Release of Documents Could End Jackson Conspiracy Charges
Mood:  incredulous

by Dr. K. C. Arceneaux
November 13, 2004

The release of redacted documents, on November 12, 2004, that are among the evidence in the child molestation case against Michael Jackson could collapse the case, or at the very least, cast serious doubt on the conspiracy charges against him. The documents include correspondence between then Jackson attorney Mark Geragos and William Dickerman, attorney for "Jane Doe," the mother of Jackson's accuser. The letters were sent immediately following the period during which Ms. Doe said she was imprisoned by Jackson employees and was fearful for her life. However, the letters are very mundane, if combative, and concern the return of household belongings. There is no mention of events remotely resembling the accusations made in the Grand Jury indictment.

The letters reveal a prolonged and acrimonious exchange between the attorneys, beginning on March 26 and ending on May 17, 2003. The letters concern return of items that had been removed from Ms. Doe's home and placed in storage. In the letters, there is squabbling about when and where to deliver the belongings, and concern about who would make payments on a storage facility. And yet, this exchange occurs immediately after the period that Ms. Doe claims she and her children were falsely imprisoned by Jackson's staff. The question here is simple. If Ms. Doe thought she and her children had been imprisoned and her life threatened, as she later claimed, why did she not tell Dickerman, her attorney? Kidnapping is a much more serious issue than who will pay for the storage of furniture.

Ms. Doe's accusations against Jackson are similar to charges she made against her now-ex husband in a divorce dispute. About the Jackson case, Ms. Doe said in a police interview leaked to the media in September, 2004, that she felt that "Somebody was going to kill the kids and me. Mostly the kids." In the divorce dispute, she accused her husband of molesting their daughter, kidnapping, and threatening her life. In judge's chambers, the daughter recanted statements she had made earlier, and said that the father did not make death threats. Russell Halpern, attorney for the boy's father, said that he believes the mother scripted her children. Halpern said the father once showed him a script his wife had allegedly written for their children to use when they were questioned in a civil deposition. "She wrote out all their testimony. I actually saw the script. I remember my client showing me, bringing the paperwork to me."

The charges against Michael Jackson are not the first time Ms.Doe has leveled charges of sexual abuse against someone. It is the third. In addition to the charges made against her husband, Ms. Doe also accused security guards of sexually abusing her by fondling her breasts and crotch in a parking lot. The guards had followed her son and husband from the store and accused them of shoplifting. The boy reportedly was carrying a stack of unpaid-for clothing. Ms. Doe alleged that the abuse went on for seven minutes, as her family apparently looked on helplessly. As in the Jackson case, there was a memory delay before accusations were made. Ms. Doe remembered two years after the parking lot incident that she had been (allegedly) sexually abused; these accusations were added to her three million dollar civil case against J.C. Penney.

Tom Griffen, Penney's attorney, said in an interview by Mike Taibbi on the Abrams Report, March 4, 2004,"It became readily apparent that this was an incident, in my opinion, a scam to extract money from J. C. Penney." The case was settled out of court, for a reported $137,000. According to Griffen, the settlement was to avoid the risk of losing in a jury trial. One also assumes that the negative publicity would not have been desirable for the company. The psychiatrist retained by Penney to examine Ms. Doe said that he felt she scripted her children's stories to match hers.

Veracity seems to be a serious problem with this family. In the first indictment Jackson was charged with seven counts of child molestation. In the second indictment, by a grand jury presided over by Santa Barbara prosecutor Tom Sneddon, the instances of molestation had declined from seven to three, with one alleged molestation attempt. Where did the other three molestations go? Did the boy in question, now a mature teenager, testify to seven instances of molestation and then remember that three of them did not happen? Or, now that he is older and wiser, is he less cooperative? Inexplicably, the grand jury indictment added charges not present in the first indictment. Jackson now has been accused of conspiracy to commit twenty-eight felony acts, including conspiring to commit child abduction; false imprisonment; extortion; committing lewd acts upon a child; attempting to commit a lewd act; and administering an intoxicating agent to a child.

The timeframe of the alleged molestations has changed, as well. In the first indictment, the dates were given as from February 7, 2003, to March 10, 2003. These dates were changed in the grand jury indictment, from February 20 to March 12. In a pre-trial hearing on November 8, 2004, Jackson attorney Susan Yu said, "The chronologies are critical to the defense because the dates of the alleged molestations in the original complaint (in December) are different from the dates in the indictment (in April)." Yu said, "These dates are different because the (accuser's) family changed their story. They changed their story because they are not telling the truth."

Copyright, first American serial rights, Nov. 14, 2004

Source: MJRedemption/MJJForum

Discuss this article on MJJForum: MJJForum Article

At Least 300 Michael Jackson Fans Attend Support Rally in NYC
Mood:  a-ok
Date: Friday, November 12, 2004

Source: Team MJJsource

Contrary to many published reports, there were conservatively 300 Michael Jackson fans attending the support rally yesterday. The rally took place at 45th and Broadway in New York City.

After reading these reports, members of the media have conveyed their concern that the reported fan count was highly inaccurate from the actual number of fans that attended. It is unfortunate that the genuine support and dedicated efforts of Michael Jackson's loyal fans have been unacknowledged. It is our hope that the Associated Press and others will correct their error. This would be appropriate, out of respect for the many fans that took the time to organize and attend the event.

