Jackson Executors Approved by Judge
It's official -- John Branca and John McClain have been named the executors of Michael Jackson's estate.
The papers were signed and stamped today.
Filed under: Celebrity Justice, Michael Jackson
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Joe Jackson Shut Down
The judge in the Michael Jackson estate case just put a quick stop to Joe Jackson's objections to the will and to the executors -- in a nutshell, the judge said Joe had no dog in the fight ... no legal standing.
The judge indicated the way is now cleared to formally appoint John Branca and John McClain co-executors of Jackson's estate.
Filed under: Celebrity Justice, Michael Jackson
Joe Jackson's Ultimatum
Joe Jackson's lawyer just made it clear to the judge -- if Michael Jackson's dad doesn't get an allowance, he'll file a creditor's claim against his son's estate.
Brian Oxman, Joe's lawyer, just said out loud he thinks Katherine has "struck a deal with the estate" rather than staying committed to challenging the will, John Branca, and on and on. Branca's lawyer, Howard Weitzman, said there has never been a "deal" with Katherine.
Oxman said if Joe doesn't get the allowance he's after, Michael would have breached a contract he had with daddy and that's why he'd then file a creditor's claim. Oxman didn't elaborate on what kind of contract MJ made with Joe.
And then there's this. Katherine Jackson's lawyer said Katherine doesn't object to Joe getting an allowance, but was quick to add that Joe has no legal standing to appear in probate court.
Filed under: Celebrity Justice, Michael Jackson
Michael Jackson's Parents at Legal War
What a turn! Katherine and Joe Jackson are fighting each other in court ... right now.
Katherine's new lawyer, Adam Streisand, is arguing to the judge that Joe has no legal standing to object to John Branca and John McClain as executors, nor does he have any standing to object to the validity of the will.
Streisand is arguing since Michael Jackson cut Joe out of the will, he has no dog in this fight.
During the fight, Billie Jean Jackson -- you know -- just stood up and said that she's an heir so she'll object ... so Joe's got that going for him.
Stay tuned...
Filed under: Celebrity Justice, Michael Jackson
The Mistake in Michael Jackson's Will
Michael Jackson's 2002 will has a mistake in it, TMZ has learned -- but it looks like a case of no harm, no foul.
As we first reported, according to the will -- dated July 7, 2002 -- it was signed in Los Angeles. But Randy Jackson told TMZ Michael was in New York City on that date.
Randy thinks the signature on Michael's will is a forgery. But Howard Weitzman, the lawyer for the estate, tells TMZ the signature is valid and the witnesses saw Jackson put pen to paper.
We've now confirmed Jackson definitely signed the will in New York City on 7-7-02. So the reference to Los Angeles is clearly a mistake.
Our sources say the person who wrote "Los Angeles" is one of the witnesses to the will and simply forgot where he was.
This mistake will not invalidate the will. Ironically, if the will were declared invalid, the prior 1997 will would be probated. Just like the 2002 will, the 1997 will creates a trust. We've learned the '97 trust -- just like the 2002 trust -- leaves the same percentage to the same people: Katherine Jackson gets 40% for her lifetime, MJ's kids get 40% and the remaining 20% goes to charity.
By the way ... guess who one of the executors is in the '97 will? John Branca.
Filed under: Michael Jackson, Exclusives
Michael Jackson -- Power to the Lawyer!
Michael Jackson's estate lawyers want the judge to lay down the law once and for all ... John Branca and John McClain have broad powers to make decisions for all things MJ.
The attorneys filed legal papers today asking the court to put in writing what the judge said earlier this month -- outlining what Branca and McClain have authority to do as Special Administrators.
The judge gave the duo broader powers than they had initially -- but lawyers for Katherine Jackson have kicked up some dust.
There's a legal showdown on Thursday at 2:30 PM PT. We'll be there.
Filed under: Michael Jackson, Exclusives
Jackson Lawyers -- Let's Make This Clear!
