Court Signals Readiness to Hear Joe Jackson’s Request

After Michael Jackson’s death last June, his father Joe objected—through the oversight of his son’s trusted lawyers—to the management of the foundation by his son’s attorneys. Judge John Mitchell Beckloff announced in November 2009 that Joe Jackson is not allowed to interfere in his son’s foundation affairs, and therefore Joe did not get the chance to file his objection in court. Now, his lawyer, Brian Oxman, says the court’s decision on this matter was completely wrong. Oxman claims that John Branca and John McClain, the foundation’s trustees, have hostility toward Joe Jackson.

Meanwhile, the foundation’s trustees, Michael’s mother and three of Michael’s children, believe the court’s ruling—restraining Joe Jackson from interfering in Michael’s affairs, as was stated in his will—was correct. Thus, Joe Jackson, whose name does not appear anywhere in the will, has no right to interfere.

Some time ago, it was said that Joe Jackson does not have enough money to pay his lawyer, Oxman, and that he has allowed him to make a living by conducting interviews related to Michael’s life and work.

Howard Weitzman, the lawyer for Michael Jackson’s two foundation trustees, believes that even considering Joe Jackson’s interests, Judge Beckloff’s decision was the best possible one. He said: “I think Judge Beckloff gave Mr. Oxman enough time and opportunity to present evidence.”

Margaret J. Ladayce, the lawyer for Michael’s children, wrote in her court filing that their grandfather’s actions harm the children.

“In fact, the three children of Michael who are under legal age—and who have the largest share in the foundation—are suffering the most from the legal disputes over how the foundation is run.”

Now, the court has accepted Joe’s request to raise his objection, but it has not set a date for a hearing on it. Although both the foundation’s lawyer and the lawyers for Katherine Jackson—Howard Weitzman and Adam Streisand—have said they expect the outcome of this debate to be determined as soon as possible. The three-month decision-making panel has time to submit its response.

Source: eMJey / AP