Date: May 8th, 2021
MJ Estate legal team adds Tom Mesereau to arbitration case
over Leaving Neverland doc. Robson seems likely to testify
I’m told the Michael Jackson estate is preparing for battle with HBO in their
arbitration case over the documentary, “Leaving Neverland.” said Roger Friedman
from showbiz411
They’ve added to their legal team Thomas Mesereau, the superstar defense lawyer
who brilliantly convinced a jury to acquit Jackson in his 2005 child molestation
and conspiracy trial. The other members of the team are Bryan Freedman and
Jonathan Steinsapir.
Adding Mesereau is a sensational idea because he put Wade Robson, one of the
main subjects of the Dan Reed film, on the stand as a defense witness to support
Jackson in the 2005 trial. If Robson testifies in the arbitration, which seems
likely, he would be facing Mesereau in a much different way this time.
Both Robson and James Safechuck have seen lawsuits filed against the Estate
dismissed by the court in the last year. Their credibility has been severely
damaged by many contradictions in their recollection of alleged sexual abuse.
Both men were steadfast supporters of Jackson during his trial and after his
2009 death, but suddenly remembered abuse in 2013.
On the stand in 2005, Robson, his mother, and sister all testified on Jackson’s
behalf. They stayed at Neverland during the trial. Robson even asked Jackson to
be married at the Neverland Ranch, where he later said abuse took place. He also
dated Jackson’s niece for some time.
At the heart of the Jackson estate’s suit against HBO is an agreement between
the cabler and Jackson dating back to 1992 in which HBO promised never to
besmirch the singer. It was part of a deal for a concert film. HBO tried to get
away with breaking the agreement but the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals sided
with the Jackson estate.
The court said: “The contract contained a broad arbitration clause that covers
claims that HBO disparaged Jackson in violation of ongoing confidentiality
obligations. We may only identify whether the parties agreed to arbitrate such
claims; it is for the arbitrator to decide whether those claims are meritorious.”
The arbitrators are being chosen now, and the actual process should begin within
the next month, I’m told.
Source: showbiz411.com / GeniusMJ
Date: April 28th, 2021
Wade Robson's and James Safechuck's sexual abuse filed against Jackson ruled by
Superior Court. "Had No Legal Duty"
Michael Jackson's estate triumphed in court on Monday as a judge ruled the
performer's businesses cannot be sued by Wade Robson over alleged childhood
sexual abuse.
Robson, who was one of the subjects of the high-profile 2019 HBO documentary
Leaving Neverland, first filed the lawsuit in 2013, claiming the Thriller singer
sexually abused him for nearly a decade, from when he was 7.
At first, the suit was dismissed because of the statute of limitations, but it
was revived in 2020, after California amended its state law to extend the age,
from 26 to 40, by which people must file childhood sexual assault claims.
This week, however, Los Angeles County Superior Court Judge Mark A Young upheld
an earlier tentative ruling that dismissed Robson's lawsuit, finding defendants
MJJ Productions and MJJ Ventures had no legal duty or ability to control Jackson.
"There is no evidence supporting the plaintiff’s contention that defendants
exercised control over Jackson," Young wrote in his ruling. "The evidence
further demonstrates that defendants had no legal ability to control Jackson,
because Jackson had complete and total ownership of the corporate defendants.
"Without control, there is no special relationship or duty that exists between
defendants and plaintiff."
In October, Young also dismissed a similar suit by James Safechuck, the other
subject of the HBO documentary, citing the same grounds.
Safechuck's suit is now on appeal and Robson's lawyer, Vince Finaldi, has said
he would also appeal the decision on his case.
Steinsapir said: “Robson has spent the last eight years pursuing frivolous
claims in different lawsuits against Michael Jackson's estate and companies
associated with it.
"Robson has taken nearly three dozen depositions and inspected and presented
hundreds of thousands of documents trying to prove his claims, yet a judge has
once again ruled that Robson’s claims have no merit whatsoever, that no trial is
necessary and that his latest case is dismissed."
