Year: 2006

[b]Michael Jackson tells his side by video in suit over alleged debt[/b] By LINDA DEUTSCH The Associated Press SANTA MONICA The plaintiff in a lawsuit against Michael Jackson prepared to rest his case Friday after the jury was shown hours of videotaped testimony from the star, who professed little memory of major financial transactions involving the former associate who claims he’s owed $1.6 million. Jackson, who was interviewed twice in London by F. Marc Schaffel’s attorney, Howard King, said he did remember at least one occasion when Schaffel delivered money to him on the set of a music video. He said it arrived in a fast-food bag and they called it “french fries,” which became their slang for money. But Jackson said he thought that any money Schaffel gave him came from Jackson’s own funds.

[b]Jackson adviser: trial signals star’s new approach to business[/b] LINDA DEUTSCH, AP Special Correspondent July 7, 2006 12:10 AM PST SANTA MONICA, Calif. (AP) – Michael Jackson’s decision to fight his former associate F. Marc Schaffel in a civil suit now under way is symbolic of ”a new day” in Jackson’s financial life, the man who is restructuring his business affairs said. L. Londell McMillan, a New York lawyer who has attended every day of the current trial, was responding to a comment by Schaffel’s attorney Howard King, who told reporters it would have been less expensive and more expeditious for Jackson to have settled the case before it went to trial. ”It would have been to all parties’ benefit to settle,” McMillan said Thursday. ”But Mr. Schaffel’s request was outrageous. And Mr. Jackson is taking a new approach to people trying to hijack him with dishonorable claims.” ”This is a very important case,” he added. ”It’s the beginning of a new day defending against bogus claims and accepting responsibility for his business.”

[b]Jackson lawyer targets lack of documentation for money claims [/b] By Linda Deutsch ASSOCIATED PRESS 2:23 p.m. July 6, 2006 SANTA MONICA, Calif. – A former associate suing Michael Jackson testified Thursday that he never got a receipt for a $300,000 payment he claims he delivered to a “Mr. X” in South America on the pop star’s behalf. The issue of the mysterious payment was used by Jackson attorney Thomas Mundell as an example of big-ticket claims made by plaintiff F. Marc Schaffel that are not documented. Schaffel, who worked with Jackson on various projects for three years, testified Wednesday that the money was his and he was never fully repaid. He testified Thursday that in the entire time he was with Jackson he loaned the pop star millions of dollars and never once got a receipt.

[b]Absent Jackson is Still A Presence[/b] BY MICHAEL J. TITTINGER Daily Press Staff Writer … Jackson’s camp contends Schaffel was a glorified “gopher” who had no experience in the music industry, with Mundell indicating it would be preposterous to allow him to produce such a complicated recording session that included in upwards of 20 major label recording artists. “Michael Jackson is a trusting, gullible, almost childlike man,” said Mundell, explaining that a slew of advisors surround the entertainer to protect the forgetful genius. “He’s a hard guy to take advantage of… but if you want to rip off Michael Jackson, the way to do it is get close to him. You have to become his friend.” Mundell claims Schaffel befriended Jackson, then took advantage of that trust by demanding reimbursements and repayment of loans of which Jackson was not aware.

[b]Jury in Michael Jackson civil suit sees star’s video testimony[/b] LINDA DEUTSCH Associated Press … Jackson’s lawyer, Thomas C. Mundell, contended in his statement that the pop star is famously forgetful and he charged that Schaffel fraudulently shuffled funds from Jackson’s accounts to his own pocket and billed Jackson for expenses when he no longer worked for him. A detailed forensic accounting of Jackson’s books would show that Schaffel actually owes Jackson money, Mundell said. Vast amounts of money delivered to Jackson by Schaffel were actually wire transfers from other people and not money that Schaffel paid out of his own funds, the attorney said. Schaffel is a meticulous record keeper, saving receipts for every penny spent, but has no receipts to show money delivered or obtained from Jackson, Mundell said, showing the jury expensed receipts submitted by Schaffel that included $5.17 spent at a Taco Bell and $2.11 spent at a 7-Eleven for Advil. “The evidence will show Mr. Schaffel should have left well enough alone,” said Mundell. “He could have gotten away with a chunk of money from Michael Jackson … but he sued for several million dollars.”

[b]Michael Jackson moving to Europe to resume career[/b] By Dan Whitcomb LOS ANGELES (Reuters) – Michael Jackson, who earlier this year shuttered his Neverland Valley Ranch in California, will move to Europe to reignite a musical career stalled by his sex abuse trial, a spokeswoman for the pop star said on Tuesday. Jackson, who has been living in Bahrain since his acquittal on child molestation charges in June of 2005, has also severed ties with his longtime business managers as part of a “sweeping restructuring” of his affairs, spokeswoman Raymone Bain said. “He’s just decided that with all of the projects he’s going to be involved with and all of the people he’s beginning to work with in the music industry, it’s easier (to live in Europe),” Bain said. “He’ll be going back and forth to Bahrain but Europe will be his principal residence.”