Michael Jackson fans demonstrated over MTV's refusal to stop airing the Eminem video that demeans Michael Jackson. Unlike MTV, Black Entertainment Television (BET) stopped running it last month, at Mr. Jackson's request.

In a phone call to Geraldo Rivera at the rally, Mr. Jackson stated regarding Eminem and the video, "It's demeaning and disrespectful," Jackson said. "And I also want to make it clear that it's not just about Michael Jackson... but about a pattern of disrespect that he has shown to our community. He needs to stop it, and he needs to stop it now."

Speaking of his deep appreciation for his fans, Michael Jackson said, "Its because of my fans that I am calling in today.... I feel that I have the best fans in the world... I want to thank them from the bottom of my heart.... I love them so so much."

Gerlado Rivera also reiterated his strong support for Mr. Jackson when he said, "Michael, let me just say that I support you because I believe you are getting a raw deal not just by Eminen but in a lot of other aspects of life that I don't need to mention..."

source: MJJsource

Geraldo Rivera Interviews Michael Jackson LIVE on FoxNews
Mood:  happy
MJJForum eNews #421 - November 11, 2004

Geraldo: ...I think we may have on the telephone right now, a surprise caller in his first live interview on Network Television in at least a year as far as I know. I believe Michael Jackson is there. Are you there Michael?

Michael: How are you Geraldo... Hello?

Geraldo: Ok buddy, let me ask you.. How do you feel, Michael, about the continuing support you've gotten from your fans despite all you've gone through.

Michael: Well, Geraldo, its because of my fans that I am calling you today. I mean, I feel they are the best fans in the world and I decided rather than having anyone else speak for me that I would do it myself you know. And I want to thank my fans for their strong support over the years. They could have been anywhere today, you know, and they chose to be in New York in Times Square. And I want to thank them from the bottom of my heart. They have written thousands and thousands of letters, and have made hundreds of calls regarding the Eminem video. And I love them so, so much. In London over 4000 people showed up on my behalf. And I want to thank Reverend Jesse Jackson, Reverend Al Sharpton, Minister Farrakhan [sp], The Source, Steve Harvey, Bob Johnson and BET, Jesse Hughes and Radio One, and all the many others who have supported me. And Geraldo, I want to also thank you for your friendship and everything, all the wonderful things you have been doing. Thank you so, so much. I made my message clear about the Eminem video. I think that its demeaning and disrespectful, but I also want to make it clear that its not just about Michael Jackson.. But a pattern of disrespect that he has shown to our community. He needs to stop it, and he needs to stop it now.

Geraldo: Michael, let me just say that I support you because I believe that you are getting a raw deal. Not just by Eminem, but in a lot of other aspects of life that I don't need to mention. But let me go on the positive side for a minute. What do you have coming up? Anything that we can announce to these people? Something that can give them some optimism?

Michael: Yes, I'm always working on wonderful music. I've been working on several albums right now, I've been working on music today. I'm working on something as we speak Geraldo, and I'm in the process of making plans to do some other wonderful things that I'll be announcing to the fans very, very soon. And I look forward to that Geraldo, you know. And I'll give you a call too, soon.

Geraldo: I bet you do, I bet you do. Ok, please do. But before I let you go, anything else you want to say?

Michael: I love my fans, I love you and thank you so much for being there on my behalf. And thank you Geraldo again, thank you so so much.

Geraldo: Ok Michael, thank you. Thanks for calling in. Michael Jackson everybody.
---

Many thanks to TSColdMan for the transcript.

Join the discussion and watch the video by clicking on

MJJForum Article

Michael Jackson's Statement- November 4, 2004
Mood:  hug me
November 4, 2004

To my loyal fans and supporters,

I would like to sincerely thank all those who have spoken out and taken action against the most recent attempt to defame me as a person and an entertainer. My team has told me of the thousands of calls that have been made and the thousands of emails that have been sent by you, on my behalf. I am so grateful and inspired by you all.

To my fans in the UK, I want to you to know how touched I was to hear about the demonstration in London that took place on October 31st and the thousands of people that attended. I am so overwhelmed by these beautiful expressions of love from my fans. Thank you.

Recently, I have been informed that there is an event being planned for me, by the fans, to take place in New York very soon. I wanted take this opportunity to thank these fans from the bottom of my heart for your love and support.

As always, I LOVE YOU ALL SO MUCH AND THANK YOU FOR NOT BEING AFRAID TO SPEAK OUT.

God Bless,

Michael Jackson

Jacko wants veto on court sketch
Mood:  incredulous

26/10/2004


Michael Jackson wants to be able to approve sketches drawn of him in court and even wants to handpick the court artist.

The self-proclaimed King of Pop is concerned that he could be made out to look strange unless he has control over the sketches and has asked his lawyers whether he can have "final approval", the Daily Star reports.

Jackson is due at court on child abuse charges and wants to make sure he is not portrayed in a bad light.

"Michael is well aware that he gets stick from critics and the media about his looks, his thinning hair, his pale looks for a black man and his odd-shaped nose," a source told the Star.

"He is seriously worried that since cameras can't go into the courtroom then the drawings might make him look like a freak or a clown. He wanted an artist who would draw him in a flattering light."