Leaving Neverland left audiences stunned and shocked when it premiered at the
Sundance Film Festival in January 2019. The harrowing, four-hour documentary,
which was shown in two parts, features renewed sexual abuse claims against
Jackson by Robson and Safechuck.
Source: thenationalnews.com
/ ABC News / BBC / Variety.com / GeniusMJ
Date: November 22nd, 2019
‘Bohemian Rhapsody’ Producer Lands Authorized Michael
Jackson Biopic.
The producer of Bohemian Rhapsody has reached a deal with Michael Jackson’s
estate to make an authorized biopic about the late King of Pop.
Deadline first reported that producer Graham King’s GK Films — which produced
the Queen biopic and also has a Bee Gees film in the works — secured the rights
to Jackson’s life story as well as the use of his music. A representative for GK
Films confirmed the acquisition to Rolling Stone. A rep for the Jackson estate
declined to comment.
According to Deadline, Oscar-nominated screenwriter John Logan — who previously
worked with King on another biopic, Martin Scorsese’s The Aviator — will pen the
Jackson biopic script, with the film, like Bohemian Rhapsody, not shying away
from the more controversial moments of Jackson’s life and career.
No movie studio has aligned with the Jackson biopic yet and no casting decisions
have been made. The biopic marks the first authorized film about Jackson, whose
life has been the focus of numerous critically-panned television movies, most
recently Lifetime’s Searching for Neverland in 2017. Jackson’s alleged sexual
abuse of two young boys was examined in the recent HBO documentary Leaving
Neverland.
News of the authorized Jackson biopic comes one day after Ain’t Too Proud: The
Life and Times of the Temptations actor and original Hamilton cast member
Ephraim Sykes will portray the King of Pop in the similarly authorized MJ: The
Musical, set to open on Broadway in 2020.
Source: therollingstone.com / GeniusMJ
Date: June 3rd, 2019
Discovery set new Jackson's death documentary..
“Killing Michael Jackson,” a one-off documentary that explores the circumstances
around the death of the global pop icon, has been picked up by Discovery for its
channels in international territories including the U.K. and Germany.
Discovery Networks will also run the one-hour documentary on its channels in
Italy and the Nordics. In the U.K. it will play on its Quest Red free-to-air
service.
“Killing Michael Jackson” features three U.S. detectives – Orlando Martinez, Dan
Myers, and Scott Smith – who were part of the original investigation into the
singer’s death in 2009. Doctor Conrad Murray, who was jailed for the involuntary
manslaughter of Jackson, also features.
The documentary comes from U.K. indie producer Zig Zag. The producers said the
detectives will re-examine Jackson’s death by reopening their official Los
Angeles Police Department case files 10 years on, and promised new revelations
and previously unseen archive footage.
Other international buyers of “Killing Michael Jackson” include Polsat
Television in Poland, TVNZ in New Zealand, and Medialaan in Belgium.
“This film focuses on the intriguing circumstances surrounding Michael Jackson’s
death, giving audiences a fascinating insight into the final moments of the pop
star’s life and the criminal process that led to the arrest and conviction of Dr.
Conrad Murray,” said Matt Graff, managing director of Zig Zag Productions.
Not something that fans would like to watch especially Murray will be including
in that documentary!
Source: Variety / MJVibe / GeniusMJ
Date: March 24th, 2019
MJ Estate Says Leaving Neverland's Facts Don't Add Up, But
'No One Has Really Been Interested in Reporting On It'.
Scrambling to soften the impact of HBO's Leaving Neverland, which alleges that
Michael Jackson sexually abused two children, the late singer's estate has been
informing the media of its many concerns about the credibility of the film and
its stars, accusers James Safechuck and Wade Robson.
The estate recently provided Billboard with a 24-page working PowerPoint
document, titled "Leaving Neverland and the Truth," that questions the accusers'
memories and the filmmakers' motives in detail. The estate also attached recent
news clips in which the singer's defense attorney, Thomas Mesereau Jr. called
the charges "hogwash."
