Is Michael's Will Really Valid?

[Dangerous Incorporated]

Yes Branca filed the Will with the court. but how can you know for sure that this "Legally speaking the person who has access to the original will can give the will to the executors (within 30 days) and the executor files the will with the court (within 45 days). " didn't happen ? Do you live with Branca 24/7 ?

What are you talking about? Branca IS The Executor. He didnt have to hand it to anybody. And the Will was handed into the court in under 30 days.

and what's the problem with that? The trustees can be seen with the notice documentation filed with the court. They are Katherine, Prince, Paris, Blanket and the charities. 6 or 7 cousins are the contingent beneficiaries. They are the trustees.

But they dont have say of when or where the money is spent. They didnt set up the trust nor do they have any control over it.

Also what's in the trust isnt even money, its assets. Assets that many have been trying to get ahold of.

executor is not a position that you are hired or need to resign.

Explain that to Barry Siegel then.

When a new executor is named the old ones become invalid. all Michael had to do was to have a document saying that these people are no longer my executors and/or name new executors.

If there was foul play involved, and others had Power of Attorney, who knows what went on.

The question becomes where are the new executors then? Nobody would leave an estate with no executors.
[/quote]
Nobody is looking for executors because Branca never left to be replaced.

No will, no lawyer, no executor, no witness has come forward. For any will /change of executor you would have at least 4 to 7 people who are aware of the will/change of the executors and they should have come up with that information within 30 to 45 day after his death.

Again no one is looking for other executors and who knows what Lopez, another lawyer for MJ was about go public with.

 

[ivy]

Yes Branca filed the Will with the court. but how can you know for sure that this "Legally speaking the person who has access to the original will can give the will to the executors (within 30 days) and the executor files the will with the court (within 45 days). " didn't happen ? Do you live with Branca 24/7 ?

What are you talking about? Branca IS The Executor. He didnt have to hand it to anybody. And the Will was handed into the court in under 30 days.

you clearly don't understand what I'm saying. I'm not saying Branca handed the will to anybody, I'm saying the opposite that someone else could have handed/given Branca the will. Let me try once again with some examples : The will could have been prepared by estate lawyer John Doe and he could have the original will and give it to Branca after MJ's death as he's the executor. Or the original will could be kept in a safe and a manager/representative/friend Jane Doe could have access to it and she could have given the will to Branca as he's the executor.

All I'm saying that we don't know for sure that Branca had the original will between 02-09. Someone else could have it and given it to him after MJ's death. It's possible.

But they dont have say of when or where the money is spent. They didnt set up the trust nor do they have any control over it.

Also what's in the trust isnt even money, its assets. Assets that many have been trying to get ahold of.

Well beneficiaries never set up the trust, it's always set by the person. Money is/will be going in as the estate pays the debt and earns money. And you don't know whether or not they will get a control of the trust. It's very possible that when the kids turn 21 or 25 they can get full or partial control over the estate/trust and have the power of decision making.

Once again it's quite normal.

LMP was the sole beneficiary of her fathers estate. she did not set up the trust and she didn't have any control until she was 30. up to time the estate was managed by / all the decisions were made by her grandfather and later by her mother and a bank.

Frances Bean is the sole beneficiary of Kurt Cobain. She didn't set up the trust either and it is controlled / managed by her mother and a bank.

Explain that to Barry Siegel then.

I'm sure that Barry Siegel know how being an executor works. Plus executors can stop being an executor anytime they want , they don't have to stay an executor just because they are named. He could have just decided he no longer wanted to be an executor after Michael fired him and left the position.

+ according to your theory if Branca had to resign from being an executor as well, why would Siegel need to give him notice that he will no longer be an executor? If Branca was no longer to be an executor, no one would have taken the time to notify him about anything related to MJ's will and estate.

