One aspect of the seemingly neverending Michael Jackson estate saga is moving toward a conclusion after a long delay.
For years Michael Jackson's former manager Thome Thome has been trying to get money out of the singer's estate that he says he is due on commissions from the proceeds from the sale of the musician's music and Neverland Ranch. The estate has claimed that Thome was fired before Jackson passed away and was not entitled to any money. The case had been delayed while the California Labor Commission decided on the legality of Thome's contract with Jackson under California's agency laws. The Commission ruled that part of the contract was illegal, but declined to throw out all of the contract.
Thome was also asking for attorney's fees from the estate. The estate objected claiming that the allowable fees in the contract were for actions against third-parties, not Jackson or his estate. Jackson's estate asked that Thome's complaint be thrown out for that reason. The judge in the case declined to dismiss the complaint and will allow the complaint to be amended to exclude the request for attorney's fees. The case is scheduled for trial May 3, 2016. The Hollywood Reporter reported these developments in "Judge Allows Michael Jackson's Ex-Manager to Amend Complaint Against Estate."
Regardless of the outcome of this particular case against Jackson's estate, it is likely there will be more legal battles. Others have sued the estate for different matters and the IRS claims that a very large estate tax bill is due.
Reference: Hollywood Reporter (March 29, 2016) "Judge Allows Michael Jackson's Ex-Manager to Amend Complaint Against Estate."