The document, not intended for publication, details what the estate says are
dozens of examples in the documentary of bias, inconsistency and footage taken
out of context. In the film, for example, Robson says Jackson invited him to
sleep in his bed, but "in his deposition," the material states, "he makes clear
that he and his sister were the ones who initiated the idea, and that Michael
insisted they ask their parents." The film also portrays Jackson wishing Robson
a happy birthday in a video "suggesting a creepy, predatory manner," when he
recorded numerous similar greetings around the same time, the estate notes.
Other concerns: the director "audibly coached" Robson at one point in an
interview; the film neglects to mention Robson's attempts to find work with
Cirque du Soleil's tribute shows after Jackson's death; and Jackson's defense
attorney Mark Geragos appears to be threatening an accuser in a 2005 clip shown
in the movie -- but the estate says the clip was pulled from a press conference
from unrelated litigation involving a charter-jet company.
"The quotes are taken out of context and no effort was made to clarify," notes
the estate, which sued HBO before the film's wide debut for violating a 1992
nondisparagement clause. (The network didn't comment.)
But an estate representative says few media outlets have expressed interest in
its grievances with the film.
"Much of this information is available online, and we have sent various pieces
to the media, but no one has really been interested in reporting on it [or]
digging further than the documentary," the estate rep told Billboard.
Mesereau, in an interview with Billboard, said the Leaving Neverland accusations
were reminiscent of Jackson's 2004-05 child-molestation trial, when "the entire
world was condemning him and no one thought we could get a fair trial." A jury
found Jackson not guilty of all charges. (Ron Zonen, the retired prosecutor who
helped bring Jackson to trial in 2004, says the defense attorney is "preserving
his own legacy.")
In an interview, estate attorneys were equally keen to point out inconsistencies.
The night before Robson testified for the defense during the 2005 trial, he said
in Leaving Neverland, Jackson looked upset at a dinner. But Jackson's nephew Taj
and others who were present said the dinner took place after the testimony.
"That whole story is made-up fiction," says Jonathan Steinsapir, one of the
estate's attorneys. Adds his partner, Howard Weitzman: "It's hard to tell what
the impact [of the documentary] will be. What is clear is people are drawing
conclusions without knowing all the facts. They're depending on a documentary
that we know is not completely accurate."
Vince Finaldi, attorney for Robson and Safechuck, explains that misremembering
small details is normal for child victims of abuse: "They can try and nitpick
little things -- 'Was he sitting on the left or the right side of the car?' If
you understand the mechanics of sexual abuse, kids are not remembering
insignificant details, but they have a vivid memory of what happened to them."
Source: Billboard.com / GeniusMJ
Date: March 19th, 2019
MJ Estate Statemant.
The Estate of
Michael Jackson:
We want to start by again thanking all of Michael’s fans and acknowledge and
thank Michael’s nephew, Taj, his niece, Brandi, and his brothers, Jackie, Marlon
and Tito, Grace Rwaramba, Aaron Carter, Brett Barnes, Stephanie Mills and all of
the other individuals around the world who have spoken out on his behalf. We
also want to acknowledge those in the media who have done their job as
journalists by reviewing the facts, noting how they were ignored in Leaving
Neverland because it didn’t fit into the filmmaker’s one-sided agenda of
denigrating Michael’s legacy.
We also want to provide a brief update on our efforts, as well as share some
thoughts with you from the past two weeks. We share your frustration and anger
that a man who was found innocent in a court of law in life is being attacked,
financially exploited and smeared by corporations and individuals who are only
making claims now because he is no longer here to defend himself.
