Superior Court Judge Soussan G. Bruguera has rejected an appeal lodged by XtraJet Incorporated and its owner Jeffrey Borer against the damages awarded against it for $20.25M.
XtraJet Incorporated was ordered to pay damages to Michael Jackson's lawyer, Mark Geragos, and his associate, Pat Harris, for invading their privacy. Xtrajet taped Jackson and his lawyers as they flew to Jackson's surrender on molestation charges in 2003.
Showing posts with label Mark Geragos. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Mark Geragos. Show all posts
Tuesday, May 20, 2008
Tuesday, March 04, 2008
XtraJet Fined
Jeffrey Borer, the owner of XtraJet an air charter service, has been ordered to pay Mark Geragos (a lawyer) and his associate over $20M for ordering the secret videotaping of them as they flew with Michael Jackson to his surrender on molestation charges in 2003.
$18 million should be paid to attorney Mark Geragos, the remainder is to be paid to Geragos' associate, Pat Harris.
Borer said that he would appeal, on the grounds that the tape had no audio therefore it did not violate the attorney-client privilege (the primary reason for the size of the punitive damages).
$18 million should be paid to attorney Mark Geragos, the remainder is to be paid to Geragos' associate, Pat Harris.
Borer said that he would appeal, on the grounds that the tape had no audio therefore it did not violate the attorney-client privilege (the primary reason for the size of the punitive damages).
Wednesday, January 24, 2007
Distressful Tape
Michael Jackson's former lawyer, Mark Geragos, gave testimony yesterday in his (Geragos's) court case against XtraJet for allegedly secretly taping him.
Geragos said that he went to "almost paranoid lengths" to guard Jackson's privacy, after Jackson was secretly taped on a private jet headed to Santa Barbara to surrender in a child-molestation investigation.
Geragos said that taping was one of the worst experiences of his 24 year legal career. He said that he obtained a court order preventing XtraJet's then-owner, Jeffrey Borer, from selling the footage after hearing about it in the media.
Quote:
"I can't think of any act more distressing to me at a professional level than what was done here."
Geragos then said that after the incident, he started to meet with some clients under freeway overpasses and in hotel rooms to prevent possible spying.
Borer and co-defendant Arvel Jett Reeves were indicted by federal prosecutors in the case. Under a plea deal, both admitted they installed two digital video recorders to record "a professional entertainer" and his lawyer.
Borer was sentenced in October to six months of home detention, three years probation, and was ordered to pay a $10K fine.
Reeves was sentenced in July to eight months in prison, six additional months in a halfway house and ordered to pay a $1K fine. Reeves testified on a videotape shown in court Monday that no sound was recorded on the tapes.
Jackson, was initially a plaintiff in the civil lawsuit against XtraJet. However, he has now dropped out of the case.
Geragos said that he went to "almost paranoid lengths" to guard Jackson's privacy, after Jackson was secretly taped on a private jet headed to Santa Barbara to surrender in a child-molestation investigation.
Geragos said that taping was one of the worst experiences of his 24 year legal career. He said that he obtained a court order preventing XtraJet's then-owner, Jeffrey Borer, from selling the footage after hearing about it in the media.
Quote:
"I can't think of any act more distressing to me at a professional level than what was done here."
Geragos then said that after the incident, he started to meet with some clients under freeway overpasses and in hotel rooms to prevent possible spying.
Borer and co-defendant Arvel Jett Reeves were indicted by federal prosecutors in the case. Under a plea deal, both admitted they installed two digital video recorders to record "a professional entertainer" and his lawyer.
Borer was sentenced in October to six months of home detention, three years probation, and was ordered to pay a $10K fine.
Reeves was sentenced in July to eight months in prison, six additional months in a halfway house and ordered to pay a $1K fine. Reeves testified on a videotape shown in court Monday that no sound was recorded on the tapes.
Jackson, was initially a plaintiff in the civil lawsuit against XtraJet. However, he has now dropped out of the case.
Tuesday, January 23, 2007
Jackson's Ex lawyer Sues Airline
Mark Geragos, Michale Jackson's ex lawyer, has launched legal suit against a charter jet company.
