A lawsuit filed by the family of Manuela Gomez Ruiz, who died at a hospital soon after she was moved to make room for Michael Jackson, has been stopped by Judge Rodney Melville.
The Ruiz family had sued Jackson and Marian Medical Center in Santa Maria, claiming that she was kept from critical care after she had a heart attack on the same day Jackson was brought in with flu-like symptoms during his 2005 child-molestation trial.
Judge Melville on Tuesday allowed challenges to the complaint filed by attorneys for Jackson and the hospital, who had argued the facts of the case didn't justify the complaint.
Melville has given the plaintiffs' attorney, James McKiernan, 30 days to redraft their complaint.
The original complaint cites the "outrageous, circus-like atmosphere they orchestrated during the last hours of Manuela Ruiz's life and its obvious emotional and mental lasting effects upon the plaintiffs."
Thursday, August 23, 2007
Monday, August 20, 2007
Bain Lashes Out
Michael Jackson's spokesperson, Raymone Bain, has lashed out at Roger Friedman the internet columnist.
Bain claims that Friedman's recnet story about Jackson "homeless, wandering, carting around three school-aged kids" and alleging that Jackson had developed a friendship with "former imprisoned crack addict and Washington D.C. Mayor Marion Barry" was lies.
Bain wrote to Friedman, and the contents of the letter has needless to say entered the public domain.
Quote:
"All of this is a complete lie. You continue to write untruths which can be verified as untruths. I do not know why you do not check to determine the accuracy of your sources. And, I do not know why you have such venom for Michael Jackson.
But, let me state for the record: Michael Jackson has neither met, nor does he know former Washington, D.C. Mayor Marion S. Barry, Jr. While former Mayor Barry and I are friends, and, while we have oftentimes indicated our desire to have lunch, because of schedule conflicts, I have not seen him in at least two years.
Michael Jackson is not homeless, carting around with three school-aged kids. ... While where Mr. Jackson is currently residing is his own private business, Mr. Jackson will never be 'homeless' as long as he owns the 3,000 acre estate called Neverland Valley Ranch, which to my knowledge, and at this date, he has not sold.
Mr. Jackson has a tutor for his children who is certified and qualified. As we are in the summer months, and most children in the United States are on vacation until classes begin later in the month, the same applies to Mr. Jackson's children.
I will let Mr. Jackson's attorneys deal with other issues you have raised should they see fit."
It will be interesting to see if Jackson makes good on Bain's threat to sue.
Bain claims that Friedman's recnet story about Jackson "homeless, wandering, carting around three school-aged kids" and alleging that Jackson had developed a friendship with "former imprisoned crack addict and Washington D.C. Mayor Marion Barry" was lies.
Bain wrote to Friedman, and the contents of the letter has needless to say entered the public domain.
Quote:
"All of this is a complete lie. You continue to write untruths which can be verified as untruths. I do not know why you do not check to determine the accuracy of your sources. And, I do not know why you have such venom for Michael Jackson.
But, let me state for the record: Michael Jackson has neither met, nor does he know former Washington, D.C. Mayor Marion S. Barry, Jr. While former Mayor Barry and I are friends, and, while we have oftentimes indicated our desire to have lunch, because of schedule conflicts, I have not seen him in at least two years.
Michael Jackson is not homeless, carting around with three school-aged kids. ... While where Mr. Jackson is currently residing is his own private business, Mr. Jackson will never be 'homeless' as long as he owns the 3,000 acre estate called Neverland Valley Ranch, which to my knowledge, and at this date, he has not sold.
Mr. Jackson has a tutor for his children who is certified and qualified. As we are in the summer months, and most children in the United States are on vacation until classes begin later in the month, the same applies to Mr. Jackson's children.
I will let Mr. Jackson's attorneys deal with other issues you have raised should they see fit."
It will be interesting to see if Jackson makes good on Bain's threat to sue.
Friday, August 17, 2007
The Jackson 5
A stash of unreleased Jackson 5 recordings may be released in the near future.
Richard Altomare, the head of luggage movement company Universal Express, bought a collection of unclaimed personal belongings from a New Jersey storage warehouse and discovered a set of tapes dating back to the 1970's. These tapes contained approximately 60 unreleased songs by The Jackson 5.
Altomare states that he is currently in talks with Michael Jackson, his sister Janet, and record labels including Sony in order to get the music released.
Quote:
"I've personally talked to Michael and Janet on the phone about the tapes, and even played on a couple of songs for them.
At first there was silence on the other end of the line, but that was quickly followed by giggles as if it brought them back to the day those songs were recorded."