But court officials are unlikely to succumb to the pop star's demands, insisting that he will be treated the same as anyone else ordered to attend court.

"We do not allow defendants to choose who does the daily sketches," a spokesman for the Santa Monica court told the newspaper.

"The judges will not even hear an application to that effect."

Jackson denies all ten charges against him.

? 1998-2004 DeHavilland Information Services plc. All rights reserved.

JACKSON'S CHILDREN TO MEET THEIR MOTHER
Mood:  don't ask




Two of MICHAEL JACKSON's children will finally get to meet up with their mother DEBBIE ROWE for the first time in close to four years.

US WEEKLY reports that in a closed courtroom on 22 October (04), judge STEPHEN M LACHS ruled that seven-year-old PRINCE MICHAEL and PARIS, six, can visit former dermatologist's nurse Rowe - possibly before Jackson's child molestation trial begins in January (05).

A source says, "They will finally get to know that (rowe) is there for them. Michael can no longer keep the children from their mother."

Rowe, who was married to Jackson from 1996 to 1999, is keen to reverse a custody settlement she signed off on the couple's two children. She now wants an active role in their lives.

27/10/2004 21:09

Michael Jackson may commit suicide if he is convicted!
Mood:  sad

[Hollywood News]: London, Oct 20 : Michael Jackson's family fears that the pop icon may commit suicide if he is convicted of sexual assault.

Close relatives of the 'Thriller' star are, in fact, holding weekly meetings to decide the best possible way to bail him out of trouble.

"Michael ain't going to jail, he's going to commit suicide first," The Sun quoted a source quoting Jackson's brother Jermaine as saying.

The 46-year-old singing sensation is set to face trial early next year on charges of nine counts of child molestation. (ANI)

JACKSON HIT WITH HOTEL BILL
Mood:  sad
JACKSON HIT WITH HOTEL BILL


The troubled pop superstar has reportedly been slapped with a hefty bill from bosses at the MIRAGE, where cabaret stars SIEGFRIED AND ROY used to perform, for wrecking a villa he stayed in with his entourage a year ago (03).

Insiders tell American tabloid GLOBE that bosses have been patient, but Jackson, who uses the name JONATHON PARKER when he checks into the Mirage, has still to pay the alleged $250,000 (GBP138,900).

The source says, "I'm told he left an absolute mess behind. The carpeting was completely destroyed. The hotel found food, candy and whatever smashed into the carpeting throughout the place and there were drinks spilled all over it."

Jackson and his entourage vacated the villa when a warrant was issued for his arrest on child molestation charges.

21/10/2004 21:07

MICHAEL JACKSON SPEAKS PUBLICLY ABOUT EMINEM?S VIDEO
Mood:  hug me
Date: Tuesday, October 12, 2004

On Tuesday, October 12, 2004, at 8:00AM, P.D.T., Michael Jackson appeared on ?The Steve Harvey Morning Show,? 100.3 / The Beat, a Radio One station, regarding Eminem?s video. In an exclusive interview with Steve Harvey, Michael Jackson made the following statement:

?I would like to thank you, Steve, Radio One, the African-American community, my fans from around the world, and some of the members of the media, for the support that you have given to me. I would also like to thank Mr. Robert Johnson, Chairman and Founder of BET for pulling the Eminem video from BET?s airplay. I appreciate very much the love and support that you all have shown me.

?I am very angry at Eminem?s depiction of me in his video. I feel that it is outrageous and disrespectful. It is one thing to spoof, but it is another to be demeaning and insensitive.

?I?ve admired Eminem as a artist, and was shocked by this. The video was inappropriate and disrespectful to me, my children, my family, and the community at large. It is my hope that the other networks will take BET?s lead and pull it.?

MJJsource

HIP-HOP COMMUNITY DEFENDS MICHAEL JACKSON, CONDEMNS NEW EMINEM VIDEO
Mood:  happy

Date: Thursday, October 14, 2004



Source: RONN TOROSSIAN

-- RACISM AND DISRESPECT FOR BLACK CULTURE AND ITS ICONS NOT TO BE TOLERATED SAYS MAGAZINE CEO RAY BENZINO--

NEW YORK, NY, October 13, 2004- The Source Magazine, the largest magazine devoted to hip-hop music, culture and politics applauded today as BET (Black Entertainment Television), pulled the newest Eminem video ?Just Lose It? from its video rotation. BET Chairman and Founder Robert Johnson personally removed the video, which mocks cultural icon Michael Jackson and shows an overall level of disrespect for black culture and its icons.

Eminem?s latest racial misstep comes on the heels of racist charges first leveled against him nearly two years ago by The Source?s CEO Ray Benzino. These charges intensified last November, after tapes where Eminem, real name Marshall Mathers, is heard rapping using blatant racial epithets and making disparaging remarks about black women. The ?Just Lose It? video is vindication for Benzino and The Source who were accused of overreacting by mainstream media outlets, other artists, and so called ?hip-hop activists.?

?For too long influential people in the hip-hop community have stood by Eminem while he has made a mockery of the culture that inspires and motivates our young people to achieve and be proud of their black heritage,? said Ray Benzino, CEO of The Source. ?I am proud of both Robert Johnson of BET for pulling the video, and for comedian Steve Harvey for urging MTV and VH1 to do the same. We as the leaders in the Hip-Hop community and music industry need to step up and realize that Eminem?s lyrics and actions are tearing down the very culture that people like Doug E. Fresh, Slick Rick, and Public Enemy have built from the ground up. I urge all members of hip-hop to come out and support Jackson, one of the most important, cultural icons of our time. No one should stand behind this mockery and only by supporting the airplay of ?Just Lose It? are we giving Eminem a way out.

