Category: MJ NEWS

Posted on Mon, Jul. 10, 2006 [b]Jackson defense in lawsuit targets plaintiff’s backdated checks[/b] LINDA DEUTSCH Associated Press SANTA MONICA, Calif. – In the days after being fired by Michael Jackson, former associate F. Marc Schaffel rushed to issue 18 backdated checks totaling $784,000, the pop star’s attorney showed Monday. Schaffel, who is suing Jackson for $1.6 million, testified in Superior Court that he wrote the checks for items including prepayment of $54,000 in rent on his home, prepayment of utilities and phone bills, and reimbursement for expenses such as camera rentals after he received the termination letter on Nov. 15, 2001. Showing Schaffel one of the checks, Jackson attorney Thomas Mundell said, “And you dated it Nov. 14 because you knew if you dated it after that you would run into problems because of the termination?” “Yes,” said Schaffel. Mundell asked, “Isn’t it true you falsified books and records to try to get as much money as possible from Mr. Jackson before your termination?”

7-8-06 [b]Jackson begs to differ over cash claims[/b] By Michael J. Tittinger Daily Press Staff Writer SM COURTHOUSE — The defense of Michael Jackson began in earnest on Friday in the $1.6 million lawsuit brought against the entertainer by a former associate, a day highlighted by bizarre twists such as cash loans smelling of French fries and a $1 million gift given by the singer to late actor Marlon Brando. The jury began the day watching hours of videotaped testimony by Jackson, who repeatedly said he couldn’t remember the details, financial or otherwise, of his dealings with F. Marc Schaffel, a former producer of adult films. Schaffel, who claims he was empowered to negotiate creative projects for Jackson in return for a percentage of the profits, was let go in 2001 after Jackson learned he was involved in the adult entertainment business. He then was back on the scene in 2003 and claims he is due unpaid royalties from a pair of TV specials.

[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.”

06-27-2006 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE – MICHAEL JACKSON ANNOUNCES ORGANIZATIONAL CHANGES Washington, D.C. ……. In what is the first of a

[b]Jackson trial to focus on accounting[/b] By Martin Kasindorf, USA TODAY Updated 6/25/2006 10:25 PM ET SANTA MONICA, Calif. — A year after Michael Jackson’s acquittal on child-molestation charges, the singer is to go to trial again today against claims that he owes $3.9 million to an unindicted co-conspirator in his criminal case. Echoes of last year’s trial in Santa Maria, Calif., could resound through the breach-of-contract trial here that pits Jackson against former associate Marc Schaffel, says Howard King, a lawyer for Schaffel. Jury selection begins today. Jackson, 47, moved to Bahrain with his three children soon after the jury found him innocent. He probably won’t appear at the trial here, but jurors will see him in a videotaped deposition, defense lawyer Thomas Mundell says.