A UK law firm says it's owed about $200,000 in fees for work it did for the King of Pop from 2007-2009.
In the years since Michael Jackson's death, the pop icon's estate has been repeatedly pummeled with lawsuits ranging from a royalty row with Quincy Jones to a profit suit from the director of "Thriller."
The latest comes from a London-based law firm that claims it's owed more than $200,000 in fees for work it did for the music icon in the two years leading up to his death.
Atkins Thomson Solicitors is suing prominent entertainment attorney John Branca and music executive John McClain, executors of Jackson's estate, for breach of contract in a state claim filed Monday in California.
“Defendants have failed to honor Jackson’s obligations under, and has materially breached, the agreement with Atkins, and any implied covenants therein, by failing to make the payments as required,” writes Atkins’ attorney Stanton L. Stein in the complaint.
Atkins claims it provided legal and other services to Jackson from 2007 through 2009, and in the months leading up to his death Jackson’s business in the UK ramped up and the firm “provided hundreds of hours of services to Jackson across nearly a dozen matters.”
In November 2009, the firm filed a creditors claim for $204,204.36 and claims defendants refused to pay, finally rejecting the invoice in writing in December 2015.
“The Estate doesn't believe the attorney’s claim for work allegedly done for Michael Jackson is valid and we intend to contest this lawsuit,” says Howard Weitzman, attorney for the estate, in a statement to The Hollywood Reporter.
Atkins wants the amount invoiced plus interest and the costs of the lawsuit.
http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/thr-esq/michael-jackson-estate-sued-legal-877773
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A British law firm is suing Michael Jackson’s estate, alleging it is owned fees relating to business performed on behalf of the singer in Great Britain before his death.
Atkins Thomson Solicitors filed the breach-of-contract lawsuit Tuesday in Los Angeles Superior Court, seeking $204,204 in damages.
The estate has refused to pay despite “multiple communications” from Atkins Thomson, the suit alleges.
Attorney Howard Weitzman issued a comment on the suit today on behalf of the Jackson estate.
“The estate doesn’t believe the attorneys’ claim for work allegedly done for Michael Jackson is valid and we intend to contest this lawsuit,” Weitzman said.
The suit says the firm began providing services to Jackson in 2007 on a variety of issues ranging from legal issues to public relations and real estate. Its lawyers spent hundreds of hours working on Jackson matters from December 2008 to June 2009, the suit states.
Atkins Thomson took its directions from former Jackson manager Frank DiLeo and others working on the singer’s behalf, according to the suit.
The work on behalf of Jackson increased in the spring of 2009 “due to plans Jackson had for business in Great Britain,” the suit states. “Counsel at Atkins spoke directly with Jackson a number of times in connection with these efforts.”
http://mynewsla.com/hollywood/2016/...n-court-british-firm-sues-in-contract-battle/
In the years since Michael Jackson's death, the pop icon's estate has been repeatedly pummeled with lawsuits ranging from a royalty row with Quincy Jones to a profit suit from the director of "Thriller."
The latest comes from a London-based law firm that claims it's owed more than $200,000 in fees for work it did for the music icon in the two years leading up to his death.
Atkins Thomson Solicitors is suing prominent entertainment attorney John Branca and music executive John McClain, executors of Jackson's estate, for breach of contract in a state claim filed Monday in California.
“Defendants have failed to honor Jackson’s obligations under, and has materially breached, the agreement with Atkins, and any implied covenants therein, by failing to make the payments as required,” writes Atkins’ attorney Stanton L. Stein in the complaint.
Atkins claims it provided legal and other services to Jackson from 2007 through 2009, and in the months leading up to his death Jackson’s business in the UK ramped up and the firm “provided hundreds of hours of services to Jackson across nearly a dozen matters.”
In November 2009, the firm filed a creditors claim for $204,204.36 and claims defendants refused to pay, finally rejecting the invoice in writing in December 2015.
“The Estate doesn't believe the attorney’s claim for work allegedly done for Michael Jackson is valid and we intend to contest this lawsuit,” says Howard Weitzman, attorney for the estate, in a statement to The Hollywood Reporter.
Atkins wants the amount invoiced plus interest and the costs of the lawsuit.
http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/thr-esq/michael-jackson-estate-sued-legal-877773
----------------------------
A British law firm is suing Michael Jackson’s estate, alleging it is owned fees relating to business performed on behalf of the singer in Great Britain before his death.
Atkins Thomson Solicitors filed the breach-of-contract lawsuit Tuesday in Los Angeles Superior Court, seeking $204,204 in damages.
The estate has refused to pay despite “multiple communications” from Atkins Thomson, the suit alleges.
Attorney Howard Weitzman issued a comment on the suit today on behalf of the Jackson estate.
“The estate doesn’t believe the attorneys’ claim for work allegedly done for Michael Jackson is valid and we intend to contest this lawsuit,” Weitzman said.
The suit says the firm began providing services to Jackson in 2007 on a variety of issues ranging from legal issues to public relations and real estate. Its lawyers spent hundreds of hours working on Jackson matters from December 2008 to June 2009, the suit states.
Atkins Thomson took its directions from former Jackson manager Frank DiLeo and others working on the singer’s behalf, according to the suit.
The work on behalf of Jackson increased in the spring of 2009 “due to plans Jackson had for business in Great Britain,” the suit states. “Counsel at Atkins spoke directly with Jackson a number of times in connection with these efforts.”
http://mynewsla.com/hollywood/2016/...n-court-british-firm-sues-in-contract-battle/