In addition to our public statements regarding our position on Leaving Neverland,
our legal efforts continue. While it would not be prudent to publicly divulge
our strategy and list our efforts, rest assured we are committed to holding HBO
and Channel 4 accountable for their egregious, uncorroborated smear of Michael’s
legacy. Many of you have asked why we are seeking open arbitration. The answer
is simple: we believe the public deserves to know how Leaving Neverland really
came about, why no counter opinion was ever sought, why so many facts were
ignored and why individuals were smeared who should have at a minimum been
contacted to get the other side of the story. It is outrageous that such a
one-sided smear was ever allowed on the air without challenge. We all know that
if Michael was still alive it would never have been aired.
We also have other non-legal initiatives that we will disclose at the
appropriate time. What is important for us, and always has been, is that we
continue to take the long view as we have over the last decade. That means not
doing anything rash that would give HBO, Channel 4, the film’s director and,
especially, the subjects of the film, what they most crave now. They want to
engage in a way that focuses more attention on a film that has no doubt
underperformed given that the media did everything in its power to sell this
film to viewers. But given the enormous attention and free publicity the media
gave this film, the numbers have clearly not matched the hype in the markets
where it has aired, with many viewers opting to stop watching after the first
part.
We recognize that the press often magnifies each affront related to this film.
But from our view the actual impact of this documentary on the public and their
behavior has not been as significant as the media want people to think. While
some would like you to think otherwise, we can confirm that the consumption of
Michael’s music has not declined and his streaming numbers have not decreased in
the wake of this documentary. This tells us that in addition to those of us who
know the truth about Michael, those who may not understand Michael’s
eccentricities and the way he chose to live his life outside of society’s norms
are still choosing to appreciate and enjoy the art he created. We have licensees
worldwide who are proudly selling Michael Jackson merchandise. We have insight
into a significant amount of data that the fans do not see and we are working
24/7 behind the scenes to synthesize all that information and act accordingly.
We are also seeing a sharp disconnect between the reception of the film by
everyday viewers and the mainstream media. Despite being outright propaganda,
many viewers see through the one-sidedness, the over-the-top salacious claims,
the staged dialogue and other dramatizations. They see that what Leaving
Neverland boils down to is a sales job aimed at convincing viewers Michael
Jackson isn’t the man millions of people know and love, including the two
subjects of the film and their families until they chose to sue for hundreds of
millions of dollars. As people have had time to digest Leaving Neverland and
review the facts, many are recognizing they can’t take it at face value. We are
especially proud of Michael’s fans and those who continue to stand up for him by
pointing out the numerous inconsistencies and flaws in the film. Numerous
individuals who have studied every facet of these cases has poked numerous holes
in the stories of the two subjects. Some critics and individuals are now
courageously admitting publicly that, having studied the facts, their view of
the film changed 180 degrees.
Michael Jackson cannot be silenced, and neither can his fans, whether it is
those who proudly play his music in public squares to show their support, the
coffee shop owner in New Zealand who played his songs all day long in protest of
Leaving Neverland or those who put posters and signs around cities proclaiming
his innocence. As Michael predicted 25 years ago, the truth will be his
salvation.
The Estate of Michael Jackson
SOURCE: The Official Online Team of The Michael Jackson Estate™.
Source: GeniusMJ
Date: March 14th, 2019
MJ Estate sues HBO for "so called" documentary "Leaving
Neverland", and Michael's kids sues Wade Robson and James Safechuck.
Following the airing of HBO’s documentary “Leaving Neverland,” Michael Jackson’s
children, Prince, Paris and Blanket allegedly plan on suing Wade Robson and
James Safechuck.
Page Six reports that a source close to the family states that the lawsuit would
be on the grounds of fraud, emotional distress, slander and misrepresentation.
As we reported, Robson and Safechuck have been the center of the documentary
alleging in graphic detail that they were apparently sexually abused by the late
star.
In addition, Page Six reports that Prince, Paris and Blanket are not looking for
money, but that any money they are given would be donated to charity. They
simply want an apology from the two men and for them to admit that their father
did nothing wrong.
The source adds that, “It’s very important to them they carry forward” their
father’s “legacy of philanthropy and humility.”
