3T Sues Radar Online for $100 Million Over Sexual Abuse Reports

ivy

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Nephews of deceased singer claim libel by online publication
Relatives of deceased pop-music legend Michael Jackson have filed a $100 million libel lawsuit against Radar Online, over Radar’s suggestion that the singer might have sexually abused his nephews.

The lawsuit, filed in Los Angeles Superior Court on Wednesday by Jackson’s nephews Taj, TJ and Taryll Jackson, accuses Radar Online of wrongfully reporting that Jackson “sexually abused young boys [and] implied that this included his ‘nephews,’ but added that his ‘family’ (which, of course, includes plaintiffs) resisted any inquiry into that criminal conduct.”

“Radar reported that Michael Jackson ‘bought them’ a ‘brand new car’ to ‘shut them up,'” the lawsuit reads, adding that Radar also reported that a relative, which readers would have understood to be one of the nephews, was “‘spirited off to an island’ to buy his silence, after which he refused to tell police anything ‘bad’ about Michael Jackson.”

The suit claims that Radar’s reporting is wholly untrue.

“Radar’s statements were entirely false and defamatory,” the complaint reads. “In fact, although plaintiffs are Michael Jackson’s ‘nephews,’ ‘relatives’ and ‘members of the family,’ none of them was ever sexually abused by Michael Jackson or ever had any sort of sexual contact with him.”

The lawsuit also takes issue with Radar’s report that the late King of Pop “even used sexy photos of his own nephews, who were in the band 3T, in their underwear to excite young boys.”

The suit goes on to state that the plaintiffs demanded a correction from Radar in July, but that Radar “refused to correct any of its libelous assertions about plaintiffs, thereby aggravating its wrongful conduct.”

A spokesperson for Radar Online has not yet responded to TheWrap’s request for comment.

“In publishing Radar’s libelous stories, Radar was aware that its defamatory assertions, which the public will understand to include and refer to plaintiffs, were, in fact, not true of plaintiffs or any of them,” the suit continues. “Radar’s conduct alleged hereinabove was fraudulent, oppressive and malicious, calling, in addition, for an award of exemplary damages in an amount sufficient to punish Radar and its owners and to deter them from publishing such vicious, false and defamatory ‘reports.'”

The suit seeks a judgment for “$100 million and such other and further sum as shall be found.”
 
BRAVO 3T!!!!

I think they can really sue this time because they have the financial backing of the estate to do it most likely.

They're going to expose Stacy Brown as being behind most of these stories and I can send them all the stuff we have on him if they need it to show what a pathetic lying loser he is.
 
Jackson Nephews File $100M Libel Suit Against Radar Online Over Porn Allegations

The lawsuit claims a series of stories published by the gossip website defame the late King of Pop and his three nephews.

Michael Jackson's nephews are taking Radar Online to court over stories that allege they were sexually abused by their uncle and accepted gifts to cover it up, stemming from purported documents from a 2003 raid of Neverland Ranch.

Radar has built a business of publishing false, embarrassing and hurtful gossip for profit and its latest victims are the members of the band 3T, Taj, TJ and Taryll Jackson, according to the $100 million libel lawsuit filed Wednesday by Bert Fields.

"Radar has tried to profit by launching a vicious and unrelenting attack on [Jackson] based on claims that, years ago, he was guilty of sexual abuse, even though, at the time, he was found 'not guilty' of that very charge," Fields writes. "Radar represents its 'reports' as 'new' and based on official 'Detective Reports.' Not only have those Detective Reports been available to the public for many years, Radar has misrepresented what the Reports say."

In June, Radar Online posted a series of stories claiming newly discovered documents show Jackson had been "stockpiling images of pornography, animal torture, S&M and gore in a bid to seduce innocent young boys." Radar claims the documents came from Santa Barbara County Sheriff's Department reports and quotes a "private investigator with direct knowledge of the raids" saying "the report cites Michael even used sexy photos of his own nephews, who were in the band 3T, in their underwear to excite young boys.”

Fields says the statements are entirely false and argues that any reasonable reader would understand that to mean "plaintiffs knowingly allowed themselves to be photographed in salacious, lascivious poses and that they know or should have known that their photos would be, or at least could be used 'to excite young boys.'"

According to the complaint, Radar also published that Jackson sexually abused young boys, implied that his nephews were included and that Jackson bought them a brand new car to keep them quiet.

"In doing so, Radar falsely accused plaintiffs of committing a felony by participating in the concealment of criminal activity on the part of Michael Jackson and of being bribed to do so," Fields writes, adding that the false information spread around the globe. "Based on Radar's Libelous Stories, the international media reported to the public that 'Michael Jackson molested his own nephews...and silenced them with threats and gifts.'"