Furthermore, The Source called upon Eminem?s management to pull the single from his upcoming album, and to publicly apologize to Michael Jackson for his offensive portrayal of the King of Pop. As one of Black America?s most visible icons, the magazine views any criticism of Jackson as a direct snipe at the culture itself.

The Source has weathered a consistent storm of criticism since first going after Eminem two years ago. Portrayed in the mainstream press as having a vendetta against Eminem, despite the publication having actually given the rapper his first big break when it featured him in its March 1998 ?Unsigned Hype? section, the magazine has never backed off its claims that Eminem is a racist and an imminent danger to the hip-hop community.

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Statement From MJJForum Fan Community Regarding Eminem's video, "Just Lose It."
Mood:  cool
MJJForum eNews #397 - October 13, 2004

REVISED


MJJForum.com, one of the largest Michael Jackson support groups on the internet, officially protests MTV?s continued promotion of Marshal Mathers, known as Eminem, and his video, "Just Lose It". Mathers, an artist who has condoned crimes against women, intolerance of sexual diversity, and domestic violence, has now added racial denigration to the litany of anti-social behaviors he exemplifies. The image of a member of the majority race vomiting on a black man reawakens age-old memories for segments of the black population who can still remember when vile acts such as this were perpetrated against them and their loved ones in order to keep them in their place.

We find it quite suspect that Mathers would choose Michael Jackson, the most famous black entertainer in history, as the target for his personal subjugation. In the 1980?s, Mr. Jackson broke through the glass ceiling of discrimination in the music industry and opened the door for many black artists to achieve success. It is obvious that Mathers, a white artist who has exploited a musical genre originated by African Americans, now intends to symbolically put Mr. Jackson where Mathers believes he belongs. Those days are over, and no African American should stand for this.

We agree with Robert Johnson, President of BET, who has called this video ?inappropriate and offensive,? and has wisely removed it from the station?s play list. We find it unacceptable that MTV, who has profited from the airing of Mr. Jackson?s own work for more than 20 years, continues to broadcast this open insult to Mr. Jackson and to the black community.

Furthermore, we find it reprehensible that MTV insists to air a video that is prejudicial to Mr. Jackson in a way that could negatively affect the legal proceedings he is involved in at the moment. MTV is grossly out of line in its interference in serious judicial proceedings by its support of one person?s slanted view of a situation which has yet to be resolved. MTV and Mathers should, themselves, be held accountable for their actions in a court of law.

Unfortunately, MJJForum cannot make that happen. We can, however, make our voices heard by informing fellow fans of all races, and from all over the world, of the position MTV has taken on the matter, and to encourage these millions of fans to take whatever action they see fit. We believe that MTV should follow the example BET has set by taking a stand and refusing to allow racial insults to infect our airwaves. The removal of this video from the MTV play list is certainly warranted.

contact: Barbara Chauvin, Editor - MJJForum.com
bchauvin@mjjforum.com

DISCLAIMER: Neither MJJFORUM.COM, CLUBMJJF.COM, MJJF-EUROPE.COM, nor the opinions expressed in any and all writings/posts/eNews messages located anywhere on this site, are in any way affiliated either expressly or implicitly with Michael Jackson, MJJsource.com, MJJProductions, his management, his attorneys, etc.


Source: MJJForum.com

JACKSON TO SUE EMINEM?
Mood:  loud

Troubled singer MICHAEL JACKSON will allegedly sue rapper EMINEM over his new music video, which mocks the THRILLER star.

The JUST LOSE IT promo features Eminem dressed as Jackson, losing his cosmetically enhanced nose, jumping on a bed with young children, being vomited on by the real Eminem and dousing his flaming hair by sticking his head down a toilet.

Jackson has branded the video "disrespectful" and is to determined to have it banned, reports Britain's DAILY SPORT newspaper.

Jackson's spokesperson says, "The Jackson family feels the video is demeaning and disrespectful. Michael is very displeased and doesn't want it shown."

A source close to the 46-year-old says, "The entire video is a send-up of Michael Jackson. Michael is very upset and is going crazy over it. Don't be surprised if he sues over this.

"He is moonwalking and has greasy hair. Eminem's hair catches on fire, just like Michael's did in the famous Pepsi commercial. He runs into a public toilet and douses the flames in a toilet."

10/10/2004 14:16

Jackson Prosecutor ?blinded by zeal?
Mood:  surprised
MJJForum eNews #393 - October 8, 2004

Defense lawyers for entertainer Michael Jackson have argued that District Attorney Thomas Sneddon and his team of prosecutors should be removed from the case due to a conflict of interest.

The motion, originally filed on October 4th, was unsealed on Thursday revealing further details of the DA?s alleged vendetta against the superstar.

Jackson supporters and members of the media have for some time speculated that Sneddon is too personally involved in the case following his failed attempt to prosecute the singer in 1993.

