*Michael Jackson’s son and mother may have stood united over legal affairs involving the late King of Pop’s estate, but no more.
TMZ reports Blanket Jackson is not good with his grandmother, Katherine Jackson using money from the estate to pay attorney’s fees for an appeal of a previous ruling.
The ruling in question involves a case regarding a business transaction between the estate and Sony. TMZ cited recent reports when mentioned the unspecified transaction may relate to a deal the estate made with Sony to sell about half of Michael Jackson’s famed music catalog for $600 million.
At the time, Blanket and Katherine worked together to stop the executors of Michael’s estate, John Branca and John McClain, from moving forward on the deal. Despite presenting arguments opposing the venture, the court ruled against them in April 2023.
Blanket accepted the court’s ruling, but Katherine felt the opposite way as she decided to appeal the ruling. As it stands now, the appeal is still pending.
In December, Katherine filed motions asking that the estate pay for the legal bills she incurred in making her objections, including the ongoing appeal.
Earlier this month, Branca and McClain voiced strong opposition to Katherine’s request to pay for what they called her “failed objection” and “meritless appeal,” Billboard noted.
In Blanket’s eyes, his grandmother’s appeal isn’t a solid win and not worth the estate footing the legal bill to pursue. Court documents note Blanket’s reasoning, adding comments he made about the appeal not truly benefiting the beneficiaries of the trust to continue the fight.
As an heir to the estate, Blanket has a personal and financial interest in the situation. Katherine may want the estate to step in with paying legal fees, but Blanket isn’t yielding.
As a result, he is asking the court to use its best judgment to grant Katherine reasonable attorney’s fees incurred from the pre-appeal battle. Despite not siding with Katherine in appealing the case, Blank does agree that the Jackson matriarch is entitled to available funds prior to the appeal at least to a certain extent.
News of the legal drama surrounding the Jackson estate comes days after news broke of Katherine receiving a seven-figure allowance for the year, On March 21, Branca and McClain claimed in legal filings that Katherine received more than $55 million since the “Will You Be There” singer’s death.
Referencing the new filings, Billboard reports the documents were “aimed at proving that the estate itself should not have to pay for Katherine’s recent legal bills.
Branca and McClain argued that “virtually no request of Mrs. Jackson for her care or maintenance has been declined” in the years since Michael’s 2009 death.
“Contrary to claims made by Mrs. Jackson’s counsel, the executors have provided liberally for Mrs. Jackson’s maintenance, care and well-being,” attorneys for Branca and McClain wrote. “Since Michael’s death, the executors have expended for Mrs. Jackson’s benefit more than $55 million.”
The estate further claimed that Katherine Jackson allegedly received more than $33 million in cash, including an ongoing allowance of $160,0000 per month, plus a $15 million luxury home, the estate claimed. Branca and McClain also claimed that they provided Katherine with an emergency $3.7 million payment in December to satisfy delinquent income tax liabilities.
“It is difficult to imagine that the trustees could provide any more liberally for Mrs. Jackson,” attorneys for the executors wrote.
Branca and McClain further claimed in their new filing that the estate should not have to pay Katherine’s lawyers for filing objections that had caused “substantial damage,” Billboard shared.
“Importantly, this petition is not about Mrs. Jackson’s maintenance, care, comfort, and support,” the executors’ attorneys wrote. “This petition is about payment of attorneys’ fees for an objection filed on Mrs. Jackson’s behalf, which the court overruled, and the subsequent, frivolous, and still pending appeal.”
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