(do you have siegel's letter? I remember seeing it but cannot find it now)

If there was foul play involved, and others had Power of Attorney, who knows what went on.

this is a very high valued estate. If we are thinking of conspiracy theories, if there shady people with power or attorney and/or influencing/forcing Michael they would have named themselves/people close to them as executors. Everyone would want a share of this pie and no one would sit and let someone else take it.

Nobody is looking for executors because Branca never left to be replaced.

but he did leave. the will dated 2002, it gives 7 year window for a new one. He left working for Michael 2006 (according to him) or 2003 (according to Joe). It leaves a 3 -6 year time period for these things to be changed / him to be replaced. And when he left/ replaced he wouldn't have access to the new will/new executors. It's not something he could have controlled.

Again no one is looking for other executors and who knows what Lopez, another lawyer for MJ was about go public with.

how do we know that he was going public with something? Because Oxman said so? Correct me if I'm wrong but I have never heard of Lopez being mentioned in the last 10 months. Suddenly after his death comes the conspiracy theories saying that he had information/ he was coming out with something etc. I can't see anything to back this up in the last 10 months.

+ if he had a will / knowledge about a will, he would have talked about it / go public with it in the first 30 days , that's the legal window.

 

[Annie123]

Ivy, Siegel's letter is page 12 of this PDF document:

http://lascftp.lasuperiorcourt.org/hp/najmpanlyop4ir55vbzk4k55/1332142402.pdf

 

[ivy]

Ivy, Siegel's letter is page 12 of this PDF document:

http://lascftp.lasuperiorcourt.org/hp/najmpanlyop4ir55vbzk4k55/1332142402.pdf

thank you very much.

Just as I remember it. Siegel sends the letter to Michael, Branca and McClain addressing it Gentleman. Like I said if Branca was required to resign from being an executor, Siegel wouldn't have notified him.

+ according to your theory if Branca had to resign from being an executor as well, why would Siegel need to give him notice that he will no longer be an executor? If Branca was no longer to be an executor, no one would have taken the time to notify him about anything related to MJ's will and estate.

 

[Dangerous Incorporated]

Another thing that's also odd about the will is that MJ picked 2 ladies to raise his children, his mother and Diana Ross.

Diana was born in 1944.

Katherine in 1930.

With all due respect, if you think you will live a long and happy life, it is quite strange to pick 2 'old' people to take care of your kids after you're gone.

Do you guys understand what I'm trying to say here?

 

[Birchey]

Another thing that's also odd about the will is that MJ picked 2 ladies to raise his children, his mother and Diana Ross.

Diana was born in 1944.

Katherine in 1930.

With all due respect, if you think you will live a long and happy life, it is quite strange to pick 2 'old' people to take care of your kids after you're gone.

Do you guys understand what I'm trying to say here?

Well you can look at it 2 ways, If Michael knew he didn't have much time left then why not pick them? If he didn't know then I am sure he planned on doing a new Will.

 

[Dangerous Incorporated]

Well you can look at it 2 ways, If Michael knew he didn't have much time left then why not pick them? If he didn't know then I am sure he planned on doing a new Will.

For 2 reasons.

1) Because if Michael didnt think he had much time left, and the kids still young, you would want someone younger be the guardian of your children because if something happens to both of your choices due to age, then where the kids then go is necessarily somewhere that Michael would have agreed with.

2) Planning on doing a Will is no good when you're dead. The 2 choices of elderly ladies is in stone.

Michael wasnt even that close with Diana in the later years. The last we saw them together was at the World Music Awards at the beginning of the decade.

 

[Birchey]

Hey DI, have you not been posting videos and info that Michael faked his own death or that its a hoax in the last few weeks here?

 

[Dangerous Incorporated]

Hey DI, have you not been posting videos and info that Michael faked his own death or that its a hoax in the last few weeks here?

You just asked me about something similar in another thread.

