Momma Shannon
Proud Member
Hey guys we have two news threads filled with the trial info and they are discussing the same thing so lets move our debate/discussion on the trial to one spot and clear out of the news threads :yes:
I'll move over some of the articles too and add them to the first post here. Thanks.
Posting a handful of articles that have been posted feel free to add more as they come out...
http://www.independent.co.uk/arts-en...n-1023857.html
Sheikh 'felt personally betrayed' by Jackson
[/i]
By Stephen Howard, Press Association
Tuesday, 18 November 2008
An Arab sheikh who spent a fortune on a project he thought would revive Michael Jackson's career felt "a strong sense of personal betrayal" when the pop superstar walked out on the deal, a court heard today.
Sheikh Abdulla bin Hamad Al Khalifa, second son of the King of Bahrain, is now suing Jackson for £4.7 million in the High Court in London to get back what he says he spent on the star.
Bankim Thanki QC, representing the sheikh, told Mr Justice Sweeney that his client had formed a "close personal relationship" with Jackson after he invited him, his children and personal staff to stay in Bahrain in June 2005.
Mr Thanki said Jackson had signed a contract for recording albums, writing an autobiography and staging shows in which it had been agreed that 7,000,000 US dollar (£4.7 million) would be deducted from Jackson's agreed royalties to pay for the expenses.
These included, he said, a £175,000 bill for motivational guru Tony Buzan who was flown into Bahrain to work with Jackson.
The star left Bahrain in May 2006 to go to Europe and Japan.
"The last thing Sheikh Abdulla expected was that he was never coming back," Mr Thanki said.
The following month, the sheikh was asked to sign a document releasing Jackson from his obligations under the contract but refused, the lawyer added.
"My client felt a strong sense of of personal betrayal because this was someone he considered a close personal friend. The work they had done together and the plans for the future all seemed to be totally frustrated," he said.
It emerged in court on the first day of the hearing yesterday that the sheikh had sent Jackson songs he had written and had tried to record one as a charity single for the victims of Hurricane Katrina. It was never released.
Jackson insists there was no valid agreement and that the sheikh's case is based on "mistake, misrepresentation and undue influence".
In his pleaded defence, Jackson says the payments he received were "gifts" and that no project was ever finalised.
At the start of a court hearing in London set to last for up to 12 days, Mr Justice Sweeney heard that an application would be made for Jackson to give evidence via video link from Los Angeles.
Sheikh Abdulla is the Governor of the Southern Governate of Bahrain and head of the country's Public Commission for the Protection of Marine Resources, Environment and Wildlife.
He is also the founder of the 2 Seas Group, an entertainment and record production label.
The sheikh is seeking repayment of the £4.7 million and/or damages for breach of contract, plus interest.
Al Khalifa was in court Tuesday for the second day of arguments and testimony, but Jackon is seeking to give his testimony by a video link from the United States.
"It would be unwise for him to travel, given what's he's got now," lawyer Robert Englehart said, but declined to elaborate "for the obvious reasons."
Al Khalifa's lawyer, Bankim Thanki, called the medical evidence presented by Jackson's legal team "very unsatisfactory."
"It's not the first time a sick note has been presented by Mr. Jackson," Thanki said.
Details of Jackson's purported malady wasn't disclosed, but Thanki suggested that the issue could be resolved by applying a dressing "if the diagnosis is positive."
Thanki did not elaborate after the court took a short break for lunch.
http://www.reuters.com/article/peopleNews/idUSTRE4AJ33520081120
Michael Jackson to testify in British court
By Mike Collett-White
LONDON (Reuters) - Michael Jackson will appear in a British court next week to testify in a lawsuit brought against him by a Bahraini prince, the singer's lawyer said on Thursday.
The reclusive 50-year-old pop star is being sued by Sheikh Abdullah bin Hamad al-Khalifa, the second son of the king of Bahrain, who says Jackson reneged on a contract to record a new album and write an autobiography.
He also says Jackson owes him $7 million after the prince paid for his legal costs, travel and other expenses.
Jackson spent time in Bahrain as a guest of the royal family following a 2005 trial at the end of which he was acquitted of child molestation charges.
"He has been cleared by his medical advisers to travel in two days' time," Jackson's lawyer Robert Englehart told the High Court in London.