The Jacksons say the statements are entirely false and defamatory.

"None of them was ever sexually abused by Michael Jackson or ever had any sort of sexual contact with him," Fields writes. "None of plaintiffs ever, in any way, resisted any effort by detectives to inquire about Michael Jackson's supposed criminal conduct."

The complaint says the Jacksons demanded a correction of the libelous stories on July 5 and received a refusal from Radar two days later.

In June, the estate issued a statement defending the King of Pop and referring to Radar's stories as tabloid trash. "Those who continue to shamelessly exploit Michael via sleazy internet 'click bait' ignore that he was acquitted by a jury in 2005 on every one of the 14 salacious charges brought against him in a failed witch hunt," says the statement. "Michael remains just as innocent of these smears in death as he was in life even though he isn't here to defend himself. Enough is enough."
 
Excellent, I'm very glad they're suing Radar, I hope they win. It disgusts me that the press can post articles as factually inaccurate as this and many times get away with it. Hopefully this time they'll get what's coming to them.
 
Michael Jackson lawsuit: Nephews sue tabloid for sexual abuse reports

Three of singer Michael Jackson’s nephews filed a lawsuit Wednesday alleging that a celebrity website defamed them by suggesting that their late uncle molested them.

The lawsuit was filed in Los Angeles Superior Court on behalf of Taj, TJ and Taryll Jackson against Radar Online. The plaintiffs are seeking $100 million in damages.

A Radar Online representative could not be immediately reached for comment.

The suit alleges that Radar Online “falsely accused plaintiffs of committing a felony by participating in the concealment of criminal activity on the part of Michael Jackson and of being bribed to do so.”

Jackson never abused his relatives, according to his nephews’ court papers.

“In fact, although plaintiffs are Michael Jackson’s nephews …none of them was ever sexually abused by Michael Jackson or ever had any sort of sexual contact with him,” the lawsuit says.

The plaintiffs never “did anything to conceal any criminal conduct of Michael Jackson” and never resisted any inquiries into such conduct, according to the suit filed by attorney Bert Fields.

The plaintiffs allege that Radar Online falsely stated that Jackson used “sexy photos of his nephews in their underwear to excite young boys.” The tabloid additionally published untrue statements that Jackson bought his nephews a “brand new car to shut them up” about his alleged criminal conduct, according to the lawsuit.

Jackson’s nephews have always believed in his innocence of all molestation allegations made against him, according to the lawsuit.

“They have never said or done anything to indicate otherwise,” the suit states. Jackson was acquitted in 2005 of charges that he molested an underage boy. The singer settled out of court in 1994 another claim in which he was accused of sexually abusing a 13-year-old boy.

Jackson died in Los Angeles on June 25, 2009, at age 50 of an overdose of a powerful anesthetic administered as a sleep aid as he rehearsed for a series of concerts in London.

–City News Service
 
Good. I was hoping they would. Hopefully, Radar pays for this.
 
Looks like the story is spreading. I hope it is everywhere tomorrow.
 
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I have no faith in the American justice system. They ****ed MJ over and over again.
Even when he won in court they still ****ed him, violated his rights let Sneddon get away with
breaking the law, the judge in 1993 allowed the Chandlers have the civil case first etc.


Radar will defend himself by citing the police report where that sick idiot who wrote it suggested that
the Why photoshoot pictures could be used to lower inhibitions.

The police never claimed that MJ molested his nephews, there is no such thing in the report
or any actual molestation claim. Radar will probably say we heard that from an "investigator"
and then refused to name him hiding behind the Shield Law.

But I don't see how they could defend what they wrote about 3T being paid off and not cooperating with the police.
If America's justice system was just and fair this case would be a no brainer and Radar would lose.
Radar should be forced to publish a correction with the same big ass headline.
But did that ever happen? did any American court force mediums to do that?
 
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Great! Finally!

So Bert Fields is back. He was the lawyer who represented MJ in 1993 before Johnnie Cochran took over. He was always against the settlement. He knows a thing or two about the case - at least the 1993 one since he was involved. I am glad it is not Brian Oxman. I would not have much hope in such a lawsuit, but this is promising.

I think what makes it even more promising is the fact that 3T asked Radar for correction and they refused - this proves malice on their part and an unwillingness of giving a balanced report where all sides are repsresented.

I think the media got too bold with their lies regarding MJ. They far too long could count on the fact that the family and the Estate were always passive in these matters. Hopefully this marks an end to that.
 
