All posts containing the tag: "estate"
A United States Court of Appeals just ruled Anna Nicole Smith's estate will get a big ZERO from the estate of the late J. Howard Marshall.
Anna was asking for more than $300 million that she claims Marshall promised her during their marriage -- which lasted less than a year.
The court begged to differ.
Filed under: Anna Nicole Smith
The stage is set for a dogfight between Debbie Rowe and the Estate of Michael Jackson.
Rowe's lawyer, Eric George, filed legal papers asking the judge in the estate case to order the estate to pay Debbie Rowe's lawyer more than $175,000 for legal services in connection with the appointment of a guardian for Michael Jackson's three kids.
In the end, Katherine Jackson became guardian. But in his legal docs, George claims estate lawyer Howard Weitzman promised to "reimburse [George's firm] on Ms. Rowe's behalf." George says in his documents that MJ's kids benefited when she reached an agreement with Katherine on guardianship and visitation, and that's why he asked Weitzman to have the estate foot his legal bill.
But Howard Weitzman begs to differ, telling TMZ, "I had discussions with Mr. George about his request that the estate pay his fees on behalf of Debbie Rowe, but no agreement was ever reached."
George is asking for a total of $177,975. If the estate isn't ordered to pay ... George's only recourse is Debbie.
Filed under: Celebrity Justice, Michael Jackson
Legendary NFL coach Vince Lombardi is in the middle of a nasty dogfight between his family and Nike -- and it's all over a speech he made more than 40 years ago. 
Vince died back in 1970 but Nike wanted to license the words and audio of an unidentified speech that the late Green Bay Packers coach once made for a new ad campaign. Nike claims they struck a deal with Lombardi's 2 kids -- Vince Jr. and Susan -- and even paid them $150,000 up front to expedite things.
But in a lawsuit filed in Oregon, Nike claims after they wrote the check they discovered that no audio of the speech actually exists ... and accuse the Lombardis of concealing that fact during negotiations. Now, Nike wants their money back.
The best part of the lawsuit: Nike seems to acknowledge that their guy who worked on the deal with the Lombardis was "running out the door on a personal trip" and signed the contract without paying proper attention to some last minute revisions -- one of which made the $150,000 advance "nonrefundable."
So Nike claims that now the Lombardis don't want to give the money back -- and are suing for breach of contract, mutual mistake and fraud.
Filed under: TMZ Sports
The Michael Jackson estate just laid the smack down on a bunch of Michael Jackson wannabes -- all over access to Neverland.
The wannabes are actually in a Michael Jackson tribute band named "Neverland" -- a name the MJ estate feels is a violation of its trademark.
Long story short: The MJ estate wrote a scary legal letter demanding the band change its name ... and it did ... to Foreverland.
Here's the catch. "Foreverland" still owns the rights to the domain name neverlandsf.com -- and it's willing to give it back to Camp Jacko ... for a cool $30,000.
In short, the Jackson estate told the band to "beat it" and gave them until February 2011 to begin forwarding all web traffic to the new foreverlandsf.com ... or else.
The band tells us they're currently going over their options.
Filed under: Celebrity Justice, Michael Jackson, Exclusives
Let's check the Michael Jackson Creditor's Claim tote board -- looks like we're at roughly $26 million ...
... WAIT, THIS JUST IN!
A new creditor's claim has been filed by some law firm claiming Jackson owes them $628,718.
So checking the board again, we're now over $26.5 million!
Be sure to check back again soon for the inevitable next creditor's claim.
Filed under: Michael Jackson
Dr. Arnold Klein -- Michael Jackson's longtime dermatologist and friend -- has filed a claim against Michael Jackson's estate ... but this time it's not about money -- Arnie wants his jacket back!
Dr. Klein claims Michael borrowed a Gianfranco Ferre green jacket from him several months before he died -- a jacket Klein claims is worth $10,000.
According to the claim, "The jacket has not been returned prior to death and has not been returned after death (although demand has been made)."
Klein is not asking for any money, but wants his threads back.
Klein filed another claim against the Michael Jackson estate back in October -- for $48,522.89 for medical services.
Filed under: Celebrity Justice, Michael Jackson
The chef who was in Michael Jackson's home the day he died has filed a creditor's claim against the estate ... TMZ has learned.
Kai Chase -- through her company Kai Chase Incorporated -- has filed an $8,000 claim against the estate, alleging she got stiffed during two pay periods -- $4,000 for the period June 2 - June 10, and $4,000 for the period June 10 - June 25.
Chase has gone public since Michael Jackson's death, saying the morning the singer died she thought it was weird that Dr. Conrad Murray didn't come downstairs at his normal time in the AM.
Filed under: Celebrity Justice, Michael Jackson
A composer who worked on a variety of Michael Jackson projects -- including "Black or White," "Dangerous: The Short Films," and "Ghosts" -- has filed a creditor's claim against Michael Jackson's estate.
Bradley Buxer, who played keyboards for Jackson on "The Dangerous Tour," wants $47,839.73 for "music development, production and performance."