Opening statements were submitted yesterday in the non-jury trial against XtraJet.
Geragos is suing XtraJet, alleging that employees of the company secretly taped him and Jackson while they were on a flight to Santa Barbara, California in 2003.
This was when Jackson was flying from Las Vegas to Santa Barbara, to surrender on child molestation charges.
A Los Angeles Superior Court judge will decide the outcome.
Opening statements were submitted yesterday in the non-jury trial against XtraJet.
Geragos is suing XtraJet, alleging that employees of the company secretly taped him and Jackson while they were on a flight to Santa Barbara, California in 2003.
This was when Jackson was flying from Las Vegas to Santa Barbara, to surrender on child molestation charges.
A Los Angeles Superior Court judge will decide the outcome.
Tuesday, March 07, 2006
The Jackogate Tapes
Jeffrey Borer and Arvel Jett Reeves have pleaded guilty to secretly videotaping Michael Jackson, in November 2003, when he flew to Santa Barbara with his attorney Mark Geragos to surrender in the child-molestation investigation.
Borer and Reeves admitted by plea agreements that they installed two videorecorders, to record "a professional entertainer" and his lawyer November 2003.
They entered their plea to U.S. District Judge A. Howard Matz.
The federal prosecutors have agreed to dismiss two other charges, endeavouring to intercept oral communication and witness tampering.
They face up to five years in prison, and a fine of $250K.
Borer and Reeves admitted by plea agreements that they installed two videorecorders, to record "a professional entertainer" and his lawyer November 2003.
They entered their plea to U.S. District Judge A. Howard Matz.
The federal prosecutors have agreed to dismiss two other charges, endeavouring to intercept oral communication and witness tampering.
They face up to five years in prison, and a fine of $250K.
Tuesday, May 17, 2005
Jackson The Target
Michael Jackson's former attorney, Mark Geragos, testified last week in the trial.
He stated that Jackson had told him that Gavin Arvizo had slept in his bed, but that nothing sexual had happened.
Geragos testified that he investigated the Arvizos, and became very concerned about them.
He said that he had asked Jackson if Gavin had slept in his bed.
Quote:
"Yes. He said nothing happened...He said he didn't do anything untoward or sexual and if anyone spent the night in his room, it was unconditional love."
Geragos gave a very strong message of support for Jackson:
"When I was there, what I saw was a gentleman who was almost childlike in his love for kids. I didn't see anyone doing anything nefarious or criminal. I saw someone who was ripe as a target,".
Geragos said he was concerned about allegations arising from the Bashir documentary, and was particularly concerned that Gavin and his family might take advantage of them.
He said that he did database searches to see if the family had a "litigious history", and was very worried to find they had previously sued J.C. Penney over allegations that they were beaten by security guards.
The family received a $150K settlement in that lawsuit.
Geragos said that he hired a private investigator, Bradley Miller, to investigate the family; the results led him to believe the Arvizo family was bad news.
Quote:
"Michael should have nothing to do with them...It was a pending disaster."
He stated that Jackson had told him that Gavin Arvizo had slept in his bed, but that nothing sexual had happened.
Geragos testified that he investigated the Arvizos, and became very concerned about them.
He said that he had asked Jackson if Gavin had slept in his bed.
Quote:
"Yes. He said nothing happened...He said he didn't do anything untoward or sexual and if anyone spent the night in his room, it was unconditional love."
Geragos gave a very strong message of support for Jackson:
"When I was there, what I saw was a gentleman who was almost childlike in his love for kids. I didn't see anyone doing anything nefarious or criminal. I saw someone who was ripe as a target,".
Geragos said he was concerned about allegations arising from the Bashir documentary, and was particularly concerned that Gavin and his family might take advantage of them.
He said that he did database searches to see if the family had a "litigious history", and was very worried to find they had previously sued J.C. Penney over allegations that they were beaten by security guards.
The family received a $150K settlement in that lawsuit.
Geragos said that he hired a private investigator, Bradley Miller, to investigate the family; the results led him to believe the Arvizo family was bad news.
Quote:
"Michael should have nothing to do with them...It was a pending disaster."