Quite why these tapes were laying unclaimed for 30 years, or how they got there, is still not clear
Richard Altomare, the head of luggage movement company Universal Express, bought a collection of unclaimed personal belongings from a New Jersey storage warehouse and discovered a set of tapes dating back to the 1970's. These tapes contained approximately 60 unreleased songs by The Jackson 5.
Altomare states that he is currently in talks with Michael Jackson, his sister Janet, and record labels including Sony in order to get the music released.
Quote:
"I've personally talked to Michael and Janet on the phone about the tapes, and even played on a couple of songs for them.
At first there was silence on the other end of the line, but that was quickly followed by giggles as if it brought them back to the day those songs were recorded."
Quite why these tapes were laying unclaimed for 30 years, or how they got there, is still not clear
Thursday, August 16, 2007
Nona Loses Custody Battle
Nona Paris Lola Jackson has lost her custody battle for Michael Jackson's three children.
Judge Robert A. Schnider, in Los Angeles yesterday, denied Nona's request for custody.
Nona Paris Lola Jackson, based in London, had asked for joint physical custody of Prince Michael and Paris. She also claimed to be the mother of Prince Michael II.
Judge Schnider said:
"I feel her evidence fails to establish any genetic relationship between herself and the Jackson-Rowe children."
Schnider also denied Nona's request to nullify Jackson's marriages with his former wives Deborah Rowe and Lisa Marie Presley.
Nona Jackson claimed:
"Michael and I are a sexually active couple and have been this way from the beginning."
She also claimed to have written over 3,000 songs for him.
The woman's three previous attempts to interfere in the custody battle between Rowe and Jackson were rejected by Schnider last November, in February and in May on grounds that she had failed to notify Jackson and Rowe of the hearings.
It is unclear as to whether she will give up her claim.
Judge Robert A. Schnider, in Los Angeles yesterday, denied Nona's request for custody.
Nona Paris Lola Jackson, based in London, had asked for joint physical custody of Prince Michael and Paris. She also claimed to be the mother of Prince Michael II.
Judge Schnider said:
"I feel her evidence fails to establish any genetic relationship between herself and the Jackson-Rowe children."
Schnider also denied Nona's request to nullify Jackson's marriages with his former wives Deborah Rowe and Lisa Marie Presley.
Nona Jackson claimed:
"Michael and I are a sexually active couple and have been this way from the beginning."
She also claimed to have written over 3,000 songs for him.
The woman's three previous attempts to interfere in the custody battle between Rowe and Jackson were rejected by Schnider last November, in February and in May on grounds that she had failed to notify Jackson and Rowe of the hearings.
It is unclear as to whether she will give up her claim.
Wednesday, August 15, 2007
Jackson Sued Again
Another day, another litigation.
Such is the daily grind for Michael Jackson, one time music superstar.
Jackson's former lawyers, Lavely & Singer, are suing him for $113,750 in unpaid legal fees.
They filed a suit in Los Angeles Superior Court yesterday. They claim that they set up a payment plan for Jackson to pay off his $180,000 debt, but that he failed to make the final payment.
Such is the daily grind for Michael Jackson, one time music superstar.
Jackson's former lawyers, Lavely & Singer, are suing him for $113,750 in unpaid legal fees.
They filed a suit in Los Angeles Superior Court yesterday. They claim that they set up a payment plan for Jackson to pay off his $180,000 debt, but that he failed to make the final payment.
Tuesday, August 14, 2007
Jackson To Be Sued By Prince
The words "Michael Jackson" and "sued" these days tend to be rather synonymous.
This time Jackson is being sued, as opposed to suing. His one time friend, Prince Abdullah of Bahrain, is taking Jackson to court.
Prince Abdullah took Jackson and his family in after the 2005 child molestation trial. Having looked after Jackson and entourage, the Prince wanted to start a record company with the King of Pop.
Various agreements were signed, then nothing happened. The Prince is now fed up with this inactivity and is suing Jackson to honour the agreement and to do some work, eg make a record.
The case is being brought in London.
This time Jackson is being sued, as opposed to suing. His one time friend, Prince Abdullah of Bahrain, is taking Jackson to court.
Prince Abdullah took Jackson and his family in after the 2005 child molestation trial. Having looked after Jackson and entourage, the Prince wanted to start a record company with the King of Pop.
Various agreements were signed, then nothing happened. The Prince is now fed up with this inactivity and is suing Jackson to honour the agreement and to do some work, eg make a record.
The case is being brought in London.
Monday, August 06, 2007
All You Need Is Love
Beatles fans are venting their spleens on message boards across the net, in response to a decision by Sony/ATV Music Publishing to sell the rights to use the Beatles song "All You Need is Love" to Procter and Gamble for use in an advert for nappies.