"Mr. Jackson is intending to travel to this country ... and will be available to give evidence to your lordship." The U.S. singer is expected to appear on Monday afternoon.
Englehart had initially argued that Jackson was unwell and should not travel, handing the judge a report earlier this week on the singer's medical condition.
Bankim Thanki, representing al-Khalifa, said the medical evidence produced was "pretty unsubstantial" and that Jackson had a habit of producing a "sick note" when he did not want to turn up in court.
SHEIKH TAKES STAND
Al-Khalifa took the witness stand on Thursday and faced a barrage of questions from Englehart about his relationship with Jackson and whether he had ever expected to be repaid the sums he paid to the star.
Jackson contests that there was no valid agreement with al-Khalifa and that the sheikh's case is based on "mistake, misrepresentation and undue influence."
In his pleaded defense, Jackson said the payments he received were "gifts" and that no project was ever finalized.
"It would be fair to say that you are, at least by the ordinary standards of the English bourgeoisie, extremely wealthy?" Englehart asked.
"I would see myself as someone who is very fortunate, yes," al-Khalifa replied.
Al-Khalifa said he had originally explored the idea of recording and working with Jackson's brother Jermaine before collaborating with Michael. Continued...
The court heard how he spent $450,000 to fund Jermaine's travel to and expenses in Bahrain in late 2004 and early 2005, and paid for a Rolls-Royce car for him in California.
"You undoubtedly are an extremely generous person," Englehart said.
Al-Khalifa has said he felt betrayed by Michael Jackson.
"Michael is an individual who is very switched on," he said. "He is a fantastic businessman and a fantastic intellectual."
Al-Khalifa said he spoke regularly with Jackson over the telephone in late 2004 and 2005, when the star was on trial, and also worked on songs together including "Light the Way" and "He Who Makes the Sky Gray." Neither was made into a record.
Al-Khalifa wants Jackson to repay him for a recording studio he built in Bahrain where the two were to have worked on new music, but Englehart said the sheikh continued to use it.
The court heard how al-Khalifa gave Jackson $1 million before he met him. Englehart said he had intended it as a gift all along, but al-Khalifa disputed this.
Englehart said that Jackson told al-Khalifa in a letter dated June 22, 2006 that he no longer wished to pursue a project with the prince.
http://www.google.com/hostednews/ukpress/article/ALeqM5h9XQU4UEjNoSVIRRaBRU0APtihIA
Rush to watch Jackson in courtroom
8 hours ago
The most exclusive ticket in London on Monday is for Court 73 at the High Court where Michael Jackson is booked to appear in person.
Instead of his usual singing and dance routines, the superstar will have a speaking part when he steps into the witness box to defend allegations that he owes an Arab sheikh £4.7 million.
So great is the demand to see the star in action that the court authorities have issued a limited number of passes to get into the court, one of the largest in the complex.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/7744621.stm
Jackson expected to arrive in UK
Michael Jackson is expected to arrive in the UK to give evidence at the High Court over claims he breached a music contract with an Arab sheikh.
It is thought fans will gather to support him, but court officials are issuing a limited number of passes.
The King of Bahrain's son, Sheikh Abdulla Bin Hamad Bin Isa Al-Khalifa, is suing Mr Jackson for £4.7m, claiming he reneged on a music contract.
Mr Jackson contests the claim, saying there was no valid agreement.
'Personal relationship'
Sheikh Abdulla says he paid all the singer's living, travel and other expenses until his departure from Bahrain in 2006, and advanced funds to retain legal and financial advisers.
Mr Jackson claims the payments were "gifts".
The Thriller star was invited with his children and entourage to Bahrain, shortly after he was acquitted of child molestation charges in California.
While there, the sheikh lavished money on him. Sheikh Abdulla also built a recording studio, which he believed would be used to record albums using material he had helped to write.
However Mr Jackson apparently pulled out of the deal in May 2006 after 11 months and has not seen the sheikh since.
On Monday Mr Jackson will come face to face again with the sheikh who said he believed he had formed "a close personal relationship" with the star.
Now Sheikh Abdulla says he wants nothing more to do with him and is suing to get his money back.
At the start of the hearing which began last week, Mr Jackson's lawyer, Robert Englehart QC, applied for the star to give his evidence by video link from Los Angeles because of concerns about his health. But the application was withdrawn after medical experts said Mr Jackson was fit enough to travel.