Thursday, March 03, 2005
The Enemy Within
Ann Gabriel (real name Ann Kite and president of the webcaster alliance), a public relations specialist, gave testimony at Michael Jackson's trial yesterday.
She said that the Michael Jackson's team of handlers including; a high-profile lawyer, a gay porn producer and a man with reputed mob ties, seemed to be working against Jackson's interests in the fallout of the damaging 2003 documentary about Jackson.
The testimony augmented the defence's contention that Jackson's "colleagues" were acting without his knowledge, for their own selfish reasons.
Defence lawyer Thomas Mesereau probed every statement Gabriel made to investigators about the 6 day period, in February 2003, when she was working as a crisis manager for Jackson.
Gabriel, who has never met Jackson, told the jury that her contact with some his media people led her to believe that they had a vested interest in letting the media storm about Jackson develop.
It seems that some of them, according to Gabriel, including five unindicted alleged co-conspirators were making a profit from a cut of a "rebuttal video" that Jackson's production company sold to the Fox network for $3 million.
The prosecution contend that the molestation occurred after the rebuttal video was produced.
The indictment charges that, with Jackson's knowledge and approval, Schaffel, Frank Tyson, Vincent Amen, Dieter Wiesner and Ronald Konitzer conspired to keep the accuser and his family hidden and then fly them off to Brazil; until the media frenzy, over Martin Bashir's "Living with Michael Jackson" documentary, subsided.
Gabriel testified that she was surprised when David LeGrand, a lawyer on Jackson's payroll, called to express concern that the accuser and his family had left the ranch unnoticed.
Gabriel, who worked for Jackson from Feb. 9 through Feb. 15, 2003, was then fired. She believes that was because she was working proactively as a publicist, while the men closest to Jackson seemed to be working in the opposite direction.
It seems that Mark Geragos, a lawyer who for a time represented Jackson, called a tabloid television show and demanded that Gabriel not be allowed to appear on air; that is at least Gabriel's take on the events.
She went on to say that Geragos then wanted her to sign a confidentiality agreement, that indicated she was working as a private investigator; she refused.
After being fired, Gabriel seemingly stayed in touch with LeGrand. He told her that Jackson's media handlers had gotten what they wanted for their rebuttal video from the accuser's mother.
Quote:
"He said they no longer had to worry about [the mother]. They had her on tape and they were going to make her look life a crack whore..".
Mesereau raised many objections to Gabriel's testimony; these were mainly overruled.
Judge Melville gave Mesereau a shape warning over Mesereau's attempts to get Gabriel to repeat her testimony:
"Mr. Mesereau, I want to ask you to look at the jury and realize they are tired of hearing this...You asked that same question 10 times today. You need to grasp the evidence and not keep repeating it."
If Gabriel's testimony is accurate, at the very best, it shows that Jackson's judgement in respect of those who he associates with is highly questionable.
People are judged by those that they associate with.
She said that the Michael Jackson's team of handlers including; a high-profile lawyer, a gay porn producer and a man with reputed mob ties, seemed to be working against Jackson's interests in the fallout of the damaging 2003 documentary about Jackson.
The testimony augmented the defence's contention that Jackson's "colleagues" were acting without his knowledge, for their own selfish reasons.
Defence lawyer Thomas Mesereau probed every statement Gabriel made to investigators about the 6 day period, in February 2003, when she was working as a crisis manager for Jackson.
Gabriel, who has never met Jackson, told the jury that her contact with some his media people led her to believe that they had a vested interest in letting the media storm about Jackson develop.
It seems that some of them, according to Gabriel, including five unindicted alleged co-conspirators were making a profit from a cut of a "rebuttal video" that Jackson's production company sold to the Fox network for $3 million.
The prosecution contend that the molestation occurred after the rebuttal video was produced.
The indictment charges that, with Jackson's knowledge and approval, Schaffel, Frank Tyson, Vincent Amen, Dieter Wiesner and Ronald Konitzer conspired to keep the accuser and his family hidden and then fly them off to Brazil; until the media frenzy, over Martin Bashir's "Living with Michael Jackson" documentary, subsided.
