Joe Jackson granted access to medical records

Los Angeles Superior Court Judge Mitchell Beckloff ruled that Joe Jackson can receive his son, Michael Jackson’s, medical records from the UCLA Medical Center. Joe Jackson's attorney, Brian Oxman, sought the records as part of an effort to obtain a $15,000 montly stipend for Joe from Michael's estate; Michael provided for his three children and his mother, but excluded his his father from his will. The judge will review the records first before releasing them to Oxman. Beckloff also ruled Jackson can only review records generated on or after the date of Michael's death so as to not violate doctor-patient confidentiality. Anyone granted review of the medical records will be required to sign a confidentiality agreement. Jackson and Oxman stated they are also considering filing a wrongful death lawsuit in Michael's death.

SONY Corp. posts $871 million (USD) Quarterly Profit

The numbers are in: Sony's electronics and entertainment divisions posted a quarterly profit of $871 million USD (79.2 billion yen). That's QUARTERLY. Third quarter profits a year ago were only 10.4 billion yen. Sony attributes the surge in profits to cost-cutting measures and the performance of its consumer electronics division. We here might beg to differ; certainly the performance of the This Is It film coupled with strong sales of MJ's catalogue had a little something to do with it. Michael had a little something to say about Sony. Watch the video.

It's a no go for Joe

Michael Jackson's estate administrators John McClain and John Branca are attempting to block a bid by Michael's father Joe for a monthly allowance from his estate. Joseph Jackson seeks $15,000 in monthly support from Michael's estate for "montly maintenance and expenses." Michael left Joseph out of his will and trust entirely; Joe Jackson insists this was an oversight and/or mistake. Branca and McClain say Joseph's request will reduce the amount of money available to support Michael's three children who, along with Michael's mother Katherine, were the sole individual beneficiaries of the estate.

Michael Jackson has sold over 20 million albums

Barely one month after its release, Michael Jackson's posthumous album "This Is It" is currently the 6th best-selling album for 2009. He currently has 8 albums in the TOP 25 best selling albums of the year. Only with those 8 albums MJ sold 17,560,000 albums. The total is near 20,000,000 now making Michael Jackson best selling artist/group of 2009

Michael's Top Selling Albums In 2009:

003) Michael Jackson Thriller (25th Anniversary Reissue) *since july 2009 counted together at "Thriller" 3.342

007) Michael Jackson Number Ones (since 2009) 3.150.000

011) Michael Jackson The Essential (since 2009) 2.583.5

015) Michael Jackson King Of Pop 1.957.5

017) Michael Jackson Bad (since 2009) 1.769.00

018) Michael Jackson This Is It 1.745.00

024) Michael Jackson Dangerous (since 2009) 1.515.50

025) Michael Jackson Off The Wall (since 2009) 1.497.50

source

Original master to Michael Jackson's "Thriller" to be auctioned

The original master test proof recording of Michael Jackson's hit song 'Thriller' will go under the hammer at a Bonhams Auction on December 20th. The recording is expected to fetch USD $4,000-6,000. The acetate disc features the title song from the Thriller album along with the instrumental version. The record was used by Grammy-winning master recording engineer Bruce Swedien to check the sound quality before Jackson released the single version of his hit song in January 1984. The record has only been played once. The album is being sold to benefit scholarships for students at California State University Summer Arts. Other items up for sale include a T-shirt Michael wore in the 'Beat It' video (estimate sale price USD $10,000-12,000) and a collectible item (estimate: USD $500-700).

source

The King of Pop's funeral cost $1,000,000

Michael Jackson's family wanted to give him a proper send off so they paid upwards of US$1 million for the private family funeral before his interment at Forest Lawn-Glendale Cemetery.

Costs included $855,730 for cemetery and funeral charges including the purchase of other plots within the same mausoleum where Jackson now rests; $35,000 for burial garments; $2,000 for usher uniforms; $1,975 for clothing for the family; $3,682 for framing of a photograph of Michael to display next to the casket; $959 for embroidery; $11,716 for invitations and programs; $16,000 for flowers; $30,000 for cars and security; and $15,000 for a funeral designer. There was also a charge of $21,455 for the "funeral repast" at a local Italian restaurant after the interment. The estate also paid $5,000 a month to store Michael's body in the months leading up to the funeral. Janet, Randy, and Katherine (and interestingly, NOT LaToya or Jermaine) were involved in the funeral arrangements and Janet paid a $49,000 to Forest Lawn-Glendale.

