Jury Search Commences

The search for jurors for the forthcoming trial of Doctor Conrad Murray has moved up a notch.

Prospective jurors have completed a 166 question (30 page questionnaire), which has whittled numbers down to 145 potential jurors cleared for further questioning.

Among the myriad of questions were the following:

- Have potential jurors read newspaper stories about Michael Jackson's death?
- Have they followed coverage of legal developments?
- Did they watch the funeral or memorial service for Jackson, or did they try to attend the services in person?

The next phase of juror selection will be in court questioning on September 23rd.

Jury Selection Begins

The jury selection process for the trial in May of Dr Conrad Murray has commenced. Potential jurors who are available for the trial will be asked to fill out a 27 page questionnaire.

Dr Conrad Murray To Be Charged

The Telegraph reports that Michael Jackson's doctor, Conrad Murray, will be charged with manslaughter within the next two weeks.

Seemingly investigators were keen to initially charge him with second degree murder, but didn't think that the jury would convict him on that.

Jackson Settles Lawsuit

Michael Jackson has settled a lawsuit brought by Prescient Acquisition, of Hackensack, that claimed that Jackson owed them $48M.

The lawsuit was settled yesterday, just as jury selection was to begin in U.S. District Court in Manhattan. The terms of the settlement have not been released.

Steven Altman, a lawyer for Prescient owner Darien Dash, said that Dash was owed the money for helping Jackson refinance a $272M bank loan and secure $573M in financing to buy Sony's half of the Beatles' song catalog that Sony co-owned with Jackson.

Altman is quoted as saying:

"We're very pleased with the settlement, although the terms of it we've agreed to keep confidential at Mr. Jackson's request."

Jackson had claimed that he had never heard of Dash.

Jackson's lawyer, L. Londell McMillan, said that the settlement:

"presents a win-win for everybody."

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.

The Trial Continues

Although there has been a judgement issued by the jury in the Schaffel/Jackson case, the amounts awarded to the two parties ($200K for Jackson and $900K for Schaffel) may be adjusted.

Santa Monica County Superior Court Judge Jacqueline Connor, who oversaw the case, plans to hold a separate accounting phase of the trial to look further at Jackson's claims that Schaffel owes him money.

And The Winner Is?

Michael Jackson's legal tussle with Marc Schaffel ended Friday, with Santa Monica jurors awarding Schaffel $900K and Jackson $200K.

Jurors were not impressed with either party, and said that they overlooked unappealing qualities of both parties to rule on the merits of the various financial claims.

Jury foreman Roy Shimogaki, asked if the decision to award both parties money showed Jackson and Schaffel were credible, said:

"I wouldn't go that far.

The plaintiff was not the most upstanding character, but neither was the defendant."

Showbusiness attracts such unpleasant characters.

Jury Deliberates

Michael Jackson's legal tussle with Marc Schaffel, over an alleged debt owed to Schaffel of $1.4M, has now been placed in the hands of the jury.

The closing arguments concluded yesterday. Schaffel had originally claimed $3.8M. However, following the usual wheeling and dealing in such cases this has been reduced to $1.4M.

Defence Alleges Deception

The defence in the current Michael Jackson trial, in which he is being sued by former associate Marc Schaffel for alleged non payment of fees, has leveled a counter allegation that Schaffel was trying to enrich himself.

They called accountant Jan Goren to the stand, who said that he was able to trace most of the complicated transactions in a ledger kept by Schaffel. However, he noted that some of the explanations provided by Schaffel were inaccurate.

Jackson's lawyer, Thomas Mundell, noted that there were a lack of receipts. Goren said that a $500K transaction that Schaffel claimed was a loan to Jackson, was not a loan at all.

Schaffel had testified that Jackson was in New York on September 11 2001. He claimed that Jackson called to ask for $500K, in case he needed to go into hiding with his family, and then stopped at Schaffel's home to pick up the money. Jackson has denied the story.

Goren said Schaffel did withdraw that amount from a checking account for Neverland Valley Entertainment Co., the business he was in with Jackson, but then deposited the same amount into his personal money market account.

Mundell asked Goren if he identified "any 'cash to MJ' transactions that were not bona fide."

"Yes," said the accountant, "numerous ones."

Schaffel's attorney, Howard King, has promised to rebut the claims, and said it would become clear that Schaffel is not seeking reimbursement for any of the alleged loans which are being challenged as deceptive.

Mundell said he was introducing the details to show "a pattern of false claims of loss" by Schaffel.

Quote:

"We want the jury to look at the pattern of deceit".

Goren testified that Schaffel is probably owed $471K.

The defence contends that given the number of deceptive transactions by Schaffel, he is owed nothing.

The trial continues.

Jacksongate

The jury in the current Michael Jackson trial, brought by ex associate Marc Schaffel, got to listen to some of his phone calls on Wednesday.