Gabriel testified that she was surprised when David LeGrand, a lawyer on Jackson's payroll, called to express concern that the accuser and his family had left the ranch unnoticed.
Gabriel, who worked for Jackson from Feb. 9 through Feb. 15, 2003, was then fired. She believes that was because she was working proactively as a publicist, while the men closest to Jackson seemed to be working in the opposite direction.
It seems that Mark Geragos, a lawyer who for a time represented Jackson, called a tabloid television show and demanded that Gabriel not be allowed to appear on air; that is at least Gabriel's take on the events.
She went on to say that Geragos then wanted her to sign a confidentiality agreement, that indicated she was working as a private investigator; she refused.
After being fired, Gabriel seemingly stayed in touch with LeGrand. He told her that Jackson's media handlers had gotten what they wanted for their rebuttal video from the accuser's mother.
Quote:
"He said they no longer had to worry about [the mother]. They had her on tape and they were going to make her look life a crack whore..".
Mesereau raised many objections to Gabriel's testimony; these were mainly overruled.
Judge Melville gave Mesereau a shape warning over Mesereau's attempts to get Gabriel to repeat her testimony:
"Mr. Mesereau, I want to ask you to look at the jury and realize they are tired of hearing this...You asked that same question 10 times today. You need to grasp the evidence and not keep repeating it."
If Gabriel's testimony is accurate, at the very best, it shows that Jackson's judgement in respect of those who he associates with is highly questionable.
People are judged by those that they associate with.
Tuesday, February 15, 2005
The Stars Come Out
Michael Jackson's trial witness list reads like a who's who in the world of entertainment.
Jackson's team disclosed yesterday the names that they will be calling, these include; Elizabeth Taylor, Diana Ross, Kobe Bryant, Larry King, Stevie Wonder, Quincy Jones, Jay Leno, Chris Tucker, Backstreet Boy Nick Carter and his younger brother Aaron, CBS' Ed Bradley and relatives of Marlon Brando.
Jackson will also be calling his children, Paris and Prince Michael.
The prosecution list includes the mother of those children, Debbie Rowe, former Jackson attorney Mark Geragos, a young man who as a boy was involved in 1993 allegations against Jackson, and a comedy club owner who introduced Jackson and his current accuser.
The lists of witnesses was disclosed, so that the jurors could speak up if they have any connection with them.
Jackson's team disclosed yesterday the names that they will be calling, these include; Elizabeth Taylor, Diana Ross, Kobe Bryant, Larry King, Stevie Wonder, Quincy Jones, Jay Leno, Chris Tucker, Backstreet Boy Nick Carter and his younger brother Aaron, CBS' Ed Bradley and relatives of Marlon Brando.
Jackson will also be calling his children, Paris and Prince Michael.
The prosecution list includes the mother of those children, Debbie Rowe, former Jackson attorney Mark Geragos, a young man who as a boy was involved in 1993 allegations against Jackson, and a comedy club owner who introduced Jackson and his current accuser.
The lists of witnesses was disclosed, so that the jurors could speak up if they have any connection with them.
Friday, August 13, 2004
A Nice Day Out
It is reported that Michael Jackson will attend court next week, in order to watch prosecutor Tom Sneddon take the stand.
Michael will also be accompanied by his parents and siblings.
The appearance by Sneddon is in relation to the surveillance that he carried out of the office of Bradley Miller, a private investigator.
The prosecution deny that they knew that Miller was employed by Mark Geragos, Jackson's attorney at the time.
Michael will also be accompanied by his parents and siblings.
The appearance by Sneddon is in relation to the surveillance that he carried out of the office of Bradley Miller, a private investigator.
The prosecution deny that they knew that Miller was employed by Mark Geragos, Jackson's attorney at the time.
Tuesday, June 29, 2004
Never Ending Hearing After Hearing
At last Friday's hearing, on the never ending saga of the Michael Jackson trial, Judge Rodney Melville in addition to keeping the sealing order in place made a couple of other announcements.
He ordered that Michael Jackson's previous lawyers, Mark Geragos and Benjamin Brafman, turn over various documents and information (the details of which were not made public)to Jackson's current legal eagles.
