3/17/08: Breaking News~ 'Preferential treatment' case against Michael Jackson may not go forward

So has Michael really been removed from this case? The article has me a bit confused. A little over a year ago this family had a lawyer and he was all over the place talking trash to the media about Michael for almost three days after they added Michael to this mess. Maybe this guy hit a major snag with his case and got out of it quick as possible. But still I really don't understand this article at all.
 
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Man, Michael is still in the top #10....go Thriller 25 go!!!!!

Too bad Janet has dropped out of the top #10......it seems to me things have'nt been great for her sales-wise since the Superbowl mishap and it does'nt seem like things will ever improve.

Michael was dropped from that case as I can remember, so I really don't understand why the media is still attaching his name to this suit!
 
Question....does Michael still own a Bentley, or did he sell his through that Barret Jackson auction?

I thought I saw someone post a pic of the garage showing Michael's Bentley in the garage? Can someone give me a link to that photo?
 
Michael has been dropped from the case. But the media will still continue to mention his name to make their article more interesting. Cause, really no one knows this family.

And by this family not showing up in court, really makes them look bad. They must know they are fighting a loosing battle.
Although he shouldn't be, Michael is actually still very much a part of the case. The initial complaint was ordered to be revised by Rodney Melville last year because the facts absolutely did not match up with the complaint (which was full of sarcastic and baseless claims, mostly lodged against Michael). Last November the case was indeed revised, but not a whole lot in it actually changed. They did drop the "false imprisonment," "conspiracy," and "negligent infliction of emotional distress" charges and the number of complainants (relatives and family members of the lady) was significantly reduced, but they still allege "intentional infliction of emotional distress" and "elder abuse" by MJ and the hospital. Ironically enough, Melville knows firsthand that many of the claims in the complaint were/are false because he has firsthand knowledge of the February 2005 hospital incident, and even spoke to one or more doctors who admitted Michael with flu-like illnesses.

The next hearing in this case is scheduled for April 8, 2008 at 8:30 A.M., in which Melville will consider a demurrer, a motion to strike the case, and a motion for sanctions.

http://mjjr.net/news.php?item.236.2
 
TSCM, I remember an article posted here a while back which stated that Michael was removed from this lawsuit all together. So I don't think he is a part of this lawsuit any longer.
 
Although he shouldn't be, Michael is actually still very much a part of the case. The initial complaint was ordered to be revised by Rodney Melville last year because the facts absolutely did not match up with the complaint (which was full of sarcastic and baseless claims, mostly lodged against Michael). Last November the case was indeed revised, but not a whole lot in it actually changed. They did drop the "false imprisonment," "conspiracy," and "negligent infliction of emotional distress" charges and the number of complainants (relatives and family members of the lady) was significantly reduced, but they still allege "intentional infliction of emotional distress" and "elder abuse" by MJ and the hospital. Ironically enough, Melville knows firsthand that many of the claims in the complaint were/are false because he has firsthand knowledge of the February 2005 hospital incident, and even spoke to one or more doctors who admitted Michael with flu-like illnesses.

The next hearing in this case is scheduled for April 8, 2008 at 8:30 A.M., in which Melville will consider a demurrer, a motion to strike the case, and a motion for sanctions.

http://mjjr.net/news.php?item.236.2

Hmm....interesting. I wonder if the Plaintiffs don't have a lawyer becuz they can't get one to take their case or by not showing up to court it's their way of quietly dropping the matter. Either way, I think that "might" be the reason why the hosptal's attorney is saying the case may not go forward. The defendants now have a chance to file a Motion to Dismiss becuz the other side is failing to respond. That April 8th hearing could disappear.