"Mrs. Jackson and her family wish to honor her son by a funeral that seeks to offer solace to his multitude of fans and by which the family also may be comforted," the Mrs. Jackson's attorneys said. [The costs were] "entirely commensurate with the decedent's worldwide status as an entertainer and the world's grief over his death."

Source: AP

Joe Jackson got shut down

Following on the heels of his recent filing demanding support from his late son, Michael Jackson's estate, Jackson 5 patriarch, Joe Jackson, filed a motion claiming John McClain and John Branca should be removed as executors of Michael's estate. The elder Jackson claims his son believed Branca and McClain had defrauded him and accused the two administrators of conflicts of interest. Joe Jackson's attorney Brian Oxman said in a phone interview with the Associated Press that his client is allowed to challenge the executors as "an interested party who has the right to be an executor or personal representative." Michael Jackson's 2002 will left his entire estate to his three children and his mother with a portion going to support children's charities; the will omitted Joseph Jackson entirely.

Superior Court Judge Mitchell Beckloff said Joe Jackson could not challenge the executors of the estate. "I don't think he gets to step into this and create further litigation," the judge decreed. "Joe Jackson takes none of this estate. This is a decision his son made." He did, however say Joe Jackson could petition the court for an allowance from the estate since his son had been supporting him for many decades.

In a surprise move, the lawyer for Michael Jackson's mother and heir of his estate, Katherine Jackson, withdrew Mrs. Jackson's objection to the Branca and McClain as special administrators saying she felt they could "enhance the legacy of Michael Jackson in the best interest of his children." This reversal ends months of legal wrangling the executors from Mrs. Jackson and her adult children, however it swept the legs from beneath her husband's legal objection to their appointment. Mr. Jackson's attorney Oxman called the abrupt about face despicable and hinted at a possible lawsuit against his client's wife for her failure to support his motion.

source

This Is It tops the box office

Michael Jackson's concert rehearsal documentary "This Is It" topped the box office pulling in $101 million worldwide. Domestically, the film has made $32.5 million; it pulled in $68.5 million overseas, including $10.4 million in Japan, $7.6 million in Great Britain$6.3 million in Germany, $5.8 million in France and $3.2 million in China. As predicted, Sony decided to extend the two week limited engagement to at least Thanksgiving in the United States and varying dates in other markets.

Michael's siblings get cut out of the will again

It has just been revealed that the 40% stake in Michael Jackson's estate left to his mother Katherine Jackson will revert to his three children upon her death. That means Jermaine "Word To The Bad", LaToya "Michael Did It", Randy "Just Sign These Papers", Joe "Don't Make Me Use This Belt", and the rest of the clan won't be able to get their hands on any of the money.

Randy told TMZ "The family is fine with it. Who cares about the money? We have enough money. If I cared about the money, I'd be doing a reality show and doing interviews." Riiiiight...so are we not counting that new Jackson 5 reality show or any of the interviews he's done since June?

Katherine can challenge the will

A probate judge has ruled Katherine Jackson will not jeopardize her inheritance by challenging the standing of Michael Jackson's estate administrators John McClain and John Branca. Advocates for Mrs. Jackson have suggested the special administrators may have exerted undue influence over Michael during his last years in order to gain control over his estate in the event of his death. She insists she should be given decision-making powers over the estate alongside McClain and Branca. Attorneys for Mrs. Jackson have been reluctant to directly challenge the standing of the special administrators because her son's will contains a 'no contest' clause stating any beneficiary who challenges the will will lose their standing as an heir to the estate.

Chris Rock Takes 2nd Place on Forbes Richest Comedians List

Chris made $42 million last year primarily from film voice overs on Madagascar: Escape 2 Africa and his "No Apologies" comedy tour. Seinfeld was number one and he didn't do a damn thing last year.