Procter & Gamble has purchased the rights to use the song from Sony/ATV Music Publishing, which owns Northern Songs, the Beatles' catalogue.
This is a joint venture with Michael Jackson, who originally bought the songs. The company does not need permission from Sir Paul McCartney, Ringo Starr or the widows of John Lennon and George Harrison to licence a Beatles lyric.
Beatles fans are calling for a protest campaign to stop the advert.
The ad features a baby jumping on a teddy bear in a disposable nappy which offers "ultimate leak protection", while a Beatles copy band sings All You Need Is Luvs.
A storm in a teacup, as far as I can see.
Procter & Gamble has purchased the rights to use the song from Sony/ATV Music Publishing, which owns Northern Songs, the Beatles' catalogue.
This is a joint venture with Michael Jackson, who originally bought the songs. The company does not need permission from Sir Paul McCartney, Ringo Starr or the widows of John Lennon and George Harrison to licence a Beatles lyric.
Beatles fans are calling for a protest campaign to stop the advert.
The ad features a baby jumping on a teddy bear in a disposable nappy which offers "ultimate leak protection", while a Beatles copy band sings All You Need Is Luvs.
A storm in a teacup, as far as I can see.
Friday, August 03, 2007
Arvizo Charge Reduced
The charge of felony welfare fraud against Janet Arvizo, the mother of the boy who accused Michael Jackson of sexual abuse, was reduced on Wednesday to a misdemeanor and is eventually expected to be expunged.
Arvizo pleaded no contest (guilty), last November, to receiving fraudulent welfare payments.
Her lawyer, Rayford Fountain, said that she had paid over $8,600 in restitution and completed more than 150 hours of community service.
Fountain asked that she be placed on informal probation for 30 days to allow her to pay a court fine, and said he would then ask for the charge to be dismissed and expunged.
Arvizo pleaded no contest (guilty), last November, to receiving fraudulent welfare payments.
Her lawyer, Rayford Fountain, said that she had paid over $8,600 in restitution and completed more than 150 hours of community service.
Fountain asked that she be placed on informal probation for 30 days to allow her to pay a court fine, and said he would then ask for the charge to be dismissed and expunged.
Wednesday, August 01, 2007
Jackson In Washington
Michael Jackson was in Washington last week, at the offices of Venable LLP, to give a deposition in the $30M lawsuit brought by his former manager, Dieter Wiesner.
The outcome of the deposition is unclear.
The outcome of the deposition is unclear.
Thursday, July 26, 2007
Sleepover
Mark Ronson claimed that he once had a sleepover at Michael Jackson's house.
The DJ-and-producer, whose stepfather was Mick Jones from rock band Foreigner, became friends with Michael and John Lennon's son Sean.
Ronson said:
"I had a sleepover with Michael Jackson once. I haven't seen him since. He doesn't call, he doesn't write."
This could be the start of a new celebrity fashion, to claim to have sleepover at Michael Jackson's house.
The DJ-and-producer, whose stepfather was Mick Jones from rock band Foreigner, became friends with Michael and John Lennon's son Sean.
Ronson said:
"I had a sleepover with Michael Jackson once. I haven't seen him since. He doesn't call, he doesn't write."
This could be the start of a new celebrity fashion, to claim to have sleepover at Michael Jackson's house.
Tuesday, July 24, 2007
Prince Helps The King
Prince is advising the "King of Pop" Michael Jackson on how to save his career.
Jackson has allegedly turned to Prince for help with his comeback.
Prince has advised Jackson to play a series of acoustic shows in Las Vegas.
The New York Post quotes a source:
"Prince has been suggesting that Michael play a sequence of unplugged concerts in Las Vegas just Michael and the microphone. No gimmicks, no costume changes, no smoke or mirrors, just his voice."
Earlier this year Prince had snubbed Jackson's offer of a joint tour to help him re-launch himself on the world stage.
Jackson has allegedly turned to Prince for help with his comeback.
Prince has advised Jackson to play a series of acoustic shows in Las Vegas.
The New York Post quotes a source:
"Prince has been suggesting that Michael play a sequence of unplugged concerts in Las Vegas just Michael and the microphone. No gimmicks, no costume changes, no smoke or mirrors, just his voice."
Earlier this year Prince had snubbed Jackson's offer of a joint tour to help him re-launch himself on the world stage.
Friday, July 20, 2007
Mr Jackson Goes To Washington
Michael Jackson is in Washington for a few days, and took time out to tour the Smithsonian's National Air and Space and American Indian museums on Wednesday.
He arrived with his children before the buildings were opened to the public.
He arrived with his children before the buildings were opened to the public.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)