All posts containing the tag: "estate"
Posted Nov 22nd 2009 3:40AM by TMZ Staff
The upside to buying "Dallas" star Larry Hagman's home: If you want it, you only have to pay $13 a year for the electric bill. Downside: The rest of the house costs a whopping $11 mil.
Hagman, who struck it big by playing an oil magnate on TV, just put his solar powered, 9 bedroom, 14.5 bathroom, 18,000 square foot estate in Ojai, California on the market -- and the palatial pad would make J.R. Ewing proud.
For some reason, Larry and his wife are looking to downsize.
Filed under: Paparazzi Photo, Photo Galleries
Tags: dallas, estate, house, J.R. Ewing, J.r.Ewing, larry hagman, LarryHagman, solar power, SolarPower, who shot J.R., WhoShotJ.r.
Posted Nov 17th 2009 4:15PM by TMZ Staff
Get your currency converters out -- the law firm that filed the latest creditor's claim against Michael Jackson's estate wants to get paid in pounds.
The firm of Arnold & Porter -- which has an office in London -- just filed papers in L.A. County Superior Court, claiming MJ owes them for legal services rendered between February and June of '09.
The total bill: £103,179.10.
And this is interesting: In the docs, it shows Michael initially hired the firm in connection with a "dispute with Abdulla Bin Hamad Bin Isa Al-Khalifa" -- the son of the King of Bahrain.
The sheikh sued Michael in 2008 for $7 million -- after Michael allegedly accepted a bunch of money and perks from the sheikh in exchange for two new albums.
The case was settled shortly after.
Filed under: Michael Jackson, Exclusives
Tags: arnold porter, ArnoldPorter, estate, michael jackson, MichaelJackson
Posted Nov 10th 2009 5:50PM by TMZ Staff
Michael Jackson's Forest Lawn funeral costs total $855,730.31, according to documents just unsealed by the court.
The costs for the Glendale Police Department and city support $175,086.31.
As for itemized costs, the internment was $590,000. As for upkeep of the mausoleum -- $88,500.
The casket coach -- $295
Private security, lighting, baby grand piano, fan rentals -- $176,020.31.
And there's this -- Framing of a photo of MJ which was placed next to the casket -- $3,682.66
Wardrobe for the family -- $1,975.50
Flower van -- $125
Filed under: Michael Jackson, Exclusives
Tags: estate, executors, expenses, funeral, joe jackson, JoeJackson, katherine jackson, KatherineJackson, michael jackson, MichaelJackson
Posted Nov 10th 2009 5:19PM by TMZ Staff
Joe Jackson's lawyer just made it clear to the judge -- if Michael Jackson's dad doesn't get an allowance, he'll file a creditor's claim against his son's estate.
Brian Oxman, Joe's lawyer, just said out loud he thinks Katherine has "struck a deal with the estate" rather than staying committed to challenging the will, John Branca, and on and on. Branca's lawyer, Howard Weitzman, said there has never been a "deal" with Katherine.
Oxman said if Joe doesn't get the allowance he's after, Michael would have breached a contract he had with daddy and that's why he'd then file a creditor's claim. Oxman didn't elaborate on what kind of contract MJ made with Joe.
And then there's this. Katherine Jackson's lawyer said Katherine doesn't object to Joe getting an allowance, but was quick to add that Joe has no legal standing to appear in probate court.
Filed under: Celebrity Justice, Michael Jackson
Tags: estate, executors, joe jackson, JoeJackson, john branca, john mcclain, JohnBranca, JohnMcclain, michael jackson, MichaelJackson
Posted Nov 10th 2009 1:40PM by TMZ Staff
Katherine Jackson has just drawn a line in the sand with her husband Joe. Her lawyer just announced in court Katherine has no problem with John Branca and John McClain as executors of Michael Jackson's estate.
Joe just filed legal papers yesterday trying to boot Branca and McClain from the case ... and he claims the will is a forgery.
Story developing...
Filed under: Michael Jackson
Tags: estate, executors, joe jackson, JoeJackson, katherine jackson, KatherineJackson, michael jackson, MichaelJackson
Posted Nov 6th 2009 4:10PM by TMZ Staff
Joe Jackson claims there was "no justification" for him to be excluded from getting money from Michael Jackson's estate ... and now he's asking a judge to grant him a monthly allowance.
Joe just filed papers in L.A. County Superior Court, claiming he's "entitled to his own independent family allowance."
In the docs, Leonard Rowe -- a guy who claims to have been MJ's manager -- says Michael used to give his mother Katherine up to $60,000 a month to live on, and that Michael instructed her to give half of it to Joe.
