By Roger Friedman

Michael Jackson can wipe one legal worry from his mind.

The California state attorney general isn’t likely to investigate him for a
charity function thrown at Neverland in August 2003, or for a concert and
single from the fall of 2001.

Yesterday, published reports got a little frantic that Jackson had broken a
law somehow or that his associate, Marc Schaffel, had somehow
misappropriated funds.

But our checking into the facts turned up no malfeasance, for once, on
Jackson’s part. It looks like everything was done right for a change.

The Neverland event in question took place Aug. 20, 2003. Miami-based
commercial artist Romero Britto convinced Jackson to invite people to the
ranch for $5,000 a ticket. A portion - $1,000 - would go to charities. At
the time, everyone, including this columnist, was dubious.

According to Faith Holmes, head of the Oneness Project, a California
foundation that raises awareness about racism and other social issues, her
group received about $40,000 of the total $87,000 collected that day.

The Make-A-Wish Foundation of Ft. Lauderdale, Fla., got a check for $17,000.
The remainder was divided between the Southern California branch of
Make-A-Wish and a Brazilian charity for the homeless patronized by Britto.

Holmes says it was all done by the book. She told me Schaffel, who’s now
suing Jackson for $4 million, was “unbelievably generous” in organizing and
helping to produce the event.

The stories yesterday mentioned that Jackson was responsible for a Sept. 11
charity concert in Washington, D.C., which took place in October 2001, as
well as a charity single called “What More Can I Give?” The impression was
that somehow Jackson and Schaffel had profited from the occasion.

For a journalist, this story would be lovely if true; however, Clear Channel
Communications produced said concert, and tickets were sold through
Ticketmaster and normal channels. Jackson merely appeared, sang his song,
and left.

Clear Channel picked up his expenses, which were no doubt high. As for the
single, Jackson never paid for it. Schaffel did and was not reimbursed for
his expenses by Jackson. That’s why he’s suing.

Holmes, by the way, says a CD album of original music will be available for
sale shortly on the Oneness.org Web site. The songs are all by established,
veteran songwriters and recorded by up-and-coming stars.

Source: FOX News

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