'Disturbing' Jacko Unmasked in British Documentary
02-28-03 | 12:45 PM
#126
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Jackson Wins First Legal Skirmish Over TV Footage
http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmp...ple_jackson_dc
Fri Feb 28,10:22 AM ET
By Sinead O'Hanlon
LONDON (Reuters) - Pop star Michael Jackson won an early skirmish on Friday in his legal fight to ban a British television company screening unseen footage from a controversial behind-the-scenes documentary about him.
The American singer had asked the High Court in London to grant an injunction preventing Granada Media Group showing any more footage from its hugely popular "Living with Michael Jackson" show but lawyers for both parties said they had managed to reach a private agreement.
Granada's lawyer, Geoffrey Hobbs, told the court that his client had agreed not to exploit copies of the program or any out-takes until a full hearing of the case after March 31.
But Hobbs said Granada maintained there had been absolutely no wrongdoing and had given the undertaking "without any admission of liability."
This means the footage will be kept under lock and key until the full hearing and that Granada will be unable to release the program in video or DVD form or broadcast any material from the interview which has so far not been screened.
The documentary, aired earlier in February to huge audiences in Britain and the United States, was a rare peek at the private life of one of pop's biggest icons.
It kicked off a storm of controversy. Jackson has accused British journalist Martin Bashir -- who was given unprecedented access to the singer -- of betrayal and has slammed the documentary as a gross distortion of the truth.
In it, Jackson revealed his third child was born to a surrogate mother he had never met. He also admitted sharing his bedroom with children at his Neverland Ranch in California.
A statement issued on behalf of the 44-year-old singer this week said Jackson was seeking to have all previously unseen footage -- especially that showing his children -- locked away until a wider dispute between the two sides and Bashir was resolved.
"Michael Jackson has argued that Martin Bashir and Granada broke the agreement by which he was permitted to film Michael, concerning ownership of the filmed material and permissions relating to the inclusion of the Jackson children," the statement said.
"In particular, Granada has failed to honor an agreement reached earlier this month to deliver up to Michael Jackson unused film footage of his children, where recognizable."
Jackson's lawyers have already filed complaints with British broadcasting authorities over the film. Granada has said the company will fight the legal action.
In an attempt to turn the tables, the self-styled King of Pop has aired his own footage of Bashir praising Jackson's way with children.
Chris
Fri Feb 28,10:22 AM ET
By Sinead O'Hanlon
LONDON (Reuters) - Pop star Michael Jackson won an early skirmish on Friday in his legal fight to ban a British television company screening unseen footage from a controversial behind-the-scenes documentary about him.
The American singer had asked the High Court in London to grant an injunction preventing Granada Media Group showing any more footage from its hugely popular "Living with Michael Jackson" show but lawyers for both parties said they had managed to reach a private agreement.
Granada's lawyer, Geoffrey Hobbs, told the court that his client had agreed not to exploit copies of the program or any out-takes until a full hearing of the case after March 31.
But Hobbs said Granada maintained there had been absolutely no wrongdoing and had given the undertaking "without any admission of liability."
This means the footage will be kept under lock and key until the full hearing and that Granada will be unable to release the program in video or DVD form or broadcast any material from the interview which has so far not been screened.
The documentary, aired earlier in February to huge audiences in Britain and the United States, was a rare peek at the private life of one of pop's biggest icons.
It kicked off a storm of controversy. Jackson has accused British journalist Martin Bashir -- who was given unprecedented access to the singer -- of betrayal and has slammed the documentary as a gross distortion of the truth.
In it, Jackson revealed his third child was born to a surrogate mother he had never met. He also admitted sharing his bedroom with children at his Neverland Ranch in California.
A statement issued on behalf of the 44-year-old singer this week said Jackson was seeking to have all previously unseen footage -- especially that showing his children -- locked away until a wider dispute between the two sides and Bashir was resolved.
"Michael Jackson has argued that Martin Bashir and Granada broke the agreement by which he was permitted to film Michael, concerning ownership of the filmed material and permissions relating to the inclusion of the Jackson children," the statement said.