TSCM, do you know which side filed the Motion for sanctions? I know the Demurrer and Motion to strike had to be filed by the defendants. If I had to take a wild guess, I'd say those 2 documents must have been powerful enough to keep the plaintiff's away from court today and/or keep them from securing new lawyers. Heck, I'll take a wild guess that the motion for sanctions is against their previous lawyer, and that's why they don't have a lawyer now. Am I close? :unsure: Meh!

http://www.hitsdailydouble.com/sales/salescht.cgi

CHART DATE: 03/17/2008
LAST UPDATE: 03/17/2008 18:20:07
NOW IN: 72.62%


LW TW artist / album label power index
-- 1 NOW 27 SBMG/COMMERICAL MUSIC GRP 137,048
VARIOUS ARTISTS
-- 2 RICK ROSS DEF JAM/IDJMG 127,888
TRILLA
-- 3 SNOOP DOGG GEFFEN 80,617
EGO TRIPPIN'
1 4 ALAN JACKSON ARISTA NASHVILLE 40,194
GOOD TIME
2 5 JACK JOHNSON BRUSHFIRE/UNIV REPUBLIC 33,667
SLEEP THROUGH THE STATIC
-- 6 FAT JOE VIRGIN 33,177
ELEPHANT IN THE ROOM
-- 7 NOW 80'S SBMG/COMMERICAL MUSIC GRP 29,821
VARIOUS ARTISTS
8 8 SARA BAREILLES EPIC 29,802
LITTLE VOICE
-- 9 HANNAH MONTANA WALT DISNEY RECORDS 26,869
BEST OF BOTH WORLDS CONCERT
4 10 MICHAEL JACKSON LEGACY 25,346
THRILLER - 25TH ANNIVERSARY ED.

Thanks for the updates, hopespringseternal (love your name :flowers: !!)
Come on, Michael!!! Hang in there T25 horsie! :punk:

I want to see Thriller 25 and Trilla in the top 10 together...not that I'm a big Rick Ross fan or anything. I just think it would be cool to have the inspired album (Trilla) on the chart at the same time as it's inspiration (Thriller). Cool, yes? no? :p
 
TSCM, I remember an article posted here a while back which stated that Michael was removed from this lawsuit all together. So I don't think he is a part of this lawsuit any longer.
Michael is still listed as a defendant in the case per Santa Barbara Superior Court and, when the family refiled the case just this last November, he was very much still named a defendant along with Marian Medical Center. If you can dig up the article which states that he was dropped from the case I'd be interested in seeing it. Below is a detailed, Santa Maria local article about the refiling of the lawsuit from last November.

http://www.santamariatimes.com/articles/2007/11/07/news/centralcoast/news05.txt
 
Ok, TSCM, I think I see now. Melville just made the plaintiff's lawyer re-draft the complaint.

But someone did post on this board that Michael had been removed from the lawsuit.
 
Since Melville has first-hand knowledge of what really happened, I can only hope that he will use common sense and throw this out instead of dragging Michael over the coals. He made alot of questionable decisions (IMO) during the trial, including letting it proceed on such flimsy merits in the first place. It frustrates me that he is the one in charge of this case in light of what all happened during that mess. I'm still bothered that he was still willing to let this family amend their lawsuit when the facts plainly did not fit with the complaint. I've never heard of any other judge giving a plaintiff party such an option. If it didn't make sense, any other suit would be dismissed for John or Jane Q. Public. In contrast, I actually find myself hoping that I'm not giving Melville enough credit and that he's better than I think even with his history with Michael. But I'll believe that if/when he lets this go. Then I'll take everything back and happily eat my humble pie.
 
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Re: 17th March, 2008: MJ News and Mentionings

http://www.ksby.com/Global/story.asp?S=8030583

'Preferential treatment' case against Michael Jackson may not go forward



The civil case against pop star Michael Jackson and Marian Medical Center may not happen, according to the defendant's attorney.
The family of Manuela Ruiz says the 74-year-old patient was pushed out of her hospital room to make space for Jackson back in 2005. Ruiz later died.
Maria Ortiz, along with Rosa and Marcos Meraz, are suing over what they say was preferential treatment.
But the plaintiffs did not appear in court Monday. The hospital's attorney says they have not secured a lawyer.
A statement released by the hospital to Action News says:
"Patient care and safety is always our first priority at Marian. We have always been confident the care provided to Mrs. Ruiz was exceptional. We continue to express our sympathy to the Ruiz family."