Not for the past few weeks but for months and you know this so what's you're point? :scratch:

 

[ivy]

1) Because if Michael didnt think he had much time left, and the kids still young, you would want someone younger be the guardian of your children because if something happens to both of your choices due to age, then where the kids then go is necessarily somewhere that Michael would have agreed with.

can you think of anyone younger to be suitable for such task? Someone that Michael was close to? Honestly I can't. (I don't believe he was close with his sisters or brothers).

2) Planning on doing a Will is no good when you're dead. The 2 choices of elderly ladies is in stone.

No it's not set in stone. The guardianship that you mention is just a wish / a request (a nomination), there's no requirement or certainty that the judge will follow such requests. (They honor those requests if no one objects).

In Michael's case Debbie Rowe had a stronger claim for guardianship as she was the birth mother. If she wanted custody she would most probably get it, that's why they come to an agreement outside the court.

Plus Prince and Paris are close to be 14. In California when you are 14 you can determine your own guardian and/ or become emancipated (legally declared an adult).

Also when Prince Michael turns 18, he can become guardian of the other kids.

 

[Thetruthbetold]

Another thing that's also odd about the will is that MJ picked 2 ladies to raise his children, his mother and Diana Ross.

Diana was born in 1944.

Katherine in 1930.

With all due respect, if you think you will live a long and happy life, it is quite strange to pick 2 'old' people to take care of your kids after you're gone.

Do you guys understand what I'm trying to say here?

They force him to do it because one lady is controlled by them and the other Lady is who he his life Dedicated to

 

[Ashtanga]

I'm posting too.....

Has anyone seen this?


The trust fund MJ created in 1995 was made public

http://www.newsoftheworld.co.uk/showbiz/michael_jackson/830743/Michael-Jacksons-will.html

http://www.mjjcommunity.com/forum/showthread.php?p=2818322#post2818322





Michael Jackson leaves his kids more than $33 million each in will

http://www.newsoftheworld.co.uk/showbiz/830344/Michael-Jackson-leaves-his-kids-33-million-each.html

http://www.mjjcommunity.com/forum/showthread.php?t=92225



And......



Summary of Ivy on the document:

Summary of the Documents

- The estate is first established in 1995 to transfer the ownership of MJ's assets (at that time MJ's children weren't beneficiaries) - It shows us that the estate planning started quite early.

- During his lifetime Michael made changes to the trust as he wanted , added assets etc. During his lifetime Micheal also got income from the assets included in the trust.

- Trust was also set to provide for Michael if he became physically or mentally incapacitated any time.

- Charities (determined in IRS code as for educational purposes, encouragement of art, prevention of cruelty against children or animals) getting 20% and the charities who will be getting money is going to be determined by Branca, McClain and Katherine Jackson. In the document it is also said that MJ's intent by leaving money to charities is " to benefit children". So most probably the committee (Branca , McClain and Katherine) will choose children charities. Trust also allows the estate to form a children's charity and give the money to the charity they have established.

- After charity share is deducted estate is to pay federal/state/ inheritance taxes.

- The distribution states is like this : If had children they get 50% and his mother gets 50%. If he didn't have any children all of his estate would have gone to his mother. If he didn't have children and his mother didn't survive, his 6 cousins would get the money.

- Debbie is left out , just as in the will.

- Katherine is provided for her lifetime from the net income (the principal is kept). After her death her share goes back to MJ's kids and his grandkids. If none are alive , his 6 cousins become the beneficiaries.

- Until they are 21 the children are also getting shares from the net income. When 21 they can apply for their benefit - meaning when they are 21 they can request to get their full share (in other words get the money from the estate and the executors). If they do such a request they get 1/3 of the principal when they are 30, 1/2 of the principal when they are 35 and remainder of it when they are 40.

- If they die before getting their shares, their money goes to their kids (MJ's grandkids). If they don't have kids their shares goes to their brothers and sister equally.

- If the estate doesn't have enough net income to cover the living expenses of the beneficiaries, they can provide money to the beneficiaries from/through the principal.