We've learned ... lawyers representing Michael Jackson's estate are going to court this morning, asking the judge to streamline the administration of the estate -- specifically, clarifying they have the power to make day-to-day decisions without having to go before a judge.
Lawyers for John Branca and John McClain claim the judge has already given them broad powers to make decisions over Jackson's estate, and only the biggest ones would require them going into court. But Katherine's lawyers haven't always seen it that way, so the estate wants the judge to restate it for them.
They're at the courthouse now.
UPDATE: 1:27 PM PT The judge just put off the hearing until later this month, when he'll formally hear the case.
Filed under: Celebrity Justice, Michael Jackson, Exclusives
Alleged Jackson Charity Won't Back Down
The charity being sued by the administrators of Michael Jackson's estate says they should be viewed as "friends" of the Jackson estate and they will fight to continue to protect his legacy.
Heal the World, which is being accused of ripping off Jackson's name and likeness without permission, denies all the allegations, saying, "This suit has not been brought against the charity to 'protect' Mr. Jackson, his estate, his legacy and certainly not his humanitarian aims as has been claimed. You don't 'protect' yourself from a friend and we are no adversary."
The lawsuit claims the Heal the World charity had no relationship with Jackson or his family.
Filed under: Celebrity Justice, Michael Jackson
Joe Jackson to Branca: 'Mr. Who?'
Joe Jackson just arrived at the L.A. County Courthouse in the Michael Jackson probate case.
As we first reported, we expect some family members along with attorney Brian Oxman and possibly Katherine Jackson's lawyers, to challenge John Branca as the named co-executor in Jackson's will. We're told they have a document showing Jackson fired Branca. It's true, Jackson fired the lawyer several times over 29 years, but Jackson rehired Branca a week before his death.
The judge will be all ears at 1:30 PM PT when the parties discuss how well Jackson's 3 kids are doing with the guardianship.
By the way, when asked about Branca, Joe said, "Mr. Who?"
Filed under: Michael Jackson, Exclusives
Jackson Family Claims MJ Fired Branca
TMZ has learned an attorney acting on behalf of at least two members of Michael Jackson's family will go to court tomorrow and ask the judge to boot named co-executor John Branca from the case, but there's something they don't know.
Attorney Brian Oxman -- the lawyer who pops up from time to time in the Jackson saga -- says he has a document proving Jackson fired Branca.
Branca served as Jackson's lawyer on and off for 29 years. Sources connected to Branca freely admit Jackson fired the lawyer in 1990, but rehired him 3 years later. We're also told Branca quit Michael in 2006 because Jackson insisted on hiring "advisors" Branca believed would do great harm to MJ.
A month before Jackson died, he began conversations with Branca, saying he wanted him back in the fold. We've learned on June 17, eight days before Jackson died, Jackson signed a letter hiring Branca back as his lawyer.
Howard Weitzman, a lawyer for the estate, confirmed, "In mid-June, Michael Jackson retained John Branca to represent him as general and entertainment counsel in his business and personal affairs." Weitzman added, "The letter retaining Branca was shared with lawyers for Katherine Jackson very early in the probate proceedings."
Attorney Londell McMillan, who reps Katherine Jackson, tells TMZ "We will not comment on what we will do tomorrow." McMillan also had no comment on Brian Oxman, but did say he had "valuable information."
Filed under: Michael Jackson, Exclusives
Jackson Estate Sues Heal the World
Michael Jackson's estate has filed a lawsuit against the Heal the World Foundation.
The Special Administrators, John Branca and John McClain, have alleged in the suit the Foundation is using Jackson's name and likeness without permission.
According to the lawsuit the Foundation and other related entities have registered 6 trademarks and have applied with 41 additional ones, all suggesting a connection to Jackson.
The legal papers acknowledge Jackson founded his own Heal the World Foundation in 1992 but it has no connection to the defendants.
The suit alleges the defendants cybersquatted various domain names, including "mjaid.net," "healthworldfoundation.net," and "mjquotes.net."
