The Essential Michael Jackson falls 39 places in the USA to #170 with sales
of 6145.

Source: MJ.INF

Michael Jackson, who had missed two court appearances in a sexual assault lawsuit, avoided arrest on Wednesday by sending an attorney to a hearing in New Orleans, a judge said.

U.S. District Judge Eldon Fallon slapped Jackson with a $10,000 fine for missing two previous summonses. The singer’s lawyer, Charles Gay, told a hearing that clerical errors prevented Jackson from responding to the notices.

“Somehow the order did not get conveyed to the right people,” Gay told the court.

Fallon said he would have ordered Jackson’s arrest and possibly a default judgment in the plaintiff’s favor had Gay not attended the hearing on Wednesday. The plaintiff is asking for unspecified damages.

The plaintiff sued last November, saying he was lured into Jackson’s limousine during the 1984 World’s Fair in New Orleans and sexually assaulted. The assaults continued over eight days as the pair traveled to California, the suit alleges. The plaintiff said he was drugged, cut with a razor blade and bitten.

The man waited to sue because the memories were repressed until news coverage of the child molestation charges against Jackson in California revived them, the suit said.

In that case, a jury acquitted Jackson in June of molesting a 13-year-old boy in 2003.

Gay told Reuters he believes the suit is invalid because of a one-year statute of limitations. The plaintiff’s attorneys argue the one-year window opened only when the man, who was 18 at the time of the alleged attack, remembered it in 2003.

Gay promised a vigorous defense.

Fallon set a September 7 hearing to schedule a trial in the New Orleans case.

Source: Reuters

An irate judge, miffed by pop star Michael Jackson’s failure to be represented at an earlier hearing in a federal civil case, fined the singer $10,000 on Wednesday.

Jackson was a no-show and had no lawyer present at a July procedural matter in a case accusing him of sexual assault during the 1984 World’s Fair.

Charles F. Gay Jr. told U.S. District Judge Eldon Fallon that the summons for the earlier court date was simply lost in the confusion of Jackson’s trial in Santa Maria, Calif., in which Jackson was acquitted of child molestation charges. The summons for the New Orleans court appearance arrived on June 13.

“I would like to point out that June 13 was probably the most anxious day of Michael Jackson’s life,” Gay said. “That was the day the jury reached the verdict.”

At that time, Gay told the judge, Jackson was not eating or sleeping and was worried about his and his children’s futures.

“The order of June 13 did not get in the proper people’s hands because of the chaos in Michael Jackson’s life,” Gay said.

Fallon said he did not feel it was appropriate to fine Jackson for contempt, but he was not sold on Gay’s excuse either, so he levied other fines related to court costs.

“It strains my understanding of the facts that Mr. Jackson did not know of this matter,” Fallon said. “The same person received all the summonses.”

Fallon said he could have had Jackson arrested after the July hearing and certainly would have done so Wednesday had Jackson not been represented then.

Fallon did fine Jackson $5,000 for missing the earlier hearing and $5,000 to cover the costs of the attorney fees for plaintiff Joseph Thomas Bartucci Jr.

Bartucci claims he was lured into Jackson’s limousine by one of the singer’s employees, then held against his will for days. He also claims he was sexually assaulted by Jackson during a drive to California and back. Bartucci was 18 at the time and claims he repressed the memories until 2003, when he saw the coverage of the child molestation charges brought against Jackson in the California case.

The judge scheduled a conference Sept. 7 to choose a trial date.

Gay said he doubted the case would go to trial.

“It’s very unlikely,” Gay said. “There is probably a problem with the statue of limitations.”

There is a one-year statue of limitations from the time Bartucci claims he regained his memory, but Gay said Bartucci allegedly discussed the allegations with his wife in the 1990s.

Bartucci claims he regained memory of the event in November of 2003, his attorney William A. Pigg said.

Bartucci’s legal team also filed a motion to have Gay dismissed as Jackson’s attorney. Bartucci signed an affidavit saying he had met with attorneys from Adams and Reese, the firm Gay belongs to, and discussed the case.

“Mr. Bartucci’s memory appears to be false,” Gay said of the claim.

Bartucci is seeking unspecified monetary compensation from Jackson on a variety of claims such as emotional distress.

Pigg said he will push for a quick trial.

“My client has been under a great deal of stress,” Pigg said. “He has been the victim of character assassination. He had animal blood smeared on his door a couple of weeks ago.”

Source: Associated Press

According to the new 2006 Guinness Book of World Records, Michael Jackson’s
‘Thriller’ album is still the ‘Biggest Selling Album Ever’.

The best-selling album of all time is Thriller by Michael Jackson (USA),
with global sales of over 51 million copies to date since 1982. The success
of the album also helped Jackson win a record eight Grammy Awards in 1984.’

Jackson holds a number of other world records, including ‘Longest Music
Video’, for his film ‘Ghosts’.

For additional information, be sure to visit the Michael Jackson biography
section of our website.

Source: 2006 Guinness Book of World Records, MJFC

The Exclusive Michael JACKSON Fan Club would like to extend our deepest sympathy to the friends and family of those passengers aboard the West Carribean Airways flight that ended tragically this morning in Venezuela. Our thoughts and prayers are with you during this difficult time.

Exclusive MJ Team

Michael Jackson, who had missed two court appearances in a sexual assault lawsuit, avoided arrest on Wednesday by sending an attorney to a hearing in New Orleans, a judge said.

U.S. District Judge Eldon Fallon slapped Jackson with a $10,000 fine for missing two previous summonses. The singer’s lawyer, Charles Gay, told a hearing that clerical errors prevented Jackson from responding to the notices.

“Somehow the order did not get conveyed to the right people,” Gay told the court.