Filed under: Celebrity Justice, Michael Jackson, Exclusives
Lawyers for Michael Jackson's estate have fired back at Joe Jackson's request for MJ's medical records in order for Joe to sue a news outlet over death photos. 
Joe claims a published photo of an already dead Michael Jackson is an invasion of the family's privacy. As we first reported, although Joe didn't name the news outlet, "Entertainment Tonight" aired a photo of Jackson -- whom paramedics believed was already dead -- as he was taken into an ambulance from his home.
Joe's lawyer, Brian Oxman, asked the judge last Friday to dislodge MJ's UCLA medical records so he can prepare the lawsuit.
But in papers filed today, estate lawyer Howard Weitzman claims Oxman is all wet -- that Oxman misstated the law in legal docs and that UCLA medical records are totally irrelevant to a death photo lawsuit.
Weitzman also claims the physician/patient privilege prohibits the estate from anteing up the med records.
Filed under: Celebrity Justice, Michael Jackson, Exclusives
Randy Jackson just Tweeted from inside the courthouse to express his total disgust -- because the people he thinks are profiting most from MJ's death are nowhere to be found ... namely AEG and the estate executors.
This all went down as Randy watched Dr. Murray get arraigned on involuntary manslaughter charges in the death Michael Jackson.
Filed under: Michael Jackson
Lawyers for Michael Jackson's estate have filed legal papers opposing Joe Jackson's attempt to get his son's UCLA medical records -- records Joe wants in order to file a wrongful death lawsuit.
Estate lawyers say there are three reasons why Joe is not entitled to medical records.
1. Joe was not a dependent of Michael Jackson and therefore not legally entitled to sue for the wrongful death of his son.
2. Joe has filed his request for medical records in connection with his attempt to get an allowance from the estate, and an allowance has nothing to do with wrongful death.
3. There is a physician-patient privilege that bars Joe from getting the medical records.
Filed under: Celebrity Justice, Michael Jackson, Exclusives
Michael Jackson's estate has a new creditor's claim -- thanks to one R. Kelly.
Michael sang Kelly's song "Ignition" in his car as part of the TV show, "Michael Jackson's Private Home Movies" -- but never paid for it.
Universal Music Publishing Group, which owns the rights to the song, wants Jackson's estate to pay $3,000. Universal attached a contract to the creditor's claim, showing the fee in black and white.
Will estate lawyer Howard Weitzman pay the claim or pee on it?
Stay tuned...
Filed under: Celebrity Justice, Michael Jackson, Exclusives
Creditor's claims against Michael Jackson's Estate are like a game of Mad Libs. Here is today's version:
The Jackson estate was sued on January 22 by someone named Craig A. Johnson. He claims he was never paid for the engineering and research work he did.
Johnson is suing for $374,403.24.
Now here's the fun part -- Johnson submitted 345 separate charges for "chart compilations." He doesn't explain what those are, but each hit is anywhere between $865 and $1,950.
Filed under: Michael Jackson, Exclusives
Michael Jackson's executors want 10% of the profits from most things Michael Jackson.
In legal docs filed today, lawyers for John Branca and John McClain asked the court to green light compensation to the tune of 10% of all profits, excluding profits from "This Is It" and profits from the Sony/ATV and Mijac catalog.
Howard Weitzman, Branca and McClain's lawyer, notes that the estates of other big musicians pay out 15 to 25 percent of profits to people who run their businesses after death.
Filed under: Celebrity Justice, Michael Jackson
Michael Jackson's estate needs young, talented, self-motivating people who didn't pay attention to the news in 2004-2005.
Lawyers for Jackson's estate have just filed legal docs asking the probate judge for permission to hire people to run Michael Jackson's business.
Specifically, the estate needs co-executive and creative directors.
According to the docs, "With the proper executive and creative management and leadership, the opportunity exists for the MJJ Business to become one of the most profitable companies in the music industry."
Filed under: Celebrity Justice, Michael Jackson, Exclusives
BlondeHair BrookeMueller JesseJames contest SandraBullock photos baby photo NewMoon AmericanIdol director mistress RealityShow TimeWarp CoreyHaim dies pregnant dui MichaelJackson JermaineJackson TextMessages JoslynJames augusta lawsuit PornStar LasVegas appearance BritneySpears celebrity jail ElinNordegren SexAndTheCity affair twilight abc ChrisWeitz MichelleMcgee sextingjoslynjames.com dvd BrittanyMurphy ConanObrien hair MarchMadness bikini apology vicodin deed JohnnyDepp mortgage blonde WestCoastChoppers TheGraduate AngelinaJolie AliciaKeys beyonce tattoo TwoAndAHalfMen LaHabra LadyGaga DancingWithTheStars StarSearch JaafarJackson TigerWoods hydrocodone beach NadyaSuleman texts prize JeremyRenner movie LosAngeles sexting bank EllenDegeneres PaulaAbdul winner drugs CharlieSheen foreclosure JenniferAniston JustCuz TheHills divorce MastersTournament JessicaSimpson prescription SimonMonjack rapper dead ThePriceOfBeauty vote honor playboy cinnabun house PrescriptionDrugs ChristineLakin BenRoethlisberger alias AttorneyGeneral