The calls became increasingly frantic as he demanded action from Marc Schaffel on a number of projects including, a collaboration with Marlon Brando on TV shows and videos and the release of a charity recording.

The tapes were of voice messages left on Schaffel's answering machine. Schaffel claims that Jackson owes him $3.8 million in royalties, expenses and other debts.

In one message dated 2001, Jackson said:

"Marc, it's Michael. ... Marc, please never let me down. I like you. I love you. ... I really want us to be friends and conquer the business world together. Please be my loyal, loyal friend. I love you."

How utterly nauseating!

Schaffel claims that he had been working on a number of projects for Jackson, and had arranged a $10M line of credit for him.

Schaffel went on to talk about the possible deal with Marlon Brando, quote:

"We had several meetings with Marlon. Michael wanted Marlon Brando to do several DVDs on acting lessons. Mr. Brando was getting up there in age and Michael considered him the greatest actor of all time."

Jackson left several messages about Brando. In one he said:

"Marlon Brando has been pushing. He's a wonderful man. He's a god. He wants a lot of money. He wants to get things done right now."

Another project that failed to materialise was Jackson's record, "What More Can I Give," which was a charity project for victims of 9/11. It was never released (much like the Katrina record), because of complications involving Jackson's relationship with the record label.

In 2003, plans changed, and Jackson called Schaffel with urgent messages saying he now had a plan for the recording to be a charity project tied to the Iraq war.

"It should be for America in Iraq... It's a perfect cause. It means more now than any other causes."

Where's that one then?

Schaffel also alleged that he made to Brazil in November 2003 to deliver $300K to someone in South America, to take care of a personal matter.

Schaffel acknowledged that he was paid $1.4M in royalties from two videos sold to Fox television and received other expense payments, but said he was still owed $664K in royalties.

Schaffel's attorney called Alvin Malnik, who said he advised Jackson on financial matters without charge after they met in 2002, he claimed that Jackson was bewildered by money affairs.

He said he once received an urgent call from Jackson saying he needed $1M immediately.

Quote:

"It was very, very important that he buy a piece of jewelry for Elizabeth Taylor and a substantial amount of it went for that.

The reason was that Elizabeth Taylor would not sign a release for her participation in the Fox special. He knew her well enough that he knew if he brought a piece of jewelry he could obtain the release and that's how it was done."

That's how it's done folks, money and gifts will get you what you want. That at least is how it has worked so far for Jackson, this approach may no longer work for him.

Janet Jackson Turns on Son

Janet Jackson, the mother of the boy who accused Michael Jackson of abusing him last year, blames her son for the failed court case.

It is reported that she has turned her back on him, and refuses to cook for him; treating him like dirt.

Allegedly she screams at him:

"You allowed him to touch you! You allowed him to do it!"

This was of course the same woman who managed to annoy the jury so much during the case, with her attitude and finger clicking.

Seemingly she also blames her son for her current court case for welfare fraud.

Janet Jackson On Trial

Janet Jackson, the woman who claimed Michael Jackson molested her son, was ordered on Wednesday to stand trial on a charge of welfare fraud.

Janet Jackson is accused of accepting $8,000 in fraudulently obtained assistance, and four charges of committing perjury on welfare applications.

Prosecutors allege that she hid the fact that she received a substantial settlement in a lawsuit against J.C. Penney before she filed for welfare.

Her lawyer, Patricia Hattersley, said that she hopes that the case can be resolved without a trial.

The prosecutor's office said the case will go to trial unless she makes restitution.

The trial is scheduled for August 7th.

Another Summer, Another Trial

The good old summer time is once again upon us, and in keeping with the season it is now time for another trial involving Michael Jackson.

This one involves his old associate Marc Schaffel.

Jury selection begins June 26.

Janet Arvizo To Stand Trial

Janet Arvizo, whose son accused Michael Jackson of child molestation in 2003, will be standing trial for welfare fraud and perjury in Los Angeles.

Arvizo waived her right to a preliminary hearing in Los Angeles County Superior Court on Friday.

She is charged with accepting about $8,000 in welfare cheques, despite having over $30,000 in her bank account.

Ironically this alleged fraud was unearthed during the Jackson trial, when Arvizo refused to answer questions about her personal finances and pleaded the Fifth Amendment.

She also managed to piss almost everyone off in the court, with her attitude and behaviour.

I doubt that the diehard Jackson fans will be too upset to hear that she is standing trial.

Jackson and the Pope

In what can only be described as a rather bizarre union, it is reported that there have been secret discussions between the Roman Catholic Church and Michael Jackson to put the prayers of Pope John Paul II to music.

Given the fact that both the church and Jackson have had a number of unsavoury allegations about child molestation lobbed at them, I would have thought that this union was rather unwise.