Jackson’s estate is already suing HBO for damages that may exceed $100 million
for airing the defamatory film following its release at Sundance.
The case will took place in The Arbitration Court in California, Los Angeles
on date June 26th, 2019. But Estate filed request for earlier date to proceed.
Source: thehollywoodunlocked.com / GeniusMJ
Date: January 10th, 2019
MJ Estate statement about "so called" documentary "Leaving
Neverland"
Estate is criticizing a new documentary preparing to make its world premiere
at the Sundance Film Festival at the end of the month.
About Leaving Neverland you can read, "At the height of his stardom Michael
Jackson began long-running relationships with two boys, aged 7 and 10, and their
families. Now in their 30s, they tell the story of how they were sexually abused
by Jackson, and how they came to terms with it years later."
Estate denounced the claims against the prolific singer and the documentary as a
whole. "This is yet another lurid production in an outrageous and pathetic
attempt to exploit and cash in on Michael Jackson. Wade Robson and James
Safechuck have both testified under oath that Michael never did anything
inappropriate toward them. Safechuck and Robson, the latter a self-proclaimed
'master of deception', filed lawsuits against Michael's Estate, asking for
millions of dollars. Both lawsuits were dismissed."
It’s unclear which of Jackson’s accusers are the focus of Leaving Neverland.
As the Wrap notes, the two brothers who accused Jackson of molestation in the
singer’s 2005 criminal trial are now only in their 20s. Choreographer Wade
Robson, now 36, filed a sexual abuse lawsuit against Jackson in 2013, claiming
Jackson molested him when he was seven years old. That lawsuit was dismissed in
December 2017.
The comments continued, "This so called 'documentary' is just another rehash of
dated and discredited allegations. It's baffling why any credible filmmaker
would involve himself with this project."
The film is produced and directed by Dan Reed, who has worked on a number of
TV documentaries including HBO's Terror series (Moscow, Mumbai, the Charlie
Hebdo attacks) as well as BAFTA winner The Paedophile Hunter.
Source: MJ Estat /RollingStones / GeniusMJ
Date: August 24th, 2018
Sony confesses to releasing fake Michael's songs
In 2010, several songs were released that were said to be recorded by the late
Michael Jackson. Four years later, one fan questioned the music’s validity,
leading many to believe the music was fraudulent. Now, nearly three years after
the scandal, Sony Music Entertainment has admitted to releasing and selling fake
tunes by the late legend.
The fake songs reportedly appeared on the 2010 posthumous album Michael. The
songs in question include: “Monster,” “Keep Your Head Up,” and “Breaking News.”
In court documents obtained by Karen Civil, Vera Servoa – the fan who
kickstarted the investigation into the fake MJ songs – filed a civil suit,
accusing Jackson’s longtime friends Eddie Cascio, James Victor Porte, and his
production company, Angelikson Productions LLC of creating and selling music
through Sony and the Jackson estate.
Cascio and Porte initially claimed that the songs were recorded in Cascio’s
basement in 2007. Serova and the Jackson family, contested those claims however.
While the singles sounded similar to MJ’s sound, they said Michael never
recorded them. Serova testified in the Los Angeles Superior Court that they were
recorded by an impersonator named Jason Malachi.
Consequently, Sony Music Entertainment conceded in court, that it had released
fake singles. It’s unclear if fans or Jackson’s estate will be awarded for the
criminal behavior or whether there will be an monetary punishment for Sony.
Source: Sony Music / MJVibe.com / MJJCommunity / GeniusMJ
Date: October 9th, 2017
MJ Estate speaks out about future projects
People from MJWorld.net have had an uniqe chance to coantact with MJ Estate
and they did chat with co-executor of MJ Estate John Branca. The subjects they
were speaking about are: "Scream" album,"Thriller 3D", "Blood On The Dance Floor"
2017, unreleased songs, Ghosts, concert releases, Neverland.
So here we go:
"Scream" album is a step to expand Michael's fan base, its aimed to
attracting a new audience, audience who may not be too familiar with Michael
Jackson and get them excited about his work.