- It also says that they can request and get additional money if they want to buy a house, for their education, marriage and start a business etc regardless of their age. (The executors duty is to make sure that the business they want to start is reasonably sound. After that the kids are not kept responsible if the business fails).

- Interesting tidbit: If none of the beneficiaries survive (KJ, MJ's kids and MJ's grandkids and his cousins and his cousins kids) -not really likely to happen - the estate goes to Michael's heirs by law. Meaning any living family member by order.

- Interesting provision : In the case of minor children executors can give money for the care of this children directly to them (and not to the guardian) if they choose. Also if the executors are giving the money to the guardian of the children they can request documents showing how the money is spent.

- Trust provisions are set to follow the laws.

- Simply put executors get the power to manage the estate - quite common. No special powers.

- and bombshell - if no executors remain to look after the estate (and they don't determine the next group of executors), NATIONSBANK - in other words BANK OF AMERICA is named as the executor of the estate.

- If a Bank is the executor of the estate, his children when they are adults (18) could change the bank that's the executor.

- About the fees of the executors it says "executors can pay themselves reasonable compensation without court order".

- Executors can also give accounting of what they do to the beneficiaries. And beneficiaries have the right to disagree with this accounting (earnings, spendings).


What we have learned with my 2 cents

- This is a really good trust document. It's really planned for the future.

- It's obvious that Michael did not want his family as executors. To me this is quite apparent by the naming of Bank of America as the alternative executor.

- The children can get the full money / full shares. All other things said were speculation.

- Giving money in a partial format when they are 30/35/40 is very well thought. It ensures that the children will not have money issues/ go bankrupt. (we know several famous heirs that are penniless).

- Even though children only get shares from net income until they are 30, they can get additional money for expenses such as education, getting a house, marrying and opening their business. Michael thought about his children very well.

- Also if required giving minor children's money directly also very good as well as giving executors the option to ask how the money spent is good too. No guardian (whoever they might be in the present or future) cannot spend money for other things than MJ's kids.

- I hope the talk about executor's fees stops now - by the trust documents they could have determined their fees on their own but they went to a judge.

- Also this document shows what I have been saying all along, executors do not have unlimited power, they can't do whatever they want. If requested (currently by Katherine and the children's lawyer and later by children when they turn 18) executors are to give the accounting of the business deals, money earned and spent to the beneficiaries. The beneficiaries (MJ's kids and his mother) is protected against fraud and intentional wrongdoing by the executors.

http://www.mjjcommunity.com/forum/showpost.php?p=2818335&postcount=7


Thanks Ivy!

 

[ivy]

I will not go into two much detail here as we have an active discussion in the news and happenings.

I just hope that these recent documents were able to answer some questions/ concerns/ theories presented in this thread over the last months. Some are below

- Like I have been saying for months - the main document that has all the details, the provisions, rules is the trust and we can see this from the 21 page document.

- The children are indeed inheriting the estate. They are getting partial control starting when they turn 30, with full control at 40.

- They are not limited to an allowance. After the probate process completes they'll be getting income, also have the separate option to ask for life related expenses (education, buying property, marriage and business).

- Beneficiaries can oversee the business decisions made by the executors by asking them for accounting of the assets (money earned and spent etc). Executors actions are controlled by provisions, laws and beneficiaries controls.

 

[Maria MJ]

So Ivy does that mean that the executors will be overseen and controlled in the years to come?
By the beneficiaries -MJ's 3 when they come of age- and by the law?
And what happens if a decision is made that does not benefit the welfare of the estate?

 

[ivy]

Yes they are being overseen by the beneficiaries. They have to give accounting to the beneficiaries.

If anytime beneficiaries think that the decision they made does not benefit the estate, if they are not following the provisions, if they are stealing money etc, they can sue the executors.

Then a court of law will look to all the evidence, deals, financial records to make a decision. If executors are hurting the estate and participating in illegal/fraud activities they will be 1)fined, sent to prison, might be required to repay any loss occurred because of them and 2) removed as an executor.

