By Linda Deutsch

A jury of six women and six men was sworn in Thursday for the trial of a civil lawsuit against Michael Jackson and the jurors were quickly shown videotaped testimony by the pop star.

Attorney Howard King, who represents former Jackson adviser F. Marc Schaffel, showed part of a deposition taken from Jackson in London to illustrate what he said would be Jackson’s constant claims of not remembering much about dealings with Schaffel, who claims he is owed $3.8 million in unpaid loans and for past work.

“I’ve wanted Mr. Jackson to be here to tell his story,” King said in opening remarks. “He won’t be here except by deposition. I had to go to London to take it. He will make a fine presentation. He’s finely made up, costumed. You’d think he’d been in front of cameras his whole life.”

In the tape, dated Sept., 23, 2005, Jackson wore a dark shirt and answered questions in a quiet voice. He was asked if he thought Schaffel wanted to be paid for his services.

“I know he wanted something from me, of course,” Jackson said. “… I do remember these long letters. He wanted me to pay him.”

King then asked Jackson if he had ever paid Schaffel.

“I’m sure he got money,” said Jackson. Asked how he could be so sure, Jackson said, “Because he always seemed to be happy.”

The lawyer responded: “Money doesn’t buy happiness.”

King said he would be calling a number of Jackson’s former advisers to discuss their dealings with the superstar. One of them, Alvin Malnik, a Florida businessman, performed all services to Jackson for free, King said.

“He said that Jackson will deny ever borrowing from Malnik, but Malnik will testify that he loaned Jackson $7 million in 2003,” King said. “So we have a witness in Mr. Jackson who does not remember getting $7 million three years ago.”

King took the podium after a morning of sometimes emotional statements from prospective jurors who were subsequently dismissed. Some denounced Jackson’s behavior over the years and said they couldn’t be fair to him.

“I feel his actions as I have seen on TV were inexcusable,” said one man who is a neonatology doctor.

“Dangling the child is inexcusable,” he said, apparently referring to an incident when Jackson was photographed holding his baby son over a balcony rail. “My feelings about Michael Jackson have been where there’s smoke there’s fire. I’ve been thinking about whether I can give him a fair trial and I’m not sure I can.”

He was dismissed.

A media entertainment consultant said he was somewhat sympathetic to Jackson’s position because he knows that celebrities are often targets of unscrupulous people.

“I have a slight bias toward Mr. Jackson … that maybe people were trying to extort him for money. It happens to celebrities,” the man said before being dismissed.

Another man said he felt Jackson was “a 12-year-old,” and another prospect said he was conflicted because of a “moral issue” which he asked to discuss at the judge’s bench.

In the end, Superior Court Judge Jacqueline Connor seated two alternate jurors from the group a man and a woman who had given no controversial opinions. The jury includes two people who said on Wednesday that they had suspicions that Jackson was guilty of child molestation even though he was acquitted last year.

Another prospect who was dismissed was a 22-year-old music promotions manager who said in his career he had been cheated out of commissions by business managers. He objected to the fact that Jackson wasn’t going to be present, saying, “If he’s going through these financial hardships and he’s being sued, why wouldn’t he show up? I wouldn’t want my money taken and not show up.”

Jackson lawyer Thomas C. Mundell asked if the man would be reassured by the fact that Jackson’s top adviser, attorney L. Londell McMillan, was representing him in court.

“It’s not his money,” said the man. “It’s Mr. Jackson’s money. He’s going to get paid no matter what happens.”

McMillan, seated at the council table, shrugged and smiled.

King glossed over Schaffel’s controversial links to the gay pornography industry, saying, “Mr. Schaffel has a successful business background and one of these was in the legal adult entertainment business. In 2000 he was done with that and he began to work with Mr. Jackson.”

King said Schaffel was supposed to get 20 percent from two specials aired on Fox that he produced. For a while, Schaffel earned $50,000 a month for his work, then $25,000 for a few months and then payments stopped when Jackson’s money allegedly ran out. He said the Fox videos sold for just over $10 million.

Source: Associated Press

Category: General