"Thriller 3D" is a project to see Michael's classic masterpiece
brought even more to life using modern technology and on a big screen, the fact
is that it has been brilliant remastered. You are now able to see it like you
would see it for the first time, you are able to really watch the dancers and
see tiny details that you had never seen before.
The plan is to release "Thriller 3D" at IMAX's around the world as a special
preview you go and watch a big Halloween themed movie. Estate is planning to
release it in next year's Halloween.
"Blood On The Dance Floor" 2017 a new version of original music video.
It's the same video we've seen in the 1997 but also included new dancing stuffs
with the fantastic talents of the Cirque Du Soleil cast. It had to be released
this week but in light of incident in Las Vegas they decided to postpone
the release out of respect.
"Ghosts" it's a news that will delight every fan... Estate are hoping
to remester and release "Ghosts" in 3D next year too. As in case of "Scream"
project's aimed to introduce Michael to a new audice, however this project
hasn't been started yet and they don't know yet what exactly it will be like and
when it will be released.
"Unreleased songs" Mr. Branca explained that he doesn't belive there's
enough high quality recorded music for a whole new album. We all know that
Michael recorded a lot over his lifetime, but music thats's been completed and
reaches the same quality as previous releases, are few and far between. Even
music recorded with will.i.am.didn't include vocals. However, a recording of Sly
and the Family Stone's song "Hot Fun In The Summertime" (which Michael bought
the rights to) does exist. Michael has recorded multiple harmonies for the
chorus of this song, but not any of the verses. So, they may look into getting a
popular singer to make this a duet at some point in the future.
The Estate is aware that some fans find it difficult to accept new music so
that's why they are careful with what they want to give us and what we are
expecting to be given by.
"Tours" Michael's HIStory tour (1996-1997) is the only tour filmed
that is suitable for HD, Dolby Surround, multi camera angles etc... Branca
foresees that the tour could possibly be released when they come to commemorate
that album or during an anniversary. It would be most probably to go straight to
DVD/Netflix.
Neverlnad, Estate would love to open it for the public but Zoning laws
in California would not allow the amount of traffic along the single long road
that leads up to the gates of the ranch. In spite of this Mr. Branca said they
are looking into the possibility of opening up Hayvenhurst, where Michael spent
many years living and recorded the demos for "Billie Jean" and others for the
"Thriller" album.
Source: MJWorld.net / MJ Estate / GeniusMJ
Date: September 13th, 2017
Sony's "new" album of King Of Pop.
On September 6, Sony made a decision to release new music project. King of Pop's
music is getting back on shop's shells, it's Sempteber 29th of 2017. After long
time break Sony is giving us "new" posistion in Michael's discography
entitled "Scream" and there you go for its tracklist:
1. This Place Hotel
2. Thriller
3. Blood On The Dance Floor
4. Somebody’s Watching Me
5. Dirty Diana
6. Torture
7. Leave Me Alone
8. Scream
9. Dangerous
10. Unbreakable
11. Xscape
12. Threatened
13. Ghosts
Bonus Track: Blood On The Dance Floor X Dangerous (The White Panda Mash-Up)
As much as its electryify teaser: Scream Teaser.
If we talking about "new" $ony doesn't mean to give us something new but nothing
more like hoary old chestnut. After scandal around "Michael"album it seems to
record company doesn't want to risk again Fans' trust and is going with all bog
hope we buy another "The Best Of" which contains only one new thing called a
remix of few tracks. $ony count on big sale because they are ging us new stuff ,however
do Fans are really confident that they really want to have another "The Best Of"
what they know very well?
In our opinion better bussiness $ony would made if they gave us the last Michael
in his last unfinished but in last steps to be released album. As we know before
Michael died, that he was in final level to gave us something new, he wants to
release it about his series of shows of This is it, but does $ony do that one
day?
By GeniusMJ.com.
Source: MichaelJackson.com / GeniusMJ
