Playing Michael’s Recorded Testimony Tape About Mark Shaffel’s Lawsuit in Court

On Thursday, part of a recorded video tape of Michael was shown in court as the case regarding Mark Shaffel’s financial lawsuit against him was heard.

Through this recorded video, Michael testified about Mark Shaffel’s financial claim. He said he is sure he paid Shaffel’s wages.

“I’m sure I paid him.” When he is asked in the tape how he can speak with confidence about this, he answers: “Because he always seemed happy.”

The defense attorney responds: “Happiness doesn’t bring money.”

Howard King, Shaffel’s attorney, told the jury members that Michael had repeatedly said he couldn’t remember the details of his finances.

In this tape, recorded on September 23, 2005, Michael is wearing a dark-colored shirt and answers questions in a calm voice. He is asked whether Shaffel expected to be paid in return for his services. Michael answers:

“I know that of course he wanted something from me. I remember the huge invoices he asked me to pay.”

King said he would bring several former financial advisers of Michael to court to testify about their work experiences and their financial contracts with Michael.

The day before, Mandle, Michael’s attorney, had said in court that after the pop superstar learned about Shaffel’s involvement in producing gay pornography, he cut ties with him.

On Thursday, King explained his client’s background in this area. He said: “Mr. Shaffel has a successful business record. And one of these successful business activities was producing legal adult entertainment products. In the year 2000, he ended his activity in this field and began working for Mr. Jackson.”

On this day, Mandle also said in his statements that Michael is known for forgetfulness, and he accused Shaffel of taking advantage of this trait of Michael and transferring Michael’s funds from his personal account into his own pocket, while still sending Michael invoices to be paid even after he had been dismissed.

He continued that a comprehensive financial report from Michael’s accounts shows that in fact it is Shaffel who owes Michael. The large amounts that had been delivered by Shaffel to Michael were actually paid by other people, and Shaffel didn’t spend from his own pocket.

Shaffel is obsessive about keeping receipts. He kept track of every penny spent. But he did not keep any receipts or documents proving that his expenses were paid by Michael Jackson.

Mandle confirmed his point by showing the receipt for the purchase of a $5.17 Mexican pastry.

He added: “The evidence shows that Mr. Shaffel should have been satisfied with what he had. He could have escaped the law while pocketing a lot of Michael’s money. But he filed a multi-million-dollar lawsuit against Michael.”

The defense attorney further confirmed that Shaffel is owed $500,000 for holding the rights to two television specials that he produced for Michael, but that issue is not related to this case.

Allan Whitman, Michael’s former business manager who had worked for Michael for a long time, was the first witness called by King.

Whitman was dismissed from his job this week after changes Michael made to his management team. He said his firing had nothing to do with this case, but he did not provide further details. He gave a comprehensive account of the financial advisers Michael hired and then later removed, and said that Michael fired those who had the most control over his financial activities.

He added that some of them received $100,000 for a month of work, while others—because they were like Ron Burkle, a billionaire, and Alvin Malnik, an investor—offered their services as a favor.

He continued by saying that during the six years he worked for Michael, he met him only once and occasionally contacted him by phone.