I'll move over some of the articles too and add them to the first post here. Thanks.
Posting a handful of articles that have been posted feel free to add more as they come out...
http://www.independent.co.uk/arts-en...n-1023857.html
Sheikh 'felt personally betrayed' by Jackson
[/i]
By Stephen Howard, Press Association
Tuesday, 18 November 2008
An Arab sheikh who spent a fortune on a project he thought would revive Michael Jackson's career felt "a strong sense of personal betrayal" when the pop superstar walked out on the deal, a court heard today.
Sheikh Abdulla bin Hamad Al Khalifa, second son of the King of Bahrain, is now suing Jackson for £4.7 million in the High Court in London to get back what he says he spent on the star.
Bankim Thanki QC, representing the sheikh, told Mr Justice Sweeney that his client had formed a "close personal relationship" with Jackson after he invited him, his children and personal staff to stay in Bahrain in June 2005.
Mr Thanki said Jackson had signed a contract for recording albums, writing an autobiography and staging shows in which it had been agreed that 7,000,000 US dollar (£4.7 million) would be deducted from Jackson's agreed royalties to pay for the expenses.
These included, he said, a £175,000 bill for motivational guru Tony Buzan who was flown into Bahrain to work with Jackson.
The star left Bahrain in May 2006 to go to Europe and Japan.
"The last thing Sheikh Abdulla expected was that he was never coming back," Mr Thanki said.
The following month, the sheikh was asked to sign a document releasing Jackson from his obligations under the contract but refused, the lawyer added.
"My client felt a strong sense of of personal betrayal because this was someone he considered a close personal friend. The work they had done together and the plans for the future all seemed to be totally frustrated," he said.
It emerged in court on the first day of the hearing yesterday that the sheikh had sent Jackson songs he had written and had tried to record one as a charity single for the victims of Hurricane Katrina. It was never released.
Jackson insists there was no valid agreement and that the sheikh's case is based on "mistake, misrepresentation and undue influence".
In his pleaded defence, Jackson says the payments he received were "gifts" and that no project was ever finalised.
At the start of a court hearing in London set to last for up to 12 days, Mr Justice Sweeney heard that an application would be made for Jackson to give evidence via video link from Los Angeles.
Sheikh Abdulla is the Governor of the Southern Governate of Bahrain and head of the country's Public Commission for the Protection of Marine Resources, Environment and Wildlife.
He is also the founder of the 2 Seas Group, an entertainment and record production label.
The sheikh is seeking repayment of the £4.7 million and/or damages for breach of contract, plus interest.
Al Khalifa was in court Tuesday for the second day of arguments and testimony, but Jackon is seeking to give his testimony by a video link from the United States.
"It would be unwise for him to travel, given what's he's got now," lawyer Robert Englehart said, but declined to elaborate "for the obvious reasons."
Al Khalifa's lawyer, Bankim Thanki, called the medical evidence presented by Jackson's legal team "very unsatisfactory."
"It's not the first time a sick note has been presented by Mr. Jackson," Thanki said.
Details of Jackson's purported malady wasn't disclosed, but Thanki suggested that the issue could be resolved by applying a dressing "if the diagnosis is positive."
Thanki did not elaborate after the court took a short break for lunch.
http://www.reuters.com/article/peopleNews/idUSTRE4AJ33520081120
Michael Jackson to testify in British court
By Mike Collett-White
LONDON (Reuters) - Michael Jackson will appear in a British court next week to testify in a lawsuit brought against him by a Bahraini prince, the singer's lawyer said on Thursday.
The reclusive 50-year-old pop star is being sued by Sheikh Abdullah bin Hamad al-Khalifa, the second son of the king of Bahrain, who says Jackson reneged on a contract to record a new album and write an autobiography.
He also says Jackson owes him $7 million after the prince paid for his legal costs, travel and other expenses.
Jackson spent time in Bahrain as a guest of the royal family following a 2005 trial at the end of which he was acquitted of child molestation charges.
"He has been cleared by his medical advisers to travel in two days' time," Jackson's lawyer Robert Englehart told the High Court in London.
"Mr. Jackson is intending to travel to this country ... and will be available to give evidence to your lordship." The U.S. singer is expected to appear on Monday afternoon.