I remember this story. You can't help but feel bad for the family for their loss, but I've never understood how Michael has anything to do with it. He was a patient there... It was the hospital that moved her, not Michael. I think they should sue the hospital for negligence, I probably would have done the same thing, but to try and sue Michael as well for something that the hospital was responsible for is completely unfair and unnecessary. :(
 
you know...if i were a person looking from afar...which i am.. i'd say that the fact that this family reportedly said that MJ was to blame for the death of their family member was the heaviest piece of ammunition that i have ever seen leveled against MJ...pehaps rivaling the accusations from 1993 and 2005...and yet...in this case as in all others, there is no qualification for judging, becauase as in any accusation ever leveled against MJ, none of us knows all the facts. and yet, this case may not go forward because the family didn't obtain a lawyer and didn't show up.

this has happened against MJ so many times..(heavyweight stuff) and yet nothing has been found to justify finishing him off...this is the kind of evidence i'm talking about that makes it easy for me to know that MJ is gunna be alright.


Well, I wouldn't worry too much about THAT particular lawsuit...I mean, MICHAEL doesn't run the hospital...He has no say as to what policies that hospital uses. If the HOSPITAL decided to move that lady into another room so that MJ can get in...that was the HOSPITAL'S decision. So even if they sue Michael...there is nothing to worry about because MJ had really NOTHING to do with the whole thing. He was merely a patient. I mean, that would be like someone would sue YOU because their relative got transferrred into another room/unit because of someone else. It's ridiculous! I'm a nurse, I work in a hospital....patients get transferred from one room and unit to the next ALL the time for VARIOUS different reasons.

So...in this case....nothing to worry about. If they sue, the hospital is the one who needs to deal with it, NOT Michael.
 
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Thanks for the updates, hopespringseternal (love your name :flowers: !!)
Come on, Michael!!! Hang in there T25 horsie! :punk:

I want to see Thriller 25 and Trilla in the top 10 together...not that I'm a big Rick Ross fan or anything. I just think it would be cool to have the inspired album (Trilla) on the chart at the same time as it's inspiration (Thriller). Cool, yes? no? :p

Thanks wendy glad you like my handle :flowers:
 
Re: 17th March, 2008: MJ News and Mentionings

I never for one second believed that P McCartney was no billionaire. And I'm glad Heather put him on blast.

FOX news was just saying this morning that Paul wasn't hurt by the divorce because he is worth 1.6 bil. That is the biggest lie and they know it.

It is funny how the deflate Michael's wealth and inflate Paul's wealth. Well, now the truth is out.

Does anyone have the tape of Heather blasting this fool? Is it on YouTube yet, cause I wanna see it.

It's to be a expected that a wealthy person will downplay his or her assets in a divorce trial. This proves very little of what the truth is. I don't understand why people are so obsessed with comparing MJ's and Macca's wealth. Who cares? They're both wealthy.
 
Thanks for the news :flowers:

I hope that ridiculous case will be dropped eventually, I swear it makes no sense :doh:
 
