Catherine Jackson’s partner goes after the Michael Foundation

Catherine Jackson’s business partner, Howard Mann—who helped draft Janet, Randy, and Rebbie Jackson’s letter against the Michael Foundation—has also been banned from entering the home of Michael’s children, just like several other family members, and he has gone to war against the foundation.

Although Howard Mann has nothing to do with the guardianship of the Michael Foundation or with Michael’s will, his lawyers claimed on Monday that they have debatable evidence to prove that Michael’s will is flawed.

The reason Howard Mann got involved is that the Michael Foundation sued him in court some time ago. The fight is over a memorial book that Catherine Jackson and Howard Mann published after Michael’s death titled Never Can Say Goodbye. The Michael Foundation claims that Howard Mann, as the publisher of the book, violated royalty rights. Mann’s lawyers told the Los Angeles court that their claims about Michael’s will are a response to the lawsuit that the Michael Foundation filed against Howard Mann.

Shortly after Michael Jackson’s death, the court confirmed the validity of his 2002 will, and following that, the appeals court—upholding the previous ruling—closed the case regarding this will. According to the will, Michael’s three children are his only heirs, and his mother Catherine also receives a share while she is alive. The will also places the administration of Michael’s wealth and matters related to his career in the hands of John Branca and John McClain, as well as the foundation’s lawyer, Howard Weitzman.

A few weeks ago, several of Michael’s siblings—Janet, Rebbie, Randy, Jermaine, and Tito—who do not receive a share of Michael’s wealth, wrote a letter to the foundation claiming that the will is fake. After some time, Tito, and then Jermaine, withdrew their signatures from that letter.

In response to these claims, the Michael Jackson Foundation said: “Repeating false and insulting allegations rooted in internet conspiracy theories by certain members of Michael’s family whose names are not mentioned in the will has saddened and depressed us.”

Following the events of last month, Howard Weitzman, the foundation’s lawyer, asked the judge in the presence of a jury to issue an order prohibiting any claims against the will from being announced.

Weitzman said: “None of their documents and evidence are admissible in court, and they are only being raised because they think the foundation’s treatment of Mrs. Jackson hasn’t been fair.”

A hearing session to address the recent requests has been scheduled for August 27.

Source: eMJey.com / LA Times