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New Details About Michael Jackson’s Lawsuit

By The Associated Press

Published: Tue, November 18, 2008 - 11:14 am Last Updated: Tue, November 18, 2008 - 11:16 am

Short URL: http://wkrg.com/a/21016/

LONDON (AP) - Looks like a legal faceoff between Michael Jackson
and an Arab sheikh will be settled in court. The son of the King of
Bahrain is suing Jackson, saying the aging pop star took $7 million
as an advance on an album and autobiography -- and that the singer
failed to produce either. Lawyers for the sheikh (Abdulla bin Hamad
Al Khalifa) say the money was advanced to Jackson while the singer
was trying to revive his career after his arrest and trial on child
molestation charges. Court papers say the money went to things like
paying legal bills and keeping on the lights on Neverland, which
Jackson eventually sold. And some of the money went to bring
Jackson and his entourage and even a hairdresser to Bahrain. The
sheikh claims he believed the money would be repaid once Jackson's
career recovered. Some might suggest that would be a good defense
for Jackson -- that his career hasn't recovered. But his lawyers
are taking a different approach. They say the pair never entered a
valid agreement and that the prince's money was given freely.
The trial is being held in London because the parties had agreed
to take any disputes over their deal to an English court. Jackson's
lawyers want him to be able to testify on video, rather than in
person. The trial is due to wrap up by the end of the month.