2.25.09
Yet Another Court Wanting Money
A Torrance law firm has once again emerged the victor in a protracted court battle with pop star Michael Jackson over unpaid legal fees.
A Torrance law firm has once again emerged the victor in a protracted court battle with pop star Michael Jackson over unpaid legal fees.
The 2 nd District Court of Appeal issued an opinion Monday favoring Ayscough & Marar, which represented Jackson on various civil matters around the time he was on trial for child molestation in 2005.
However, Jackson beat it before paying the $217,000 bill.
Ayscough & Marar sued Jackson and two of his companies in Torrance Superior Court. Just as the case was to go to trial before a downtown Los Angeles judge in June 2007, Jackson agreed to pay what he owed, plus interest.
Then, Jackson appealed, claiming Judge James Chalfant wrongly denied his quest to postpone the trial.
"It made no sense," Brent Ayscough said in a telephone interview Tuesday. "How do you appeal something you agreed to pay?"
A message left for Jackson's attorney, Thomas Mundell, was not immediately returned.
In addition to the legal fees, Jackson also agreed to pay $175,000 to cover Ayscough & Marar's expenses for suing Jackson, Ayscough said.
At the time of Jackson's appeal, he had paid the firm approximately $440,000. Ayscough said they will likely file a motion to recoup the costs of fighting the appeal, too.
Ayscough said that his firm was hired through Jackson's brother and then business manager, Randy Jackson - who remains a longtime client of the firm.
"We were turned over his civil cases," Ayscough said.
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"There were quite a few."
At the time, Jackson was defending himself against FALSE accusations. #### Jackson was acquitted of the charges.
The judge in Santa Maria had issued a gag order in that case, and various news organizations were fighting it.
Ayscough & Marar fought mostly successfully to keep the information related to the criminal case out of the media, and also dealt with other civil cases.
Once case was brought by Jackson's former business associate, porn producer F. Marc Schaffel, over more than $1.4 million in unpaid royalties and loans from various collaborations.
At first, the legally embattled King of Pop paid his bills. Then, he stopped.
"I said, 'If you don't pay us, we're gonna quit,'" Ayscough said.
The firm sued in February 2006 and Jackson countersued, claiming his former lawyers wrongly threatened to reveal information related to the criminal trial if he didn't pay. Chalfant dismissed the cross complaint.
Ayscough & Marar won a court ruling that ordered Jackson to participate in a deposition. He went, but then, inexplicably, left before it was over.
Chalfant had found that Jackson failed to submit other information in the case and refused to delay the trial so Jackson's attorney could remedy the situation or continue negotiating a settlement.
Ayscough & Marar isn't the only law firm who has chased after Jackson for unpaid bills.
According to E! Online, the firm Wachtel & Massey quit a New York breach of contract case when Jackson stopped paying the bills, although Jackson claims he fired them.
In addition, Los Angeles entertainment firm Lavely & Singer sued Jackson in 2006 for more than $113,000 in unpaid legal fees, E! Online reported.
http://www.dailybreeze.com/business/ci_11774413
MORE AUCTION ITEM IMAGES
25th February 2009
China.Org.Cn has published some more images of MJ memorabilia which will go on auction in April. They received the images from Juliens Auctions who are conducting the auction.
Click on the link below to view the images:-
http://www.china.org.cn/culture/2009-02/25/content_17330313.htm
Source: China.Org.Cn
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BASKETBALL PLAYERS CONNECT TO MJ MUSIC
25th February 2009
Buzz Williams is the coach of the successful mens basketball team at Marquette University (USA).
Williams always looks for ways to connect with his players. A few weeks ago he and his players connected by going out to eat. Williams went without his assistants and drove a small shuttle bus. On the way, he played a homemade CD featuring some of his players favourite songs. The players sang and danced to Michael Jacksons Rock With You for freshman reserve Chris Otule, a huge Michael Jackson fan.
That night, Williams wrote the following in his journal:
I couldnt get them out of the bus because of the music. It was the best idea Ive had thus far.
Source: USA Today
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COURT ORDERS JACKSON TO PAY LEGAL FEES
25th February 2009
A long court battle involving Michael Jackson and law firm Ayscough & Marar has once again surfaced.
The 2nd District Court of Appeal issued an opinion Monday favoring Ayscough & Marar, whom represented Jackson on various civil matters around 2005.
Ayscough & Marar sued Michael and two of his companies in Torrance Superior Court, but just as the case was to go to trail Michael had agreed to pay what he owed,plus interest.
Then Michael Jackson made an appeal saying that Judge James Chalfant wrongly denied his quest to postpone the trial.
"It made no sense," Brent Ayscough said in a telephone interview Tuesday. "How do you appeal something you agreed to pay?"
Michael had agreed to pay $175,000 to cover Ayscough & Marar's expenses for suing Jackson said Ayscough.
At the time of appeal he paid the firm about $440,000, which Ayscough will likely file a motion to recoup the costs of the appeal.
Ayscough was hired by Michael's brother and then business manager, Randy Jackson.
"We were turned over his civil cases," Ayscough said.
"There were quite a few."
Ayscough & Marar fought mostly successfully to keep the 2005 case out of the media and also dealt with other civil cases.
Ayscough & Marar fought mostly successfully to keep the information related to the criminal case out of the media, and also dealt with other civil cases.
Once case was brought by Jackson's former business associate, porn producer F. Marc Schaffel, over more than $1.4 million in unpaid royalties and loans from various collaborations.