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Radar doesn't have 100 million.

I'm sure Hulk Hogan will barely see any of the money he won from Gauker.
 
This one has statement from Radar

Michael Jackson's nephews sue tabloid for defamation over sexual abuse claims

Matt Hamilton

Three of Michael Jackson’s nephews sued Radar Online on Wednesday, alleging the tabloid humiliated and defamed them by suggesting their famous uncle sexually abused and later bribed them in an effort to quash a criminal investigation.

In a lawsuit filed in Los Angeles Superior Court, Taj, TJ and Taryll Jackson contend that Radar maligned them by claiming the late “King of Pop” used lewd photos of his nephews “to excite young boys.”

The nephews sought a correction from Radar, but the publication declined to issue one, according to the suit, which seeks $100 million in damages.

The nephews were not formally named in Radar’s reports, but the outlet referred to them as members of the band 3T, according to the suit. Taj, TJ and Taryll Jackson -- all sons of Jackson’s brother Tito -- are members of the music group and therefore recognizable to the public, court papers state.

“Radar’s stories were false and defamatory,” according to the 10-page suit filed by attorney Bert Fields. “As a direct and proximate result of the publication of Radar’s libelous stories, each of [the Jackson nephews] has been damaged personally and professionally.”


The suit arises from reports published in late June about the raid on Jackson’s Neverland Ranch during a 2003 sexual abuse investigation.

Radar published what appeared to be case documents as well as pornographic images that were purportedly among items Jackson used to lure children. Radar also relied on an anonymous private investigator who was described as having knowledge of the raids on Jackson’s sprawling compound in Los Olivos, Calif.

The raids led to criminal charges filed against Jackson in Santa Barbara County, where prosecutors alleged he sexually abused a then-13-year old cancer patient. But after seven days of deliberations, a jury acquitted Jackson in 2005 of all charges.

Jackson, who was dogged by allegations of child sexual abuse throughout his career, died in 2009 from a fatal dose of the anesthetic propofol, just before his highly publicized comeback tour, “This Is It.”

A spokesperson for American Media Inc., which owns Radar, issued a statement to The Times and denied that their reporting accused Jackson of molesting his nephews.

“The Radar article clearly states that detectives reported that Michael Jackson may have used photos of his nephews ‘to excite young boys,’ ” the spokesperson said. “This theory was, in fact, presented by the prosecution during Michael Jackson’s 2005 criminal trial. Radar looks forward to correcting plaintiffs’ misstatements in a court of law.”


In their lawsuit, Jackson’s nephews claim that the purportedly “sexy” photos of them were from an album cover photo shoot, and they denied that their uncle used photos of any of his family to arouse young boys. The family members also disputed that they accepted compensation to keep quiet about Jackson’s alleged misdeeds, denying that any of the nephews received a “brand new car” to “shut them up,” according to court papers.

Jackson’s nephews allege in the suit that the damage wrought by Radar was compounded by the fact that their reporting was “immediately picked up and repeated by media all over the world,” citing articles published by outlets in New York and Britain.

The nephews sought a correction of Radar’s stories in a July 5 letter, according to the suit. In a reply issued days later, Radar refused to correct its stories, according to the lawsuit.
 
“This theory was, in fact, presented by the prosecution during Michael Jackson’s 2005 criminal trial.

This theory actually was never repeated in court because it was obviously an unproven, uncorroborated theory. They never even brought those photos into court. The only mention of them is that list where they simply reason their confiscation by stating a standard legal text of "based on my training this could be used to lower the inhibitations... etc". Nowhere do they state in this document or ever during the court case that MJ in fact DID use them as such, let alone to "excite young boys" - those words were never even uttered anywhere -, but Radar clearly insinuated he factually did use them as such. IMO they clearly DID misrepresent those documents - and deliberately so. That's also proven by the fact that they even added more salacious material to it that wasn't in the original documents. No accuser ever claimed to have been shown those photos to "excite them" either. Interesting that they do not address the part about their claims regarding MJ molesting his nephews.
 
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I wish them good luck, but they also need to call out the person/s who has been smearing MJ for years in other publications like Page Six etc, because he/they are the source of a lot of this rubbish that is appearing in Radar.....eg. Stacy Brown etc.
 
respect77;4158368 said:
I think what makes it even more promising is the fact that 3T asked Radar for correction and they refused .

