a prayer and perhaps leave some flowers - it helps to get over your loss of their company - Michael's poor kids have no where they can go to get that - it's so selfish of the Jackson clan not to bury Michaels body for his kids sake -

Posted at 3:35AM on Jul 19th 2009 by Angeleyes

41. Clearly lawyers are involved. They are known to suck the flesh of the dead for nourishment. And the living.

Posted at 3:37AM on Jul 19th 2009 by flashfyre

42. @22. http://www.tmz.com/2007/08/07/jermaine-jackson-off-the-hook/
Wow, what a hypocrit. Does his muslim brothers know about this tidbit of video of their brother Jermane? Hey Jermane you got some repenting to doooooooo.

@28 WTF @ that time stamp? O.o it's Sun 3:30 AM EST by my time when you posted that... >.>

Posted at 3:52AM on Jul 19th 2009 by Dirty

43. I heard this scenario in another article, not sure from where, but that the family is upset with Katherine's lawyer Londell McMillan, as he seems to be the person trying to get Katherine to get more control and become executor. As it states in the will, the executor can name a replacement if needed, that Londell McMillan is trying to get Katherine to name him as the backup. Yeah in HIS dreams! Its already a long shot already; I mean Katherine has NOT even stated WHY she would object to the executors in the first place. She knew they worked for him in the past and have been appointed as executors in his previous wills...I would like to hear WHAT the objection is about....

I honestly think her lawyers are trying to pull the rug our from underneath her as the family (all of the siblings) were stated as saying that they did not like HER lawyers. Londell McMillan is a lawyer more infamous for handling all the "babby mama drama-I want alimony" cases....

She should leave this alone, or that "No Contest Clause" will get her and she wont know what to do to get it back.

Posted at 3:41AM on Jul 19th 2009 by Maryl

44. I heard this scenario in another article, not sure from where, but that the family is upset with Katherine's lawyer Londell McMillan, as he seems to be the person trying to get Katherine to get more control and become executor. As it states in the will, the executor can name a replacement if needed, that Londell McMillan is trying to get Katherine to name him as the backup. Yeah in HIS dreams! Its already a long shot already; I mean Katherine has NOT even stated WHY she would object to the executors in the first place. She knew they worked for him in the past and have been appointed as executors in his previous wills...I would like to hear WHAT the objection is about....

I honestly think her lawyers are trying to pull the rug our from underneath her as the family (all of the siblings) were stated as saying that they did not like HER lawyers. Londell McMillan is a lawyer more infamous for handling all the "babby mama drama-I want alimony" cases....

She should leave this alone, or that "No Contest Clause" will get her and she wont know what to do to take back this objection and her lawyers split-What will she do then???

Posted at 3:43AM on Jul 19th 2009 by Maryl

45. JOE JACKSON IS BEHIND THIS BS!!!!!!! JEALOUSY, HATEFUL AND GREEDY THAT HIS WIFE WAS NAME NOT HIM !!!!!!!! IS MCMILLIAN AND LEVITCH LISTED AS "THE BEST LAWYERS IN AMERICA:??????????????

Posted at 3:44AM on Jul 19th 2009 by PerryMason