I have been saying this for a long time - In any estate there's no such thing that says executors have unlimited power, can do whatever they want and wouldn't face any consequences... That's simply not correct...

side note : yes executors can make decisions regarding to the estate - such as buy/sell stuff and go into deals- without necessarily asking for beneficiaries approval but whatever decision they come up with should be justified and bring in fair amount of money to the estate.

 

[earth child]

Seriously? What are three minor children and a frightened elderly woman going to be able to object to?
I still believe the executors, Branca and McCain have unlimited power! They have it set up just the way they wanted it.
This trust doesn't prove their honor in anyway to me.

 

[ivy]

you do realize that they all lawyers right? Katherine's lawyer Streisand is very good btw, children has their court appointed attorney as well. And they'll not stay 13 year old forever.

The trust has been started 14 years ago and edited through time. In a very simplified fashion Michael wanted to look after his mother and left everything he had to his children. and what's wrong with that?

 

[jrsfan]

you do realize that they all lawyers right? Katherine's lawyer Streisand is very good btw, children has their court appointed attorney as well. And they'll not stay 13 year old forever.

The trust has been started 14 years ago and edited through time. In a very simplified fashion Michael wanted to look after his mother and left everything he had to his children. and what's wrong with that?

I personally question the choice of Streisand - he was the one that tried to represent Britney Spears to take control of the estate from her father. He seems like an ambulance chaser. I do think the choice of Streisand is pleasing to Weitzman.

 

[Dangerous Incorporated]

Branca and McClain will be dead by the time MJ3 take over.

 

[Maria MJ]

I hope you are right Ivy, and that everything is as it should be.
Having some doubts is justifiable at the Conspiracy forum.
Michael had an investigation on John Branca back in 2003 and we all know what came out of this.
There is never sufficient evidence of any law broken for someone who funnels money to off shore accounts. Have you ever seen anyone end up in jail? No, because they know how to move swiftly on the borders of the law.
Personally I am very worried about what is going to happen to the estate because so far I have no reasons to trust its executors. The lucrative Sony deal doesn't tell me anything at all except that Sony was allowed for at least another 7 years into Michael's work no matter how hard he tried to get back his master recordings and walk out a free agent.
So I guess time will tell. If the executors do what's right for Michael's estate and trust, I'll be the first to appraise them.

 

[jrsfan]

Branca and McClain will be dead by the time MJ3 take over.

It will be some 32 years by the time Blanket becomes of age - all the important decisions, the big money deals will all have been done. Branca & McClain will be unbelievably wealthy - I don't think PPB will be hurting either. But the bulk of the money will go to others.

 

[earth child]

It will be some 32 years by the time Blanket becomes of age - all the important decisions, the big money deals will all have been done. Branca & McClain will be unbelievably wealthy - I don't think PPB will be hurting either. But the bulk of the money will go to others.

The way they will be hurt is by Branca and McCain signing all their rights away to Sony!
Sure they may still have some money but they won't have the catalog, or the publishing rights to Michael's songs! You may all think they are protected but mark my words folks!

 

[jrsfan]

The way they will be hurt is by Branca and McCain signing all their rights away to Sony!
Sure they may still have some money but they won't have the catalog, or the publishing rights to Michael's songs! You may all think they are protected but mark my words folks!

I agree with what you are saying.

 

[blueocean]

The way they will be hurt is by Branca and McCain signing all their rights away to Sony!
Sure they may still have some money but they won't have the catalog, or the publishing rights to Michael's songs! You may all think they are protected but mark my words folks!

This hole thing puzzles me branca did not suppose to have the will after michael fired him I understand this is a updated will from the 90's and the trust aswell from the 90"s and updated around 2003. but branca I believe was fired around 2006 What I cant understand why would michael keep the same will as is, when he knowingly believed branca and team was trying to force him into bankruptcy and secretly working with sony against him to take his catalogue, I know something is not right with this picture michael supposedly hired branca back and then shortly after he is hired back michael dies and then branca who michael thought was working against him for sony is running his estate and making deals with sony and michael tryed to distance hiimself from sony,there is way to much that is wrong with this picture.