Joe claims Michael's estate has "earned more than $100 million dollars in the first seven (7) weeks following Michael Jackson's death" and is "well able to afford a family allowance for Joe Jackson."
Joe says he has $15,425 in total monthly expenses, including the following:
-- $2,500 eating out
-- $2,000 for air travel
-- $3,000 for hotel bills
-- $1,000 for groceries
-- $1,200 for rent
-- $50 in charitable contributions
UPDATE -- Howard Weitzman, one of the attorneys the Special Administrators for Michael Jackson's Estate, tells TMZ: "The Special Administrators have been made aware that Joe Jackson filed papers asking to be paid a family allowance from the Estate. It was quite surprising to learn of the request. Mr. Jackson's Petition will be considered as are all requests for money from Michael's Estate."
Filed under: Michael Jackson, Exclusives
Tags: allowance, estate, joe jackson, JoeJackson, michael jackson, MichaelJackson, money
Posted Oct 29th 2009 7:15PM by TMZ Staff
Michael Jackson's estate was hit with three major creditor's claims today -- and they're all from people who claim MJ owed them tons of cash from "Thriller."
First up: John Landis -- the guy who wrote and directed the "Thriller" video and documentary back in 1983. Landis claims Jackson owed him more than $400,000 from a deal MJ made to take "Thriller" to Broadway -- a deal Landis said MJ didn't have the authority to make in the first place without his consent.
Next up: The company who hired Landis to do the "Thriller" gig also filed legal documents. Levitsky Productions claims they weren't paid profits they were entitled to from the music video in more than 4 years. They want more than $1,000,000.
Lucky #3: George Folsey Jr. -- the guy who produced the "Thriller" music video and documentary. Folsey claims Jackson stiffed him out of his cut of Thriller-related merchandise -- such as video games, toys, comic books, DVDs, CDs, dramatic and musical works and more. Folsey Jr. also wants more than $1,000,000.
Filed under: Celebrity Justice, Michael Jackson, Exclusives
Tags: creditors claims, CreditorsClaims, estate, michael jackson, MichaelJackson, thriller
Posted Oct 26th 2009 3:56PM by TMZ Staff
An ex-choreographer who allegedly worked for Michael Jackson is the latest person to file a creditor's claim against Jackson's estate.
LaVelle Smith Jr. filed a suit today claiming he worked for Jackson for several different stretches in 2008 and 2009. Smith says Jackson only paid him part of what he was supposed to get and he is owed $144,500.
Take a number.
Filed under: Celebrity Justice, Exclusives
Tags: creditors claim, CreditorsClaim, estate, lawsuit, michael jackson, MichaelJackson
Posted Oct 23rd 2009 12:15PM by TMZ Staff
Betcha didn't see this coming: Another creditor's claim has been filed against Michael Jackson's estate.
This time, it was filed by an accounting firm called Cannon and Company, that claims Michael owes $56,582 for services rendered earlier this year.
Actually, one of the invoices is from July of this year -- the month after Michael died.
Filed under: Celebrity Justice, Michael Jackson, Exclusives
Tags: estate, lawsuit, Michael Jackson, MichaelJackson
Posted Oct 22nd 2009 9:56AM by TMZ Staff
Katherine Jackson has gotten rid of her probate legal team, TMZ has learned.
Multiple sources tell us Katherine Jackson will be substituting new lawyers in her probate case. She has fired Burt Levitch. Family members also told us Londell McMillan will no longer be involved in the probate case.
Katherine will be hiring new lawyers and we're told she'll ask for a continuance today when the court hearing convenes so she can seal the deal with new lawyers.
We spoke with Londell McMillan, who acknowledges Katherine is moving on and hiring new probate lawyers. McMillan says he was never Katherine's probate lawyer, even though we know he was actively negotiating with lawyers for the estate.
McMillan tells TMZ, "I am not completely out." He says he does not know if he is still Katherine's general counsel and continues to represent her.
Filed under: Michael Jackson, Exclusives
Tags: 86s, blanket, children, estate, fires, katherine jackson, KatherineJackson, michael jackson, michael jr, MichaelJackson, MichaelJr, paris, probate lawyers, ProbateLawyers, special administrators, SpecialAdministrators, will
Posted Oct 22nd 2009 2:00AM by TMZ Staff
Michael Jackson's 2002 will has a mistake in it, TMZ has learned -- but it looks like a case of no harm, no foul.