The 34-page motion, still partially blacked out, claims Sneddon is "blinded by his zeal to convict Michael Jackson" and should be removed from the case. The defense further states the DA?s office "have an actual conflict of interest . . . that is so grave it is unlikely that Mr. Jackson will receive a fair trial."

Much of the document?s content had previously been included in a motion to dismiss the indictment against Mr. Jackson. Both motions cite Sneddon?s bias during grand jury proceedings. Judge Rodney Melville has yet to rule on the motion to dismiss the grand jury indictment.

In the unsealed documents, defense attorney Steve Cochran points out that the accuser?s mother was allowed to refer to Mr. Jackson as ?the devil? during her testimony to the grand jury. He further claims that she "prejudiced the grand jury with wild tales of 'killers' and secret conversations in 'code' despite a total lack of support for this version of events by other witnesses, including her own family."

Jackson?s team also contends that prosecutors "poisoned the well" during the hearings by allowing testimony about the 1993 case. It is also alleged that former county Sheriff, Jim Thomas, was allowed to leak prejudicial information about the case to the media.
This followed Judge Melville?s ruling that Thomas, now an NBC consultant, was not covered by the gag order preventing anyone involved in the case speaking publicly about it. The former Sheriff has said that while he does have a friendship with Sneddon, they do not discuss the current case and claims he did not leak information.

The tenuous relationship between the accuser?s parents was also highlighted during grand jury proceedings. Rocky relations between the two resulted in divorce and a restraining order being placed against the father.

At one point, it is revealed, he took photographs of his then wife as she came towards him with a stick. Prosecutors implied the boy?s father had sold this photograph to a tabloid newspaper. Jackson?s team claim this was an attempt by the prosecution to "sully the jurors' opinion" of the boy?s father. He still denies having sold the pictures.

The motion further points out that the investigation itself only began following the airing of a British documentary, ?Living with Michael Jackson?. The program left a "misimpression that Mr. Jackson had slept in the same bed with (the victim.)" Mr. Cochran notes that both Jackson and the boy say in the documentary that the singer slept on the floor while his accuser used the bed.

Jackson?s defense team also attacked Sneddon?s public demeanor during a news conference held to announce the arrest warrant again Mr. Jackson late last year. Many felt his jovial behavior was inappropriate.

Cochran again pointed out that Sneddon overstepped his boundaries as prosecutor when he personally led surveillance of an office belonging to a private investigator working for then Jackson attorney, Mark Geragos.

In an unusual move, Sneddon was called to testify in August and claimed his decision to personally conduct the surveillance was made out of convenience, as he happened to be in the area that day.

Also in the defense spotlight is Court TV and former Hard Copy journalist, Diane Dimond, who has been reporting on Jackson since 1993. In the newly released documents, defense attorneys have requested copies of any notes Sneddon had made of meetings with Dimond.

Prosecutors have requested that the motion to remove Sneddon not be heard during the next pre-trial hearing on October 14th. It is not yet known which motions will be heard on this date.



Source: SBNews-Press/NYPost/MJJForum

Michael Jackson Yale Conference Media Coverage Inaccurate
Mood:  blue

"Regarding Michael Jackson: Performing Racial, Gender, and Sexual Difference Center Stage" a conference at Yale University that brought together scholars from many disciplines for two days, Sept. 23-24. The A.P. report by Diane Scarponi was inaccurate in saying that the legal case against Michael Jackson was not discussed.

(PRWEB) September 30, 2004 - The conference, "Regarding Michael Jackson:Performing Racial, Gender, and Sexual Difference Center Stage" brought together scholars from many disciplines for two days at Yale University, Sept. 23-24. Michael Jackson has both a private and a public personae. The Yale conference focused on Jackson as he presents himself as a public figure and in his artistic production. In a sense, the conference was a preview and a validation of the many ways he will be studied in the future as a cultural force, as someone who has pushed the limits of not only music, dance, video and film, but also the limits of the right to self-expression within a cultural framework.

The papers, respondents and discussions focused not on speculations about Jackson's motivations for personal and artistic choices, but on how those choices have altered the terrain of performance, music, and culture itself. His cultural influence can be seen in the multi-disciplinary nature of the conference, drawing people from musicology, fine arts, English, culture/media studies, critical theory and photography. Each presenter brought a different optique within the context of a thorough knowledge of and appreciation for the significance of Jackson's work.

The papers fell into two broad categories: 1)Jackson's cultural influence as he has tested boundaries of stereo-typical, cultural conceptions of race and gender through his self-expression, and 2) analyses of Jackson's music, videos and films. Uri McMillan's paper, "White Ambition: Michael Jackson, Racial Erasure, and Aesthetic Surgery" was not a discussion of specifics about Michael Jackson and plastic surgery, as the title suggests, but comprised a historical view of the uses of plastic surgery by various races and ethnicities as a strategy for coping with prejudice and seeking economic mainstreaming.

Musicologist Jason King discussed Jackson's vocals in his earlier, adult music, comparing them to others of his contemporaries. Nora Morrison presented her readings of themes of racial tension in Jackson's films (Beat It, Thriller, Smooth Criminal, and The Wiz), as in each of these pieces, Jackson subdues unruly crowds through music and dance. Rose Theresa's paper, "Michael Jackson, the King of Melodrama: Innocent until Proven Guilty," was enlightening about the theatrical genre of melodrama, which was explored through Jackson's short film, "Ghosts."