 

[jrsfan]

This hole thing puzzles me branca did not suppose to have the will after michael fired him I understand this is a updated will from the 90's and the trust aswell from the 90"s and updated around 2003. but branca I believe was fired around 2006 What I cant understand why would michael keep the same will as is, when he knowingly believed branca and team was trying to force him into bankruptcy and secretly working with sony against him to take his catalogue, I know something is not right with this picture michael supposedly hired branca back and then shortly after he is hired back michael dies and then branca who michael thought was working against him for sony is running his estate and making deals with sony and michael tryed to distance hiimself from sony,there is way to much that is wrong with this picture.

I do not believe Branca was fired in 2006 - he was bought out.

Branca was fired in 1990 according to this & came back in 1993 after the allegations for 5% of the catalog:
http://www.mail-archive.com/medianews@twiar.org/msg09701.html


Branca structured the ATV acquisition and continued to represent Jackson,
negotiating sponsorship deals that were then some of the richest in
history. But in 1990 Jackson cut his ties to the attorney at the urging of
other advisors. Jackson dismissed Branca by passing a note to an associate
that said, "Tell John Branca and Karen a paralegal I'm sorry and I love them."

Within three years, Jackson was in a downward spiral. In 1993, around the
time he publicly sought treatment for addiction, Jackson offered Branca 5%
of his future projects if he would again represent him. Branca began
increasing ATV's holdings by acquiring the copyrights of Elvis Presley
songs and such tunes as "Great Balls of Fire," "When a Man Loves a Woman"
and "Love Train."


Branca was fired in 2003, he came back in 2004 with Malnik & Koppelman to help MJ refinance

link to letter firing Branca:
http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_NiWiL9dw-Po/Sv-l...rancaletter.jpg

http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,155529,00.html
Branca firing in 2003:
Jackson Fires Longtime Lawyer, Adviser
Thursday, March 06, 2003
By Roger Friedman
o
Jackson Fires Longtime Lawyer, Advisers
There is chaos in the world of Michael Jackson. On Monday he fired his longtime adviser and attorney John Branca. By fax, of all things.
For Branca, the sudden news came just as Jackson's manager, Trudy Green, left the singer. Last week, Jackson also fired his longtime accountant, Barry Siegel, as well. (All parties declined to comment.)


Branca was there at that meeting in 2004 - he was working with Koppelman & Malnik to get a refinancing on atv cat with Goldman Sachs which would include some sale of sony cat:
http://online.wsj.com/article_email/SB1118...bHuGca2Fm4.html


The list with the names of people conspiring against MJ having to do with the Sony atv catalog that was announced by Carol Angela Davis was on April 4, 2005. list: John Branca, Al Malnik, Trudy Green, Howard Kaufman, Charles Koppelman, Tommy Motolla, Brett Ratner. In the thread Filmaking states that except for Motolla they are close to Konitzer & Wiesner. Not sure if that is accurate. Since Branca was on the list in April 2005, he must have been out of Mj circle by then.

http://www.mjj2005.com/kopboard/index.php?...0green&st=0
on other boards too, but this was a good thread

The names came up again in Aug. 2006 as Bain made the announcement of people conspiring against MJ to make him bankrupt.

http://www.mjj2005.com/kopboard/index.php?...green&st=40



As far as I can tell Branca was only involved with MJ in 2006 to sell the 5% interest Branca had back to MJ. I think I recall in Joes filing Branca rec'd $15 million plus. In this article it says it was as much as 20 million:

http://www.johnbranca.com/pdf/john_branca_latimes_sony_atv.pdf

Another beneficiary of the agreements is Los Angeles music attorney John Branca, who has been alternately embraced and spurned by the mercuial
Jackson throughout much of the singers career. Branca helped structure Jackson's purchase of the Beatles and others copyrights in 1985 for $47.5 million.
Today, those assets are worth more than 10 times that, and sources say Branca, who owned 2.5% of the Sony/ATV venture, has aleady pocketed as much as $20 million when Jackson bought out his share as part of Thurday's refinancing agreement.


links:
http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,201294,00.html

There is also a $25 million lien against it held by Fortress Investments, created so Jackson could buy out his former attorney, John Branca, from a five percent interest in Sony/ATV Music Publishing.



