The Legal Beat: Jackson Family Feud and More Music Law Updates
The Legal Beat: Jackson Family Feud Continues
In this week’s edition of The Legal Beat, we dive into the ongoing legal battle between Michael Jackson’s mother and his estate over a massive deal. Fifteen years after Michael Jackson’s death, the feud between Katherine Jackson and the estate has escalated, with the latest twist involving her own grandson, Bigi Jackson.
The trouble began last year when Katherine filed legal objections to an unspecified transaction proposed by the estate, which is believed to be the $600 million catalog deal with Sony Music. Despite a judge rejecting her complaints in April, Katherine is now fighting to overturn that ruling at a California appeals court.
The recent flashpoint in the feud came when Katherine requested the estate to pay for the legal bills she incurred while litigating her objections. This request was met with sharp rebukes from Bigi Jackson and estate executors John Branca and John McClain, who argued that the estate has already paid Katherine over $55 million since Michael’s death and should not have to cover her “frivolous” appeal.
In other top stories this week, a California appeals court referenced Taylor Swift’s song “All Too Well” in a ruling that rejected a lawsuit by Metallica demanding insurance coverage for COVID-related concert cancellations. Additionally, law enforcement agents raided homes owned by Sean “Diddy” Combs as part of a sex trafficking investigation, and Tennessee enacted legislation aimed at protecting individuals from AI-generated deep fakes.
Stay tuned for more updates on these legal battles and rulings in the music industry.