More Law Suits

Michael Jackson's spokeswoman, Raymone Bain, issued a statement on Thursday in response to various reports about Jackson that she called "untrue, defamatory and malicious in nature."

One report, denied by Bain, was that Jackson was confined to his bed and relying on medication.

Quote:

"In fact, Mr. Jackson is doing very well, and conducted a meeting with his advisers yesterday, which included former Attorney General Benjamin R. Civiletti and Reverend Jesse L. Jackson Sr. among others."

Regarding speculation that Jackson suspects that his older brother Randy has been stealing from him, Bain said:

"Mr. Jackson does not believe that his brother Randy Jackson has stolen monies from him.

Nor does he believe that Randy, or any of his family members, would ever steal from him."

Bain also dismissed suggestions that Jackson was being evicted from the Las Vegas mansion that he has been renting.

Quote:

"He decided not to exercise the option to purchase the house.

Period."

She was also dismissive of reports that he was going to tour Europe:

"There was no press release issued from Mr. Jackson's organisation regarding any European tour plans.

Despite reports to the contrary, Mr. Jackson is currently in the studio putting finishing touches on his music."

Bain flatly rejected reports that Jackson is either losing or selling his share in the Sony/ATV catalogue, quote: "ludicrous" and "without merit."

However, whatever the validity or otherwise of those reports, Jackson has a few other problems to deal with.

An attorney for Jackson this week said that he would agree to a judgement ordering him to pay $216K to Ayscough & Marar, a Torrance California law firm, that sued him last year for overdue fees.

Ayscough & Marar were hired by Jackson during his child molestation trial in 2005, to obtain court orders to delay discovery in civil cases and to keep information from being released publicly during the trial.

Abelson & Herron, a Delaware law firm, filed suit against Jackson this week. They claim that he owes them $110K, for services regarding a concert promoter who accused Jackson of backing out of two performances scheduled for New Year's Eve 2000.

It never rains, but it pours.

Jackson Leaves Mansion

Michael Jackson is leaving his rented 10-bedroom mansion in Las Vegas.

Jackson and his three children, Prince Michael I, Paris Michael and Prince Michael II (Blanket) had moved to Las Vegas in December after previously living in Ireland.

However, Jackson's spokeswoman Raymone Bain said that Jackson will move out of the Vegas home on Saturday, because his $1M lease on the property has expired.

Quote:

"He loved the house but decided to allow the lease to expire because of concerns that security wasn't sufficient."

In response to reports that Jackson was planning to leave the U.S. and return to Europe, Bain said:

"I don't know of any plans to leave."

Jackson Sues Jay-Z

Michael Jackson, ever litigious, has decided to sue Hip-Hop star Jay-Z's New York nightclub.

Jackson is taking a joint action, together with R. Kelly and a dozen others, against the club for their allegedly breaking music licensing laws.

The group of artists/publishers filed a federal lawsuit on Monday against the 40/40 club, because it entertained clubgoers with "unauthorised public performance of musical compositions."

Broadcast Music Inc., who are leading the case, are seeking unspecified damages for copyright infringement from co-owners Desiree Gonzalez and Juan Perez.

Jackson's songs "Billie Jean" and "Don't Stop," "Thoia Thoing" by R. Kelly and Kanye West's "Gold Digger" were amongst the seven unlicensed songs playing during a surprise visit by a BMI researcher in 2006, reports The New York Post.

Jay-Z, real name Shawn Carter, is not named on the lawsuit.

Jackson Going Back to Court

In what seems to be becoming a second profession, Michael Jackson is set to return to court in July.

This time in a continuation of the dispute over the "Jackson memorabilia", that was withheld from a recent auction in Las Vegas.

Jackson is seeking the return of the withheld items.

Janet Jackson, Michael's sister, is also seeking the return of items held back during a May 30-31 memorabilia auction at the Hard Rock hotel-casino in Las Vegas.

Judge Elizabeth Gonzalez ordered 60 items impounded at the Clark County court, while she addressed the thorny issue of ownership. The outcome of that decision could lead to her punishing the company that brought the items to auction.

A contempt of court trial has been scheduled for July 16, after Gonzalez decided that Universal Express of Boca Raton, Florida, broke earlier court orders to withhold some of the 1,100-plus items offered at auction.

Joe Coppedge, a lawyer for the auction house, said that the auctioneer had no stake in the continuing dispute and was obeying the court order to deliver the contested items.

Quote:

"Per the judge's order, we have delivered 35 items claimed by Janet Jackson and 23 items claimed by Michael Jackson, with two in transit to Las Vegas."

Judge Gonzalez had accepted a confidential settlement on May 30, allowing the auction to go forward. However, she banned Universal Express from "selling, giving, conveying or transferring by any means" the 25 items specified by Michael Jackson's lawyers. Under the settlement, which had been confidential, Jackson's lawyers dropped their effort to block the auction.

Jackson Plans European Tour

It is reported that Michael Jackson is planning a European tour, this is his plan B following on from his failure to attract interest in a comeback tour in Las Vegas.

Seemingly Las Vegas entertainment executives believe that Jackson is too "explosive" to book at this time.