Branca was no friend of MJ - the PI Branca hired via Wolf was Paul Barresi, he told us in his 3 part series with DD which is on MJEOL.

http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,58153,00.html
When Schaffel was "rubbing people the wrong way" last fall, Branca called Brian Wolf at that firm, and Wolf sicced a private eye on Schaffel to get the goods. When the P.I. turned up the news that Schaffel made adult videos, another firm stepped in. That was the one run by Zia Modabber, another celebrity defender.

Everyone in the chain has a purpose. The only one not always in lockstep, unfortunately, is Michael Jackson.

 

[Maria MJ]

Jrsfan thank you for your good judgement and solid rock documentation.

 

[Dangerous Incorporated]

I do not believe Branca was fired in 2006 - he was bought out.

Branca was fired in 1990 according to this & came back in 1993 after the allegations for 5% of the catalog:
http://www.mail-archive.com/medianews@twiar.org/msg09701.html


Branca structured the ATV acquisition and continued to represent Jackson,
negotiating sponsorship deals that were then some of the richest in
history. But in 1990 Jackson cut his ties to the attorney at the urging of
other advisors. Jackson dismissed Branca by passing a note to an associate
that said, "Tell John Branca and Karen a paralegal I'm sorry and I love them."

Within three years, Jackson was in a downward spiral. In 1993, around the
time he publicly sought treatment for addiction, Jackson offered Branca 5%
of his future projects if he would again represent him. Branca began
increasing ATV's holdings by acquiring the copyrights of Elvis Presley
songs and such tunes as "Great Balls of Fire," "When a Man Loves a Woman"
and "Love Train."


Branca was fired in 2003, he came back in 2004 with Malnik & Koppelman to help MJ refinance

link to letter firing Branca:
http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_NiWiL9dw-Po/Sv-l...rancaletter.jpg

http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,155529,00.html
Branca firing in 2003:
Jackson Fires Longtime Lawyer, Adviser
Thursday, March 06, 2003
By Roger Friedman
o
Jackson Fires Longtime Lawyer, Advisers
There is chaos in the world of Michael Jackson. On Monday he fired his longtime adviser and attorney John Branca. By fax, of all things.
For Branca, the sudden news came just as Jackson's manager, Trudy Green, left the singer. Last week, Jackson also fired his longtime accountant, Barry Siegel, as well. (All parties declined to comment.)


Branca was there at that meeting in 2004 - he was working with Koppelman & Malnik to get a refinancing on atv cat with Goldman Sachs which would include some sale of sony cat:
http://online.wsj.com/article_email/SB1118...bHuGca2Fm4.html


The list with the names of people conspiring against MJ having to do with the Sony atv catalog that was announced by Carol Angela Davis was on April 4, 2005. list: John Branca, Al Malnik, Trudy Green, Howard Kaufman, Charles Koppelman, Tommy Motolla, Brett Ratner. In the thread Filmaking states that except for Motolla they are close to Konitzer & Wiesner. Not sure if that is accurate. Since Branca was on the list in April 2005, he must have been out of Mj circle by then.

http://www.mjj2005.com/kopboard/index.php?...0green&st=0
on other boards too, but this was a good thread

The names came up again in Aug. 2006 as Bain made the announcement of people conspiring against MJ to make him bankrupt.