Englehart had initially argued that Jackson was unwell and should not travel, handing the judge a report earlier this week on the singer's medical condition.
Bankim Thanki, representing al-Khalifa, said the medical evidence produced was "pretty unsubstantial" and that Jackson had a habit of producing a "sick note" when he did not want to turn up in court.
SHEIKH TAKES STAND
Al-Khalifa took the witness stand on Thursday and faced a barrage of questions from Englehart about his relationship with Jackson and whether he had ever expected to be repaid the sums he paid to the star.
Jackson contests that there was no valid agreement with al-Khalifa and that the sheikh's case is based on "mistake, misrepresentation and undue influence."
In his pleaded defense, Jackson said the payments he received were "gifts" and that no project was ever finalized.
"It would be fair to say that you are, at least by the ordinary standards of the English bourgeoisie, extremely wealthy?" Englehart asked.
"I would see myself as someone who is very fortunate, yes," al-Khalifa replied.
Al-Khalifa said he had originally explored the idea of recording and working with Jackson's brother Jermaine before collaborating with Michael. Continued...
The court heard how he spent $450,000 to fund Jermaine's travel to and expenses in Bahrain in late 2004 and early 2005, and paid for a Rolls-Royce car for him in California.
"You undoubtedly are an extremely generous person," Englehart said.
Al-Khalifa has said he felt betrayed by Michael Jackson.
"Michael is an individual who is very switched on," he said. "He is a fantastic businessman and a fantastic intellectual."
Al-Khalifa said he spoke regularly with Jackson over the telephone in late 2004 and 2005, when the star was on trial, and also worked on songs together including "Light the Way" and "He Who Makes the Sky Gray." Neither was made into a record.
Al-Khalifa wants Jackson to repay him for a recording studio he built in Bahrain where the two were to have worked on new music, but Englehart said the sheikh continued to use it.
The court heard how al-Khalifa gave Jackson $1 million before he met him. Englehart said he had intended it as a gift all along, but al-Khalifa disputed this.
Englehart said that Jackson told al-Khalifa in a letter dated June 22, 2006 that he no longer wished to pursue a project with the prince.
http://www.google.com/hostednews/ukpress/article/ALeqM5h9XQU4UEjNoSVIRRaBRU0APtihIA
Rush to watch Jackson in courtroom
8 hours ago
The most exclusive ticket in London on Monday is for Court 73 at the High Court where Michael Jackson is booked to appear in person.
Instead of his usual singing and dance routines, the superstar will have a speaking part when he steps into the witness box to defend allegations that he owes an Arab sheikh £4.7 million.
So great is the demand to see the star in action that the court authorities have issued a limited number of passes to get into the court, one of the largest in the complex.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/7744621.stm
Jackson expected to arrive in UK
Michael Jackson is expected to arrive in the UK to give evidence at the High Court over claims he breached a music contract with an Arab sheikh.
It is thought fans will gather to support him, but court officials are issuing a limited number of passes.
The King of Bahrain's son, Sheikh Abdulla Bin Hamad Bin Isa Al-Khalifa, is suing Mr Jackson for £4.7m, claiming he reneged on a music contract.
Mr Jackson contests the claim, saying there was no valid agreement.
'Personal relationship'
Sheikh Abdulla says he paid all the singer's living, travel and other expenses until his departure from Bahrain in 2006, and advanced funds to retain legal and financial advisers.
Mr Jackson claims the payments were "gifts".
The Thriller star was invited with his children and entourage to Bahrain, shortly after he was acquitted of child molestation charges in California.
While there, the sheikh lavished money on him. Sheikh Abdulla also built a recording studio, which he believed would be used to record albums using material he had helped to write.
However Mr Jackson apparently pulled out of the deal in May 2006 after 11 months and has not seen the sheikh since.
On Monday Mr Jackson will come face to face again with the sheikh who said he believed he had formed "a close personal relationship" with the star.
Now Sheikh Abdulla says he wants nothing more to do with him and is suing to get his money back.
At the start of the hearing which began last week, Mr Jackson's lawyer, Robert Englehart QC, applied for the star to give his evidence by video link from Los Angeles because of concerns about his health. But the application was withdrawn after medical experts said Mr Jackson was fit enough to travel.
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thank u. i am praying its nothing serious