Todd Gray's paper was an exception to the two categories, in that he brought personal knowledge of Jackson to his presentation, as Michael Jackson's personal photographer for many years, (and designer of the "feet logo"). Gray showed installations and imagery of exhibitions of his photographs of Jackson. He said that Jackson had specific ideas about how he wanted to be represented to the public, and exerted full editorial control over each photograph that was published.

The A.P. report by Diane Scarponi was inaccurate in saying that the legal case against Michael Jackson was not discussed. K. C. Arceneaux's paper, "Michael Jackson: Media and Mythologies," presented facts about the child-molestation case against Jackson that have been suppressed or omitted by media, and explained how media taps into mythologies in order to raise ratings and "sell" the news. Refreshingly, the conference did NOT concern gossip about Jackson's personal life, nor mention tabloid stories, nor rumors. Instead, the conference was a serious look at Jackson's work and his vanguard position within culture by scholars who were thoroughly familiar with his artistry. It should be noted that popular culture, as a kind of ongoing, contemporary history, is a frequent topic in university classes, seminars, and conferences, and that other celebrities have also been the focus of serious study as they take their places in the history of art, music, and theater. This kind of serious study is a needed, balancing counterpoint to the often inaccurate media coverage of Jackson.

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N.Y. Judge OKs Michael Jackson Tix Suit
Mood:  loud

Wed Oct 6, 6:34 PM ET

By SAMUEL MAULL, Associated Press Writer

NEW YORK - A judge has approved a class-action lawsuit against Ticketmaster and Madison Square Garden for allegedly selling seats with obstructed views of Michael Jackson's 30th anniversary concert three years ago.

The judge said the suit potentially covers 7,840 ticket buyers "who received no advance notice that their seats were inadequate for viewing purposes."


The suit filed by Dana Gross, 32, says she paid Ticketmaster $98.50 plus service charges for each of six tickets to see the self-styled King of Pop's concert in September 2001. She's asking for $14 million in damages.


Glen Rosenberg, 33, one of Gross' friends who went to the show, said after the lawsuit was filed, "We couldn't even see the show properly on the TV screens. It was so bad I might as well have been sitting in my bathroom."


Gross' lawyer, Peter Agulnick, said he had no comment on Judge Herman Cahn's ruling, which was made public Wednesday. No date was set for a trial.


Agulnick has said that his client wrote Ticketmaster to complain that her group had to sit behind a wall and could not see Jackson, Britney Spears, Liza Minnelli, Ray Charles or other performers.


Agulnick said Ticketmaster wrote back and basically told Gross, "Tough luck."


The judge allowed the case to go forward on complaints that included deceptive business practices and breach of contract. He noted that a Garden executive conceded employees were aware of the obstructions days before the concert.


Spokeswomen at both Ticketmaster and Madison Square Garden said they would not comment on pending litigation.

Jackson's Defense Wants to Know..., Dimond, Allred, Lieberman mentioned
Mood:  party time!
Topic: Breaking News

Date 2004/10/6 21:50:27


What do Michael Jackson?s defense attorneys want to know regarding what Tom Sneddon told Diane Dimond, Gloria Allred, Larry Feldman, Stan Katz and Carole Lieberman? That?s the question we all want answered.

In newly released court documents tonight (October 6, 2004), we learn that Jackson?s attorneys are still having trouble getting information from the prosecution. What they call ?peace meal? offerings from prosecutors have drawn rebukes by the defense.

For months there has been speculation about how Diane Dimond was just so mysteriously lucky enough to be at Jackson?s Neverland Ranch laying in wait with a camera crew, expecting the police to show up to raid Jackson?s home. And she learned this information in enough time to allow her to fly in to California and get two camera crews ready (one was at the police station just in case).

In court documents, Jackson?s attorneys sent a letter to prosecutors wanting information about a large number of things. Among those things include communications between Sneddon and the aforementioned ?Rogue?s Gallery? of characters involved in and around this case.

From the defense?s Motion to Compel, stamped Oct 6:

13. Please provide us with all notes, records, reports, phone conversations, statements (whether telephonic, in person, verbal, written, signed or unsigned), recordings (audio, video and/or transcripts), involving District Attorney Tom Sneddon's contacts with but not limited to Diane Diamond, Gloria Allred, Larry Feldman, Dr. Stanley Katz and Carole Lieberman. This request is limited to issues concerning Michael Jackson's arrest, past and present investigations and or inquiries conducted and or directed by Mr. Sneddon on behalf of the Santa Barbara District Attorney's Office and or by the current and former Sheriff of Santa Barbara County.


This article comes from MJEOL
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Accuser's Mother hired numerous lawyers, says children can sue Jackson - AFP
Mood:  chatty

Date 2004/9/22 21:49:43 | Topic: MJ News


Michael Jackson's lawyers confront his accuser's mother

Fri Sep 17, 2:30 PM ET Add U.S. National - AFP to My Yahoo!


SANTA MARIA, United States (AFP) - Michael Jackson's lawyers sought to portray the mother of the boy who has accused him of child molestation as a liar who has made similar claims against an ex-husband.

Jackson stared grim faced at the 36-year-old woman, named in court documents only as Jane Doe, as his lead attorney Thomas Mesereau launched into a combative exchange with the woman.