At first, the legally embattled King of Pop paid his bills. Then, he stopped.
"I said, 'If you don't pay us, we're gonna quit,'" Ayscough said.
The firm sued in February 2006 and Jackson countersued, claiming his former lawyers wrongly threatened to reveal information related to the criminal trial if he didn't pay. Chalfant dismissed the cross complaint.
Ayscough & Marar won a court ruling that ordered Jackson to participate in a deposition. He went, but then, inexplicably, left before it was over.
Chalfant had found that Jackson failed to submit other information in the case and refused to delay the trial so Jackson's attorney could remedy the situation or continue negotiating a settlement.
Ayscough & Marar isn't the only law firm who has chased after Jackson for unpaid bills.
According to E! Online, the firm Wachtel & Massey quit a New York breach of contract case when Jackson stopped paying the bills, although Jackson claims he fired them.
In addition, Los Angeles entertainment firm Lavely & Singer sued Jackson in 2006 for more than $113,000 in unpaid legal fees, E! Online reported.
Source: Daily Breeze/Metropolitan News Enterprise
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AUSTRALIA DVD CHART UPDATE
22nd February 2009
Live In Bucharest - The Dangerous Tour remains at #5 on the Australia Music DVD Chart this week.
Number Ones drops 5 places to #12.
Source: ARIA
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EUROPEAN EXHIBITION OF AUCTION ITEMS IN IRELAND
22nd February 2009
Several hundred of the items from the auction of personal property of Michael Jackson are to be displayed at a Newbridge showroom in Kildare, Ireland starting March 6, 2009 and will run for two weeks.
The choice of Ireland as the only European venue for an exhibition was made by Martin Nolan, the co-owner of Juliens Auctions which is conducting the sale.
We originally planned to display his belongings for a week in London and a week in Ireland, but we decided that his fans are committed enough to travel to Ireland, where there is a purpose-built museum that weve used before to exhibit pop memorabilia.
The contents are being finalised, but the focus will be on his style. Well also be exhibiting some of his personal effects, paintings and some of the lighter pieces of furniture.
In keeping with Michaels life, it will be a show, full of theatre and music.
Among the lots on view will be a collection of five crystal gloves seen in the short film Ghosts (guide price 3,900 to 5,500). Visitors will also see the jacket Michael Jackson wore on the Dangerous tour (guide price 1,000), a rhinestone-covered equestrian hat worn during the 1981 Triumph tour (guide price 400), a pair of rhinestone-embroidered acrylic tube socks worn on the same tour (guide price of 465 to 625) and a MTV Moon Man award (guide price 6,000).
Nolan was given the task of cataloguing the contents of the Neverland Valley Ranch:
It took a team of 30 people almost 90 days to move and label the contents of the house. Removing a marble fireplace, imported from an Italian castle, cost 17,000 alone.
The property was as Michael had left it, with coats hanging on their hooks in the hallway and staff still maintaining the house and grounds.
Nolan and his business partner Darren Julien stored the contents in nondescript warehouses and trailers in order to diversify the risk of some of the belongings being stolen. Nolan said:
The sale is a huge security operation. The 2,000 items are likely to sell for between 1.2m and 2.4m but could make much more because of the star factor.
The auction will also include a fedora the entertainer wore in the video for Billie Jean.
Martin Nolan describes Michael Jackson as an obsessive collector of memorabilia:
We discovered the car from Driving Miss Daisy in Neverland. If Michael fell in love with something, he bought it.
According to Nolan, Michael Jackson regards the sale as cathartic:
Hes closing a chapter in his life and moving on.
One of the few possessions that Jackson has refused to sell is his red jacket from the Thriller video.
He felt it was too precious. I think he would prefer it to be on public view, maybe in the Smithsonian in New York.
The sale of his personal possessions is the first that Michael has ever sanctioned and it seems to point to a new start for Michael and his family.
Source: Timesonline
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CHEFS PERFORM THRILLER
21st February 2009
Tonight, on the first of four television charity shows for Comic Relief, a group of chefs performed Thriller for Lets Dance For Comic Relief. Although they didnt win, they were rated highly by the three judges and looked great dressed up as ghouls.
Click on the link below to watch the video:-
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5klRli3lSgs
Source: MJWN
Michael Jackson is said to be renting a house near haunted caves to stay in during his concerts in London. Reports say he has spent 1 million to rent a large country house near the edge of an ancient 22-mile maze of haunted passageways near Chislehurst Caves in Bromley, in the south-east suburbs of London. The three-story home was built in the 1800s but has been updated to include an underground cinema and an indoor swimming pool. The house is also said to have room for a staff of 20 and a music room. 
Tickets for Michael Jackson's 50 London concerts sold out within hours of becoming available, organizers said Friday.
Williams, who have also played with stars like Prince, Madonna, Phil Collins, Chaka Khan and Van Halen, died on Friday in Hampton, reportedly of complications from high blood pressure.
During a three minute prime time advert for ITV's Dancing On Ice, Michael Jackson promoted his upcoming concerts at the O2 Arena in London last night. This is the first time anyone have had a complete advert break all alone. 
Cameras everywhere GRR! 
Michael Jackson's fans are being urged not to buy tickets for Michael Jackson's upcoming concerts at the O2 unless they are being sold by official vendors. Yes, they are out there already - fake tickets!
1.30.09
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