Michael Jackson’s father, seeking money from estate, asks court to remove will administrators
By Linda Deutsch, APTuesday, November 10, 2009
Jackson’s dad seeks removal of will administrators
LOS ANGELES — An attorney for Michael Jackson’s father is trying to convince a judge the administrators of his son’s will have a conflict of interest and should not handle the case.
A motion by Joe Jackson’s attorney, Brian Oxman, will likely be addressed at a hearing Tuesday regarding Michael Jackson’s estate.
The 60-page motion intensifies Joe Jackson’s bid to get money from his son’s estate by making fraud accusations against the will’s administrators, John Branca and John McClain.
Joe Jackson was omitted from his son’s will, with Michael Jackson’s assets going to his mother, his children and children’s charities.
It was unclear whether Joe Jackson has the legal standing to challenge the will.
He is seeking an allowance from his son’s estate to help cover expenses that exceed $15,000 a month, according to court documents filed last week.
The two had an often-strained relationship, and Michael Jackson said at one point that he would get physically sick — as a child and as an adult — at the sight of his father.
The documents said Joe Jackson receives a $1,700 monthly Social Security payment and had relied on his son for support for many years.
Howard Weitzman, an attorney for the administrators of Jackson’s estate, has said Joe Jackson’s petition will be considered along with all other requests for money from the estate.
Joe Jackson suffers from diabetes and had a stroke in 1998, the filing stated.
A former steelworker, he managed and trained his children and organized the Jackson 5. He has been married to Katherine Jackson for 50 years, but he lists his home in Las Vegas. She lives at a family home in the San Fernando Valley north of Los Angeles.
The filings listing Joe Jackson’s age as 80 in one place and 81 in another.
His list of expenses includes $1,200 a month for rent for his Las Vegas home; $2,500 to eat out; $1,000 for entertainment, gifts and vacations; $2,000 on air travel and $3,000 on hotels.