Mesereau highlighted contradictions in a sworn statement and documents filed with the court in a bid to portray one of the key prosecution witnesses in the case against Jackson as unreliable.

The lawyer has previously called the woman a liar in court and this time he suggested her motive for accusing the self-styled King of Pop was mercenary.

"She made statements that her children can sue Michael Jackson after they turn 18," Mesereau declared.

"She said she is not after money then she says she is after money.

"She has hired numerous lawyers and used resumes for work that show she is sophisticated in investigation and prosecution and can supervise surveillance."

The court was not told what the woman's job was. But Mesereau said the woman knew how to file lawsuits and had once accused her ex-husband of molesting one of her sons and falsely imprisoning him in Los Angeles.

Jackson faces charges 10 counts including child molestation and false imprisonment.


The woman, who wore a black suit and open neck white blouse, appeared to avoid eye contact with Jackson as he sat at the defence table staring intensely at her while occasionally mopping his brow with a white handkerchief.


The woman crossed herself before taking a seat in the witness box and was quickly involved in court combat with Mesereau, frequently challenging his line of questioning.


"What are you asking?" she challenged, as Mesereau tried to press her about whether she knew private investigator Bradley Miller was working for Jackson's former attorney, Mark Geragos.


Jackson's team claim the woman and California prosecutors knew of the relationship when investigators swooped on Miller's Los Angeles office on November 18 to search for evidence of child abuse.


"He told me he was with Michael Jackson's security team," the woman said.


"It don't matter what the transcript said," she went on, referring to an account of an interview between her and Miller in which he identifieid himself as working for Geragos.


"He said he was Michael's PI (private investigator), or (somebody) said that. I don't remember, I wasn't paying attention."


The woman has two children, including the alleged victim, by her first husband, and has just had a baby with her new husband.

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/afp/20040917/ts_alt_afp/us_jackson_mother_040917183022


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Even More Damaging Docs of Accusing Family?s Past ? MJEOL Bullet #99 REPOST
Mood:  celebratory

Given current revelations about the accuser's mother's past, which includes once accusing her ex-husband of sexually molesting the accuser and falsely imprisoning them, it seems appropriate that we recap what other people have had to say about this family.

In March 2004, NBC did an interview with the attorney who represented JCPenney in a lawsuit filed against them by this very same family.

In a stunning development yesterday (March 4), the attorney who represented JCPenney in a court case involving the family now accusing Jackson, released over 100 pages of documents from that case, and blasted the mother?s motives both in their case and in the Jackson case (see transcript from replay of report).

The attorney, Tom Griffin, was interviewed by NBC?s Mike Taibbi, the same reporter who broke the story about Richard Matsuura totally blasting the defamatory Vanity Fair article about Jackson in which Matsuura is cited as one of the children allegedly ?given wine by Jackson? (see Matsuura Angry at Defamatory Vanity Fair Article-Bullet #89).

Tom Griffin calls what the mother did to JCPenney a ?shakedown?. What was a small altercation with security?after some of the family members were actually caught outside of the store with ?an arm full of shoplifted clothes?--turned into a $3 million lawsuit.

The family claimed they were beaten severely in broad daylight by security to the extent where they all had broken bones. As of now, it is unknown if any medical records exist of the family?s alleged beating by store security. Griffin says there was absolutely nothing to backup their claims.

From the number of documents obtained by NBC, it would seem there was a substantial amount of information gathered by JCPenney?s defense team in that case. During his investigation, Griffin says:


It became readily apparent that this was an incident in my opinion, a scam, to extract money from JCPenney.

What may have sparked Griffin?s suspicions is the fact that the family, two years after filing the initial lawsuit, suddenly claimed the mother was sexually fondled in her breast and pelvic area for approximately 7 minutes by the guard or guards during the altercation. Remember this supposedly happened, according to them, in broad daylight after the family was stopped for shoplifting. She didn?t report this to the police or claim it happened at that time. Maybe she just?forgot?? If this seems far-fetched, then you are not alone.

During depositions and investigations, the psychiatrist for JCPenney said that the mother ?rehearsed? her two sons?one is the accuser?to lie and back-up the story she was telling. Sound familiar? The psychiatrist also says that the children were coached in what ?sounded like scripted copies of (her) testimony? (see Is the Michael Jackson molestation case a shakedown?).

According to the documents, the psychiatrist also found the mother to be ?schizophrenic? and ?delusional.? Even her own psychiatrist found her to be ?anxious and depressed.?

If you remember, this information fits with what Russ Halpern (father?s attorney) said in Nov 2003:

Halpern said the father once showed him a script his wife had allegedly written for their children to use when they were questioned in a civil deposition.

?She wrote all of their testimony. I actually saw the script,? Halpern said. ?I remember my client showing me, bringing the paperwork to me.? (see Accuser's Mother Writes Script of Lies).

Now there are two parties, independent from each other, confirming that the mother has previously coached her children/scripted their testimony. So why, then, does it seem to physically hurt some media people to actually make room in their mind for the possibility that Jackson is innocent? Maybe they?re suffering from the same kind of attitude the current district attorney of Santa Barbara is suffering from: It?s called the ?Jackson-is-guilty-and-ignore-everything-to-the-contrary? syndrome.

The JCPenney attorney continues:

?She just came up with this fairy tale, not a fairy tale, it?s a horror story, and just ran with it.?