Filed under: Celebrity Justice, Michael Jackson, Exclusives
Katherine Jackson Can Challenge Administrators
The probate judge in the Michael Jackson estate case has ruled Katherine Jackson can challenge the special administrators and not forfeit her position as a beneficiary in Michael's will.
As a result of the ruling, Katherine can now safely challenge special administrators John Branca and John McClain without jeopardizing her position in the will -- she's set to get 40% of the net value of the estate.
The will has a "no contest" clause -- which means any beneficiary who contests the will gets aced out of inheriting anything. But the court has now ruled challenging the special administrators is not a "contest" of the will itself.
Interestingly, the court specifically ruled .... Katherine objecting to the special administrators on grounds there was some sort of "undue influence" imposed on M.J. is not a "contest" under the will.
Filed under: Michael Jackson, Exclusives
Jackson Honchos Score $3 Mil
The special administrators of Michael Jackson's estate scored a big one -- reeling in $3 million from the company that issued a life insurance policy to M.J.
John Branca (above) and John McClain quietly cashed in the policy -- reports it was worth upwards of $20 million are simply not true. It was a $3 million payout. And here's why it was a swift move -- the coroner hasn't even released the autopsy report yet.
Some life insurance companies are hinky about paying out proceeds until the cause of death is known. Remember Heath Ledger's death, when the life insurance company wouldn't promptly fork over the $10 million because Heath allegedly lied about drug use on the application?
Somehow Branca and McClain convinced the insurance company to ante up with lightening speed -- and the estate is $3 million richer for it.
Filed under: Michael Jackson, Exclusives
Dogfight Shaping Up in Jackson Probate
Katherine Jackson's lawyer is officially squaring off with the two men Michael Jackson selected to handle his estate, claiming the co-executors are intentionally trying to keep Jackson's mom in the dark.
Londell McMillan just issued a statement making it clear -- he wants Katherine to become a co-executor. McMillan claims the co-executors -- John Branca and John McClain -- are not letting Katherine see the agreement Jackson signed with AEG. ... which McMillan says could be a huge source of income for the estate.
McMillan claims the co-executors are imposing unreasonable demands on Katherine -- requiring her to make special promises of confidentiality for the benefit of AEG.
The co-executors have maintained all along they were the ones Michael selected to manage the estate and they are doing their job.
One thing is clear -- it's getting ugly.
UPDATE 9:43 AM ET Reps for the co-executors just issued a statement, saying the only thing the co-executors asked of Mrs. Jackson is a confidentiality agreement with respect to the AEG agreement but her lawyers refused. They also say it's apparent Katherine's lawyers want to "rewrite Michael's will to make Mrs. Jackson 'Guardian of the Estate' and have her appointed as an executor" ... the co-executors say it's just not what Michael wanted and he said so in his will.
Filed under: Michael Jackson
Katherine Jackson -- I Will Be Heard!
Katherine Jackson wants "a seat at the table" in all matters involving Michael Jackson's estate.
Katherine's lawyer, Londell McMillan, tells us Katherine called him the day Michael died, asking him to come to the house. McMillan says when he showed up the first weekend, Katherine and Joe expressed "concern" over the estate and hired him to represent Katherine's legal interests.
McMillan says Katherine will not challenge the will, but as far as the executors are concerned, he says, "She deserves a seat at the table at a minimum." McMillan would not say if Katherine merely wanted to be named as a third executor or whether she wanted to challenge John Branca and John McClain, the named co-executors.
Sources connected with Katherine claim she has already asked the co-executors to allow her to participate in the decision-making and her request was "rejected."
McMillan says neither he nor Katherine are pushing for Joe to become a co-executor.
McMillan, who worked for Michael Jackson during the last 3 1/2 years of the singer's life, also has repped Katherine on various business matters related to her son.
McMillan says he's "optimistic they can work things out, but I'm prepared to go the distance if Mrs. Jackson directs to do so."
Filed under: Michael Jackson
