Judge approves Michael’s memorabilia tour

On Friday, Mitchell Beckloff told the court that Michael’s lawyers—who are responsible for carrying out his will and handling his financial and professional affairs—may sign a contract with AEG under which Michael’s memorabilia will go on tour for display in three cities around the world. It is expected that staging exhibitions of Michael’s memorabilia in these three cities will generate up to $6 million in revenue for Michael. The organizers said the tour will run at the same time as the public release of a film about Michael’s rehearsals and behind-the-scenes preparation for the London concerts.

Michael’s lawyers for Katherine Jackson objected to this contract, arguing that the organizer of the exhibition should be selected through a bidding process. At present, AEG—the company that had already signed a contract with her as the organizer of Michael’s concerts in London—is responsible for carrying out this exhibition tour. These lawyers also objected to the 50-50 profit split and said Michael’s share should be larger.

On this day, Randy Jackson, Michael’s brother, was expected to take the witness stand and explain the family’s reasons for objecting to this contract. It was also expected that Leonard Rowe—who was said to have been hired earlier by Joe Jackson without Michael’s knowledge as Michael’s business manager—would appear in court, but neither of these happened.

After Michael’s death, a letter was released that Michael had written to Leonard Rowe. In the letter, Michael stated that Leonard Rowe was not his representative and that he did not want any verbal or written communication with him regarding business or personal matters. However, Leonard Rowe could contact Michael’s business manager, Frank DeLillo, and Randy Phillips, the CEO of AEG.

After Michael signed a contract with AEG to carry out 50 concerts, his father sent an email to internet media without Michael’s knowledge, announcing that Leonard Rowe was Michael’s business manager. This news was circulated by several internet news agencies, but Michael did not feel the need to formally deny the claim, and even after Michael’s death it was not clear who his business manager was. Roger Friedman, some time after the email was sent by Michael’s father and Leonard Rowe to the media, said it was not credible.

At Friday’s court session, Katie Currie, AEG’s lawyer, expressed anger over the fact that a confidential contract between Michael Jackson and this company had been shown to Leonard Rowe, whose name had been removed from Katherine Jackson’s list of expert witnesses.

Source: eMJey / AP