Pope John Paul, who died in April 2005, wrote 24 religious prayers and chants which the Church want to set to music.

Jackson is thought of as being the man for the job, because of his worldwide celebrity status.

Father Giuseppe Moscati of the Millennium Music Society, which specialises in church music and organises musical events at the Vatican, confirmed the details.

Fr Moscati said:

"We have the rights for the 24 prayers written by Pope John Paul.

We had hoped the fact that we have been in contact with Michael Jackson would remain a secret. But sadly it has leaked out ahead of time. We are in discussions and trying to sort it out."

Fr Moscati, and indeed the Church, are being rather naive in thinking that something like this would remain secret. There is every incentive for many people, including Jackson himself, to leak the news.

Fr Moscati, speaking of Jackson's child molestation trial, said:

"He was cleared and found not guilty by a jury.

Michael Jackson is very interested in this project - we shall see what happens."

Jackson had secretly flown to Venice to sign a contract. Unfortunately, news of his arrival leaked and so he fled the city and was thought to be on his way back to the United States.

A source in Venice said:

"We were all ready to put the deal to Michael Jackson but he was scared off when the news leaked out. As soon as he knew everyone was waiting for him and the project had been found out he disappeared. We don't know where he is now."

Needless to say, this "disappearance" will ensure that the story remains in the media longer than it may have otherwise done.

There is, after all, no such thing as bad publicity!

Elanor Cook Regrets

Elanor Cook, one of the jurors in Michael Jackson's molestation trial, appeared on TV on the "Big Idea" last night.

On the show she reiterated that she was forced to agree with her fellow jurors, and had to let Jackson go free.

Cook claims that she fought to convict Jackson on the lesser charges of kidnapping and conspiracy charges.

Quote:

"Every time I would try to explain, they all (fellow jurors) would shout me down, and finally the foreman (of the jury) said that the judge told him that if I couldn't change my mind, I would be kicked off.

I just shut down. I said, 'I didn't really care. I was 79 years old, I'd given six months of my life to this and I didn't need any more.' So I thought, 'Who cares? I'm not going to fight the world.'"

Juror Jackson

In a strange twist of fate, Michael Jackson has received a jury summons.

However, don't expect him to attend; his lawyers have filed paperwork for a deferment, based on the fact that he now lives in Bahrain.

Jackson's lawyer, Thomas Mesereau, is quoted as saying:

"He is permanently living outside of the United States."

Gary Blair, the Jury Commissioner, said:

"All he has to do is show he has legal residency somewhere else and he'll be exempted."

Jackson Sues

Michael Jackson filed a lawsuit yesterday against Marcel Avram, a concert promoter.

Jackson and his company, MJ Company, sued Avram and his company for breach of contract. The suit also seeks a preliminary injunction to prevent Avram from proceeding with arbitration.

In November 2002 Jackson testified in a $21M lawsuit, brought against him by Avram. Avram accused Jackson of backing out of two concerts on New Year's Eve 1999.

In March 2003 a Santa Barbara County jury ruled that Jackson must pay Avram $5.3M.

Jackson and Avram seemingly reached a settlement agreement in 2003, that resolved existing and future claims related to the concerts. Any disputes regarding the settlement were to be resolved in Superior Court, as a part of the settlement agreement.

However, Avram has reportedly moved for arbitration scheduled for October 24.

Given Jackson's reportedly perilous financial condition, this is one that he cannot afford to lose.

Janet Jackson In Court

Janet Jackson (nee Arvizo) went to court again yesterday.

This time, instead of being a witness for the prosecution, she was appearing on her own behalf to enter not guilty pleas to charges of welfare fraud.

You will doubtless recall that she is the mother of Gavin Arvizo who unsuccessfully accused Michael Jackson of molestation.

Arvizo was arrested on August 23, and was arraigned a day ahead of schedule.

She pleaded innocent to five felony charges, one count of aid by misrepresentation and four for committing perjury by false application of aid. The charges carry a maximum penalty of five years in state prison.

She was released on her own recognisance, and ordered to return to court on October 28.

She is accused of defrauding the state of $19K in welfare payments, from 2001 to 2003. Prosecutors allege that she failed to report a six-figure lawsuit settlement, as well as rent assistance from her future second husband, then her boyfriend.

Doubtless Michael Jackson and his fans will be hoping that justice will be done.

More Money Making Jurors

It seems that we will eventually end up with books from every singly member of the jury from the Michael Jackson trial.

Five more Michael Jackson jurors plan to publish a book about their time in the jury room.

The five new authors are; Eloise Aguillon, Tammy Bolton, Paulina Coccoz, Melissa Herard and Michael Stevens.

They claim that they are merely trying to set the record straight, and to counter books being published by former jurors Ellie Cook and Ray Hultman.

So the money has nothing to do with it then?

Why were these people not made to sign confidentiality agreements when they became jurors?