Michael Jackson sued by Arab sheikh

Sheikh Abdulla bin Hamad Al Khalifa, 33, second son of the king of Bahrain charge Michael Jackson, 50, at London’s Royal Courts of Justice to testify on 19th Wednesday 2008 for $7 million as an advance on an album and an autobiography that he never produced. Lawyers for Sheikh Abdulla bin Hamad Al Khalifa say their client paid’s Jackson expenses as an advance on the book and joint recording project with the sheikh, who is an amateur songwriter. Jackson claims the money was a gift. A lawyer for Al Khalifa said Al Khalifa wanted to work with Jackson on rebuilding his career. Jackson’s finances fell apart after his arrest and he was desperately short of cash.

Al Khalifa’s first payment, for $35,000, went toward paying the utility bills at Neverland, Jackson’s 2,500-acre (1,000 hectare) ranch and miniature amusement park in California, Thanki said. When Jackson was found innocent of the molestation charges in June 2005, Al Khalifa footed $2.2 million in legal bills, the lawyer said. Al Khalifa saw the payment as an investment in Michael’s potential and that the money would be repaid once Jackson’s career revived through their partnership.

Al Khalifa moved Jackson and his entourage to Bahrain almost immediately after the trial, setting up a recording studio for him in Manama, the Gulf state’s capital. The sheikh, who is the governor of the Bahrain’s Southern Province, supplied Jackson with $500,000 in cash to subsidize his lifestyle and splashed out on a $350,000 European vacation for Jackson and his associates in February of 2006.

Jackson's lawyers have maintained the money was a gift and argued that the musician wasn't bound by the deal because the contract was signed on behalf of 2 Seas Records, a venture which never got off the ground. Khalifa lawyer acknowledged Khalifa gave some gifts to Jackson but said that most of what the singer received was part of a business deal. Paying Jackson’s bills were staggering by any standards and that should not be regarded as loose change. Jackson is in difficult financial straits and that he was forced to give up the deed on Neverland, which is named for the mythical land of Peter Pan the previous week.

Michael Jackson has reached a out-of-court settlement with a Bahraini sheik who says the singer owes him $7 million after breaching a signed contract, the pop star's spokeswoman said Sunday 22nd November 2008.

The suit is being heard in London by mutual agreement. VIA VIA2
Related Post:
Michael Jackson Dies from massive heart attack due to drug overdose

View blog reactions