It is not clear as to whether there is a problem with regard to them handing the information over. However, Judge Melville did make it clear that if they did not comply with this order; he would require Mark Geragos to appear before him at the hearing, scheduled for the 9th of July.
The judge also set another date for yet another hearing, on the subject of Michael Jackson's trial, this time for the 16th of August. This will be of particular interest to fans of Michael Jackson, as the judge requested that Michael Jackson has to turn up to this one.
He ordered that Michael Jackson's previous lawyers, Mark Geragos and Benjamin Brafman, turn over various documents and information (the details of which were not made public)to Jackson's current legal eagles.
It is not clear as to whether there is a problem with regard to them handing the information over. However, Judge Melville did make it clear that if they did not comply with this order; he would require Mark Geragos to appear before him at the hearing, scheduled for the 9th of July.
The judge also set another date for yet another hearing, on the subject of Michael Jackson's trial, this time for the 16th of August. This will be of particular interest to fans of Michael Jackson, as the judge requested that Michael Jackson has to turn up to this one.
Saturday, May 22, 2004
Do It Yourself Fifth Amendment
There is a rumour circulating that District Attorney Tom Sneddon is keen to indict Michael Jackson's former attorney, Mark Geragos, on a conspiracy charge of kidnapping.
The mother of Michael Jackson's accuser alleges that associates of Jackson held her, and her children, hostage in the early part of 2003.
Ironically, or rather not surprisingly, Tom Sneddon's associates will not comment on this rumour; they cite the gag order as their own "Fifth Amendment".
I have to confess I am somewhat confused as to how Geragos is linked to the alleged kidnapping.
If anyone out there can enlighten me, and the visitors to this site, please feel free to comment.
There is a rumour circulating that District Attorney Tom Sneddon is keen to indict Michael Jackson's former attorney, Mark Geragos, on a conspiracy charge of kidnapping.
The mother of Michael Jackson's accuser alleges that associates of Jackson held her, and her children, hostage in the early part of 2003.
Ironically, or rather not surprisingly, Tom Sneddon's associates will not comment on this rumour; they cite the gag order as their own "Fifth Amendment".
I have to confess I am somewhat confused as to how Geragos is linked to the alleged kidnapping.
If anyone out there can enlighten me, and the visitors to this site, please feel free to comment.
Sunday, May 16, 2004
Celebrity Status Rubs Off
I understand that Michael Jackson's old lawyer, Mark Geragos, is finding that Jackson's celebrity status has rubbed off on him.
He has now become accustomed to being asked for his autograph.
In one recent incident, an enthusiastic female fan asked him to sign her bra.
I guess Jackson's new lawyer is finding the same happening to him.
I understand that Michael Jackson's old lawyer, Mark Geragos, is finding that Jackson's celebrity status has rubbed off on him.
He has now become accustomed to being asked for his autograph.
In one recent incident, an enthusiastic female fan asked him to sign her bra.
I guess Jackson's new lawyer is finding the same happening to him.
Monday, April 26, 2004
Michael Jackson's two lead lawyers, defending him in a child molestation case, have quit.
Benjamin Brafman, the New York criminal lawyer hired by Michael Jackson to represent him, said that he and Mark Geragos were stepping down. However, no reason has been given for their resignation.
They have wished Michael Jackson well in his forthcoming trial.
The lawyers will still appear at Friday's hearing where Michael Jackson will enter his plea.
It is understood that they will be replaced by Thomas Mesereau, Jr., who represented actor Robert Blake in his murder case.
The departure of Michael Jackson's lawyers may cause the trial to be delayed.
Benjamin Brafman, the New York criminal lawyer hired by Michael Jackson to represent him, said that he and Mark Geragos were stepping down. However, no reason has been given for their resignation.
They have wished Michael Jackson well in his forthcoming trial.
The lawyers will still appear at Friday's hearing where Michael Jackson will enter his plea.
It is understood that they will be replaced by Thomas Mesereau, Jr., who represented actor Robert Blake in his murder case.
The departure of Michael Jackson's lawyers may cause the trial to be delayed.
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