http://www.mjj2005.com/kopboard/index.php?...green&st=40



As far as I can tell Branca was only involved with MJ in 2006 to sell the 5% interest Branca had back to MJ. I think I recall in Joes filing Branca rec'd $15 million plus. In this article it says it was as much as 20 million:

http://www.johnbranca.com/pdf/john_branca_latimes_sony_atv.pdf

Another beneficiary of the agreements is Los Angeles music attorney John Branca, who has been alternately embraced and spurned by the mercuial
Jackson throughout much of the singers career. Branca helped structure Jackson's purchase of the Beatles and others copyrights in 1985 for $47.5 million.
Today, those assets are worth more than 10 times that, and sources say Branca, who owned 2.5% of the Sony/ATV venture, has aleady pocketed as much as $20 million when Jackson bought out his share as part of Thurday's refinancing agreement.


links:
http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,201294,00.html

There is also a $25 million lien against it held by Fortress Investments, created so Jackson could buy out his former attorney, John Branca, from a five percent interest in Sony/ATV Music Publishing.



Branca was no friend of MJ - the PI Branca hired via Wolf was Paul Barresi, he told us in his 3 part series with DD which is on MJEOL.

http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,58153,00.html
When Schaffel was "rubbing people the wrong way" last fall, Branca called Brian Wolf at that firm, and Wolf sicced a private eye on Schaffel to get the goods. When the P.I. turned up the news that Schaffel made adult videos, another firm stepped in. That was the one run by Zia Modabber, another celebrity defender.

Everyone in the chain has a purpose. The only one not always in lockstep, unfortunately, is Michael Jackson.

:clapping:Thank you for this post. Loads of information there. unk:

 

[blueocean]

:clapping:Thank you for this post. Loads of information there. unk:

There are documents that joe have that say he was fired, and branco was told to turn everything over michael had hired others lawyers and then the investigation was going on about out shore accounts that branco had, It makes no sense to keep branco on as executor when branco was being investigated, also michael took the advise of another lawyer over branca cause branca was trying to force him into bankruptcy and michael did not want that, there is something wrong here joe and other's that worked with michael know there is something wrong with this picture. and lopez was working with michael around this time.

 

[earth child]

There are documents that joe have that say he was fired, and branco was told to turn everything over michael had hired others lawyers and then the investigation was going on about out shore accounts that branco had, It makes no sense to keep branco on as executor when branco was being investigated, also michael took the advise of another lawyer over branca cause branca was trying to force him into bankruptcy and michael did not want that, there is something wrong here joe and other's that worked with michael know there is something wrong with this picture. and lopez was working with michael around this time.

Right, but that was in 2003 that Branca was fired and was investigated for the off shore accounts, not 2006. I agree Michael wouldn't have kept him as executor after firing him in 2003. Even if they had a will signed later, after the time Branca claims he was brought back, it would be easier to swallow? No credibility there at all!

 

[enlightenu]

The way they will be hurt is by Branca and McCain signing all their rights away to Sony!
Sure they may still have some money but they won't have the catalog, or the publishing rights to Michael's songs! You may all think they are protected but mark my words folks!

I know ON THE SURFACE, it APPEARS this set up is what Michael wanted; but I DON'T trust the executors at all. And it just burns me up that many people that post on the board (not the conspiracy section) but main general forum is so drunk with the 'John Branca and company are the good guy heros and the Jackson family are a bunch of greedy, evil monsters' propaganda, they cannot see what's going on. And I truly suspect there are posters on there that are doing the bidding of these crooks and obviously it's working because there are bunch of others on there that are swallowing up the hype and acting like a bunch of stooges and polly parrots spouting insults regarding the Jackson family. Now some of them are making snide remarks about Katherine---and THAT SHOULD NOT BE TOLERATED AT ALL. I've expressed my frustration over some of the things that were said by some members of the family; but I have never insulted them. The atmosphere is toxic and to think it used to be a time when the ALL of the forums on this board was a haven to come to. Like the old saying goes funerals can bring out the worst in people.