Make no mistake about it, this information is devastating to the prosecution?s case whether they admit it or not. JCPenney ultimately settled the case two days before the trial for $137,500.00, a far cry from the $3 million the family was initially seeking.

This new information isn?t coming from the defense but rather an independent 3rd party who has had a run-in with this family in the past. And to have yet another party having a copy of this scripted testimony cannot be explained away.

What is also interesting is before the family saw a penny from the JCPenney lawsuit, the mother filed for divorce. The father too, may have been a part of the lawsuit against the store and an adversary of Griffin?s at the time. So there isn?t any apparent reason for them to conspire with each others story concerning the mother coaching her kids.

Has this stopped media attack dogs like Gloria Allred from rabidly trying to explain away the story? Of course not. What those like Allred do is attack the attorney bringing forth the information. She actually said on the Abrams Report (March 4):

The idea that an attorney for JCPenney?s would come out and take a cheap and seemingly unwarranted attack on a mother of a child who is alleged to be the victim of child molestation, I think it?s absolutely outrageous

Oh how dare Griffin throw his documented proof in our faces! How dare he make the public aware of previous actions regarding this family?s affinity for bending the truth! This isn?t about the attorney for JCPenney or his documents and opinions based on those documents. Allred can?t adequately defend the mother?s actions, so she attacks the attorney who brought the info to the public?s attention.

When asked his opinion about the family?s claims against Jackson, Griffin says:

They?re going for a homerun this time. This is a shakedown. Shakedown, part two.

There is probably much more information within the pages of these documents, which makes this attorney so set in his opinions on this family.

When asked on the Today show (March 5) if Jackson?s team had anything to do with this story or these documents, Jackson?s publicist Raymone Bain says ?We weren?t behind that.? And if one thinks about it, how in the world could the defense or anyone other than the attorney have anything to do with this story? They aren?t the authors of these documents nor are they the ones doing the interview with NBC?s Mike Taibbi.

MJEOL.com

The Jackson Kids To Appear On CBS!!
Mood:  energetic


Michael Jackson's nieces and nephews will appear on TV to defend him against child molestation charges and drum up sympathy for their embattled family,
CBS News says.

The Jackson kids - Jermajesty, 4, Jaafar, 8, 12-year-old twins Randy and Donte, and Genevieve, 14, will appear on the network's "The Early Show" on Thursday and Friday.

The children, whose dads are Michael's brothers Jermaine and Randy, say they are teased at school and hurt by publicity about their uncle's criminal
case.

"They know inside that my uncle is innocent. So they just want to tease us to be cruel, because they're not happy with themselves," Genevieve told CBS.

"Us kids, you know, we get hurt from that because that's our uncle," Genevieve told CBS. And Jackson's nephew Donte complained about some media referring to his uncle as "wacko."

Jermaine Jackson says he hopes the kids will help the family's image. "We are just like any other family. We are like the Brady Bunch, but we're the
Jackson bunch."

The kids' TV appearances are the family's latest attempt to help Michael. Last month, the singer's famous siblings showed up at his court hearing.

Source:MJSTAR

Inside Michael's Private World
Mood:  sad
Topic: Prosecutor Press Release

October 4, 2004


Controversial herbalist Dr. Sebi claims that Michael Jackson's brother, Randy, brought him in this past winter to help the pop star detox from what Sebi calls an addiction crisis. "I was told by the cooks that [Jackson] was falling down and they had to pick him up off the floor? many times," Sebi told us.

Dr. Sebi is not a licensed medical doctor, but the self-proclaimed healer insists he helped Michael kick an addiction to painkillers that some published reports trace back to a painful 1984 accident where Jackson's hair caught fire shooting a commercial.


"His condition was one that was of stress because of the drug that he was taking," Sebi said of Jackson. "They were feeding him drugs all day long; he had to take them because of his sleeplessness and his nerves."

Dr. Sebi says that, starting a couple of months after Jackson was booked on molestation charges, he traveled with Michael and provided herbal compounds that eased the embattled superstar's nerves.

"When he came out of the state of stress from the drugs, his behavior was one that was free of concern about the case," Sebi told us. "He's absolutely certain that he's going to win this case. That he's not guilty."

And about Tom Sneddon and the pop star's other enemies, Sebi said, "If anything, Michael feels sorry for them. He has expressed love for Tom Sneddon."

While Sebi says Jackson seemed serene about the molestation charges, the singer created another drama in February near Aspen when he and a young man entered a Wal-Mart. The superstar wore a ski mask and scared employees, who called the cops.

"He asked me if I saw the news, and I said 'yes,'" Sebi explained. "So I asked him, 'Why did you go in there with ski masks?' He said, 'Well, I wanted to be discreet, but they called the police and said two white boys were in there with ski masks.'"

Sebi also told us Jackson seemed a good father to his kids, but was haunted by the ghost of his own troubled childhood and the burdens of lifelong fame. "The people wanted someone they could worship," Sebi told us. "And he seemed to be the perfect person. So that may have had a lot to do with the poor young man."

Dr. Sebi says he finally quit treating the superstar, and he now claims Jackson owes him $380,000, for which he plans to sue.

Jackson's spokesperson has long denied Michael has been treated for any addiction and would not comment on Dr. Sebi.