Fallon said he would have ordered Jackson’s arrest and possibly a default judgment in the plaintiff’s favor had Gay not attended the hearing on Wednesday. The plaintiff is asking for unspecified damages.

The plaintiff sued last November, saying he was lured into Jackson’s limousine during the 1984 World’s Fair in New Orleans and sexually assaulted. The assaults continued over eight days as the pair traveled to California, the suit alleges. The plaintiff said he was drugged, cut with a razor blade and bitten.

The man waited to sue because the memories were repressed until news coverage of the child molestation charges against Jackson in California revived them, the suit said.

In that case, a jury acquitted Jackson in June of molesting a 13-year-old boy in 2003.

Gay told Reuters he believes the suit is invalid because of a one-year statute of limitations. The plaintiff’s attorneys argue the one-year window opened only when the man, who was 18 at the time of the alleged attack, remembered it in 2003.

Gay promised a vigorous defense.

Fallon set a September 7 hearing to schedule a trial in the New Orleans case.

Source: Reuters

Gary Dunlap, a Lompoc attorney, has accused Santa Barbara District Attorney
Tom Sneddon and Assistant District Attorney Christie Stanlet and Deputy
District Attorney Jerry McBeth of violating his civil rights by wrongfully
prosecuting him on charges of suborning perjury and witness tampering.

Transcripts have not been made public and the lawsuit probably won’t see a
trial until 2006. Sneddon, Stanley and other employees of the D.A.’s office
have declined comment. They defer to their own attorney, Michael Allen who,
of course, deny that the allegations are valid.

Dunlap, on the other hand, maintains that the prosecutors went to
“extraordinary and unconstitutional lengths” to gather evidence against him:

“An injustice was done and the district attorney’s office refuses to
acknowledge, investigate, or refer it for investigation because their
employees were involved in committing it.”

In June 2003, a jury acquitted Dunlap of six felony counts, including
suborning perjury, witness intimidation, filing false documents and
preparing false documents.

Dunlap pleaded no contest to misdemeanor marijuana possession and an
infraction for possessing drug paraphernalia, two violations that surfaced
when Dunlap’s home and office were searched as part of that investigation.

A federal lawsuit will sort out if the investigation and prosecution of
Dunlap by the District Attorney was unconstitutional.

Source: Santa Maria Times, MJFC

The Essential Michael Jackson falls two places to #10 in the UK album chart
in its forth week, whilst in the states The Essential Michael Jackson falls 35 places in the USA to #131 with sales of 8119.

Source: MJ.INF

RANDY JACKSON REPRESENTS HIS FAMILY AT FUNERAL OF PUBLISHING LEGEND, JOHN JOHNSON

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Randy Jackson, of the musical Jackson Family, attended the funeral of publishing legend, Mr. John Johnson, today in Chicago.

Representing the entire Jackson family, Randy Jackson accompanied Mr. Johnson’s wife, Eunice and daughter, Linda, to pay his respects to a cherished mentor and friend as well as an industry pioneer.

Mr. John Johnson (1918-2005) is the Founder, Publisher and Chairman of Johnson Publishing Company, the world’s largest African-American-owned and-operated publishing company, which includes the magazines EBONY and JET.

“With gratitude, my family humbly credits John Johnson for playing an integral role in the successful development of our careers. Beginning in the early 1970’s, when his magazines, JET and EBONY, were the most respected media voices for African Americans, John Johnson generously used his magazines to often feature my family members. I have recently learned that since the magazines’ inception to the present, John Johnson devoted more magazine pages to our family than any other entertainer or person of notoriety, helping pave the way for our widespread popularity and our mainstream media acceptance. Additionally, every member of my family has graced one or more of his magazine’s covers throughout the years. His impact and contribution to the cultural landscape of this country for African Americans was profound and invaluable.

“It was my privilege to accompany the Johnson Family today. John Johnson and Johnson Publications have been unwaveringly supportive of my family since the beginning of our professional lives. Their role was paramount in the building of our careers to the present. We celebrate the life of John Johnson, our dear friend. We will never forget the value of his sincere loyalty.

“On behalf of my family, and in recognition of a legendary and well-loved man, I extend my deepest sympathies to the Johnson family. Mr. John Johnson will be greatly missed.”

Source: MJJsource

Michael Jackson is so keen on settling in Bahrain that he has opened a bank account to complete the residence formalities that require a deposit in a Bahrain bank, sources close to the superstar told Gulf News.

The action complements the earlier move of purchasing a plot to build a mansion and two adjacent luxury villas to host relatives and friends.

“Michael is fond of Bahrain and he has been contemplating the idea of settling here shortly after his arrival for vacation. His three children have helped him make the residence decision after they told him often that they felt happy and secure and that they enjoyed the easygoing life in Bahrain where they do not have to face pushy crowds,” the sources said.

Jackson has been on the island since late June when he came to recuperate after a four-month trial on child molestation, conspiracy and alcohol charges. A California jury on June 13 exonerated him of all charges

“Michael really loves the serene environment in Bahrain. He does not watch much television, and spends a lot of his time reading books and magazines. He selects his own books,” the sources said. “He also enjoys being with his children.”

His sister Janet is expected to make a visit to Bahrain next month. “All his siblings are curious to see how relaxed Michael is in Bahrain’s calm and tranquil environment,” the sources said.

Jackson has been guaranteed absolute privacy since his arrival on the island and has not spoken to the media.

He has appeared twice in public. The sources denied reports that the King of Pop was moving with a heavy entourage and that he was driving a flashy red Ferrari.

“We saw the report from a Western network. This is exactly what is resented: baseless gossip that is not in any way related to the truth. He has a limited entourage, and he moves in his Rolls Royce,” the sources said.

Source: Gulf News