As we first reported, according to the will -- dated July 7, 2002 -- it was signed in Los Angeles. But Randy Jackson told TMZ Michael was in New York City on that date.
Randy thinks the signature on Michael's will is a forgery. But Howard Weitzman, the lawyer for the estate, tells TMZ the signature is valid and the witnesses saw Jackson put pen to paper.
We've now confirmed Jackson definitely signed the will in New York City on 7-7-02. So the reference to Los Angeles is clearly a mistake.
Our sources say the person who wrote "Los Angeles" is one of the witnesses to the will and simply forgot where he was.
This mistake will not invalidate the will. Ironically, if the will were declared invalid, the prior 1997 will would be probated. Just like the 2002 will, the 1997 will creates a trust. We've learned the '97 trust -- just like the 2002 trust -- leaves the same percentage to the same people: Katherine Jackson gets 40% for her lifetime, MJ's kids get 40% and the remaining 20% goes to charity.
By the way ... guess who one of the executors is in the '97 will? John Branca.
Filed under: Michael Jackson, Exclusives
Tags: estate, john branca, JohnBranca, los angeles, LosAngeles, michael jackson, MichaelJackson, new york, new york city, NewYork, NewYorkCity, randy jackson, RandyJackson, will, witnesses
Posted Oct 20th 2009 8:40PM by TMZ Staff
Michael Jackson's estate lawyers want the judge to lay down the law once and for all ... John Branca and John McClain have broad powers to make decisions for all things MJ.
The attorneys filed legal papers today asking the court to put in writing what the judge said earlier this month -- outlining what Branca and McClain have authority to do as Special Administrators.
The judge gave the duo broader powers than they had initially -- but lawyers for Katherine Jackson have kicked up some dust.
There's a legal showdown on Thursday at 2:30 PM PT. We'll be there.
Filed under: Michael Jackson, Exclusives
Tags: estate, estate of michael jackson, EstateOfMichaelJackson, john branca, john mcclain, JohnBranca, JohnMcclain, katherine jackson, KatherineJackson, michael jackson, MichaelJackson
Posted Oct 20th 2009 1:52PM by TMZ Staff
Michael Jackson's former lawyer wants $3 million from the singer's estate -- he also wants an apology.
According to legal docs obtained by TMZ, attorney Sidney Lanier represented Jackson in several cases.
Lanier claims he repped MJ in a hotly contested case in 2005 involving former porn king and Jackson confidant Marc Schaffel. After the case, Jackson refused to pay the lawyer's fee and filed a lawsuit against Lanier claiming fraud.
Lanier alleges as a result of Jackson's suit, his reputation was sullied all over town. He claims Jackson put him through "two years of expensive, stressful litigation and ridicule..."
Lanier even goes as far as to say that he wishes Jackson hadn't died because he "wanted him to apologize for his action against me; because of his tragic death that can never happen."
Filed under: Celebrity Justice, Michael Jackson, Exclusives
Tags: estate, michael jackson, MichaelJackson
Posted Oct 15th 2009 1:15PM by TMZ Staff
We've learned ... lawyers representing Michael Jackson's estate are going to court this morning, asking the judge to streamline the administration of the estate -- specifically, clarifying they have the power to make day-to-day decisions without having to go before a judge.
Lawyers for John Branca and John McClain claim the judge has already given them broad powers to make decisions over Jackson's estate, and only the biggest ones would require them going into court. But Katherine's lawyers haven't always seen it that way, so the estate wants the judge to restate it for them.
They're at the courthouse now.
UPDATE: 1:27 PM PT The judge just put off the hearing until later this month, when he'll formally hear the case.
Filed under: Celebrity Justice, Michael Jackson, Exclusives
Tags: estate, john branca, john mcclain, JohnBranca, JohnMcclain, michael jackson, MichaelJackson, probate, special administrators, SpecialAdministrators
Posted Oct 13th 2009 1:55PM by TMZ Staff
A woman who once claimed Michael Jackson communicated with her through his music just filed a creditor's claim against his estate -- and she wants an insane amount of money.
Helen Harris-Scott filed the creditor's claim in L.A. County Superior Court on Friday, demanding $50 million.
As we first reported, Helen filed a lawsuit against Michael in 2006, claiming Michael installed a tracking device in her car, wiretapped her phone and even had "organized criminals watching me inside my house in L.A. and reporting to him."
Helen wanted $100 million from Michael back then ... so at least this time around, she's asking for a reasonable amount.
Filed under: Michael Jackson, Exclusives
Tags: estate, helen harris scott, HelenHarrisScott, michael jackson, MichaelJackson