The should prove that. I wonder whether they asked it on the phone or in writing and got a response in writing.
They need to show proof otherwise Radar will simply deny it.

ivy;4158371 said:
“The Radar article clearly states that detectives reported that Michael Jackson may have used photos of his nephews ‘to excite young boys,’ ” the spokesperson said. “This theory was, in fact, presented by the prosecution during Michael Jackson’s 2005 criminal trial. Radar looks forward to correcting plaintiffs’ misstatements in a court of law.”[/B]

.


Liars! This was NEVER presented in court. They never mentioned his nephews or the 3T photoshoot. It was not even introduced into evidence. And the police report never uses the phrase "‘to excite young boys".

But I knew they would use this line of defense.
 
I don't know if they have a high possibility of winning, I hope they do so no matter how much money they could get. The most important thing is putting to an end to Radar's disgusting smear campaign against Michael, ENOUGH IS ENOUGH ALREADY!
 
This theory actually was never repeated in court because it was obviously an unproven, uncorroborated theory.

Can you tell us exact references from the court documents about 3T, those photos, nephews and car for bribe etc ?

This case eventually will come to what was in the documents and what wasn't. I don't think any of it needs to be presented in court, court documents are also considered public. Repeating what was in the documents (truth or assumption) wouldn't be considered libel unfortunately.
 
Can you tell us exact references from the court documents about 3T, those photos, nephews and car for bribe etc ?

This case eventually will come to what was in the documents and what wasn't. I don't think any of it needs to be presented in court, court documents are also considered public. Repeating what was in the documents (truth or assumption) wouldn't be considered libel unfortunately.

The only reference to these photos and 3T in general are in the police report. Sneddon's motion does not mention them at all. He didn't try to introduce them into evidence and they were not shown in court. Period.

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I Radar said that the police report stated MJ used those photos to excite boys that itself is a lie
as the police report states no such thing.
And Sneddon never accused MJ of molesting his nephews, bribing them or anything.
No wonder Radar said nothing about those issues when asked about this lawsuit
because they know they pulled it our of their ass.

BTW the very place where these photos were found makes the grooming theory ridiculous.
MJ went to the museum/office area took the photos showed them to boys in his bedroom
then carefully put them back to the office?
Same with the books which were found in the arcade library. It didn't hit the "detective"
that they should be in MJ's bedroom if he had wanted to use them for grooming?
The police report itself is a disgrace, not just what Radar and the media did with it.
 
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ivy;4158376 said:
Can you tell us exact references from the court documents about 3T, those photos, nephews and car for bribe etc ?

This case eventually will come to what was in the documents and what wasn't. I don't think any of it needs to be presented in court, court documents are also considered public. Repeating what was in the documents (truth or assumption) wouldn't be considered libel unfortunately.

But they are not repeating what is in the court docs. This is what they claimed:

One private investigator with direct knowledge of the raids told Radar, “The detectives’ report cites Michael even used sexy photos of his own nephews … in their underwear to excite young boys.”

And this is what is in that detective's report:

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They make this standard legal text at the end of each and every item they confiscated - simply to give a reason as to why they were confiscated. This is something that is generally based on the detective's training as to what child molesters generally may use to molest children. Not even a claim directly about MJ.

Radar claimed that the detectives' report factually stated that MJ did use those photos to "excite young boys". Nowhere in that document is such a thing stated. Radar did not just say that the detective theorized that he might have used them as such instead they state is as a fact that he did use them as such as if it was something that was factually proven. If Radar had been genuine in their reporting they should have explained their readers what this standard legal text meant - instead they do just the opposite and make a claim about it that was never actually in the original police document.
 
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ivy;4158384 said:
Don't worry. Oxman is disbarred.

Oh, yes. I forgot.

BTW, the wording of Radar's statment clearly attempts to make that statement from behind the Shield Law by putting it in the mouth of an unnamed source (a supposed "private investigator"), however I think the moment they say "the detectives' report cites" - they ruin that Shield Law defense because what the detective's report actually state they could have and should have checked themselves. And especially if they were asked to correct these statements in July and still refused that proves further malice (along with them actively doctoring the document).


One private investigator with direct knowledge of the raids told Radar, “The detectives’ report cites Michael even used sexy photos of his own nephews … in their underwear to excite young boys.”
 
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You know what'd be amazing? If they had the same outcome as the Hulk Hogan vs. Gawker case!! https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bollea_v._Gawker

While the situation itself was different (Gawker posted snippets of a sex tape involving Hulk Hogan), the Jury not only found Gawker guilty, but made them pay him $115,000,000!!! They've now filed for bankruptcy.

In an ideal world, that'd happened to Radar Online too and 3T would donate most of the money to charity :D
 
It would be great if Radar Online ended up offline of 3T won the case against them. We can dream lol.
 
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