"In particular, Granada has failed to honor an agreement reached earlier this month to deliver up to Michael Jackson unused film footage of his children, where recognizable."
Jackson's lawyers have already filed complaints with British broadcasting authorities over the film. Granada has said the company will fight the legal action.
In an attempt to turn the tables, the self-styled King of Pop has aired his own footage of Bashir praising Jackson's way with children.
Chris
03-13-03 | 05:25 PM
#127
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Life gets even better for Michael Jackson
http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmp...ackson_lawsuit
Jury Says Jackson Owes $5.3 Million
1 hour, 30 minutes ago Add Top Stories - AP to My Yahoo!
SANTA MARIA, Calif. - A jury decided Thursday that Michael Jackson (news) owes a concert promoter $5.3 million for backing out of two concerts planned to celebrate the millennium on New Year's Eve 1999.
The verdict came in a $21 million breach-of-contract lawsuit filed against the singer by German concert organizer Marcel Avram. Jackson's attorneys said it was Avram who canceled the shows over concerns they would not be profitable.
The jury deliberated for nearly two weeks.
Avram's attorney, Louis "Skip" Miller, said he was pleased that the jury found Jackson was at fault. "The jury believed Avram, they did not believe Michael Jackson. That's what the whole thing comes down to," he said.
Jackson attorney Steve Cochran did not immediately return a call.
Avram said Jackson had agreed to perform two concerts on Dec. 31, 1999. He would have performed in Sydney, Australia, and then flown across the international dateline to Honolulu for another concert, technically within the same calendar day.
While much of the testimony drew little media attention, appearances from Jackson became worldwide news, mostly because of his ghostly appearance and witness-stand antics.
At one point, the 44-year-old Jackson hobbled into court on crutches with his left foot wrapped in bandages because of swelling from what he described as a spider bite. He also giggled during questioning and made comical faces at people in the courtroom.
Miller said he plans to appeal $6 million in damages that Judge Zel Canter barred the jury from considering. That amount represent the loss of TV revenues the concerts would have created and alleged debts Avram says he paid for the singer.
I'm betting that Michael Jackson got to the point in his life where he thought he was 'invincible'. But he is over $200 million in debt and now this is added to that. He is going to fall real hard!
Chris
Jury Says Jackson Owes $5.3 Million
1 hour, 30 minutes ago Add Top Stories - AP to My Yahoo!
SANTA MARIA, Calif. - A jury decided Thursday that Michael Jackson (news) owes a concert promoter $5.3 million for backing out of two concerts planned to celebrate the millennium on New Year's Eve 1999.
The verdict came in a $21 million breach-of-contract lawsuit filed against the singer by German concert organizer Marcel Avram. Jackson's attorneys said it was Avram who canceled the shows over concerns they would not be profitable.
The jury deliberated for nearly two weeks.
Avram's attorney, Louis "Skip" Miller, said he was pleased that the jury found Jackson was at fault. "The jury believed Avram, they did not believe Michael Jackson. That's what the whole thing comes down to," he said.
Jackson attorney Steve Cochran did not immediately return a call.
Avram said Jackson had agreed to perform two concerts on Dec. 31, 1999. He would have performed in Sydney, Australia, and then flown across the international dateline to Honolulu for another concert, technically within the same calendar day.
While much of the testimony drew little media attention, appearances from Jackson became worldwide news, mostly because of his ghostly appearance and witness-stand antics.
At one point, the 44-year-old Jackson hobbled into court on crutches with his left foot wrapped in bandages because of swelling from what he described as a spider bite. He also giggled during questioning and made comical faces at people in the courtroom.
Miller said he plans to appeal $6 million in damages that Judge Zel Canter barred the jury from considering. That amount represent the loss of TV revenues the concerts would have created and alleged debts Avram says he paid for the singer.
I'm betting that Michael Jackson got to the point in his life where he thought he was 'invincible'. But he is over $200 million in debt and now this is added to that. He is going to fall real hard!
Chris