http://www.hitsdailydouble.com/sales/salescht.cgi

CHART DATE: 03/17/2008
LAST UPDATE: 03/17/2008 18:20:07
NOW IN: 72.62%


LW TW artist / album label power index
-- 1 NOW 27 SBMG/COMMERICAL MUSIC GRP 137,048
VARIOUS ARTISTS
-- 2 RICK ROSS DEF JAM/IDJMG 127,888
TRILLA
-- 3 SNOOP DOGG GEFFEN 80,617
EGO TRIPPIN'
1 4 ALAN JACKSON ARISTA NASHVILLE 40,194
GOOD TIME
2 5 JACK JOHNSON BRUSHFIRE/UNIV REPUBLIC 33,667
SLEEP THROUGH THE STATIC
-- 6 FAT JOE VIRGIN 33,177
ELEPHANT IN THE ROOM
-- 7 NOW 80'S SBMG/COMMERICAL MUSIC GRP 29,821
VARIOUS ARTISTS
8 8 SARA BAREILLES EPIC 29,802
LITTLE VOICE
-- 9 HANNAH MONTANA WALT DISNEY RECORDS 26,869
BEST OF BOTH WORLDS CONCERT
4 10 MICHAEL JACKSON LEGACY 25,346
THRILLER - 25TH ANNIVERSARY ED.


Sony/ATV is making Chaching off anything in blue on that list...
 
The family has been backing off because they know their mother was seriously ill way before she ever went to the hospital that day, and that her overall condition had nothing to do with Michael. They know that they had been watching their mother's health deteriorate for a while.

She did not go to sleep the night before in tip top health and then wake up the following morning the way she was when they took her to the hospital. They already knew they were heading towards days of bereavement when they took her and that it's not right to place all of that on Michael.

Also, the media needs to take some responsibility for how chaotic things got at the hospital, because they went down there in large numbers. If this were not true, the hospital would not have had to send a spokesperson out there to do a press conference about MJ having the flu. They emptied out of the courthouse and went to the hospital like it was a state of emergency and forced the hospital to deal with all of them. That was so unnecessary.

So, while they are writing their stories and trying to place all of this on Michael, they need to be adding themselves to the sentences that they write.
 
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Man MJ must have a strong legal team.. NO HUMAN can take all these lawsuites, always after him.. DAMN IT!!

Walmart is a company that has the most lawsuites against them, I wonder if MJ is a PERSON that has been involved with the most lawsuites..
 
If Melville doesn't remove Michael from this lawsuit, his lawyers will appeal and the Superior Court will remove him. There is no way in the world that any judge can justify allowing Michael to be held accountable for the actions of the hospital. Even if the hospital DID give Michael special treatment over this woman, Michael did not ask them to do anything special for him. And even if he did, he is not in control of the hospital. So it is stretching it to even include him in this lawsuit.

I am confident that Michael will be removed from this lawsuit, either by Melville or by the Superior Court on appeal. Cause I wouldn't be surprised if Melville goes against his own better judgement and allows them to include Michael in this lawsuit.
 
Here is the final. It is at #5 but actually increased 1% in sales this week as well.

[FONT=arial,verdana,helvetica,sans-serif]CHART DATE: 03/17/2008[/FONT][FONT=arial,verdana,helvetica,sans-serif]LAST UPDATE: 03/18/2008 13:33:08[/FONT][FONT=arial,verdana,helvetica,sans-serif]NOW IN: FINAL[/FONT]
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[FONT=arial,verdana,helvetica,sans-serif]LW[/FONT][FONT=arial,verdana,helvetica,sans-serif]TW[/FONT][FONT=arial,verdana,helvetica,sans-serif]artist / album[/FONT][FONT=arial,verdana,helvetica,sans-serif]label[/FONT][FONT=arial,verdana,helvetica,sans-serif]power index[/FONT][FONT=arial,verdana,helvetica,sans-serif]% change[/FONT]--1RICK ROSSDEF JAM/IDJMG187,652--TRILLA--2NOW 27SBMG/COMMERICAL MUSIC GRP158,975--VARIOUS ARTISTS--3SNOOP DOGGGEFFEN132,192--EGO TRIPPIN'24JACK JOHNSONBRUSHFIRE/UNIV REPUBLIC54,848-11%SLEEP THROUGH THE STATIC45MICHAEL JACKSONLEGACY49,795+1%THRILLER - 25TH ANNIVERSARY ED.16ALAN JACKSONARISTA NASHVILLE49,449-58%GOOD TIME--7FAT JOEVIRGIN48,284--ELEPHANT IN THE ROOM88SARA BAREILLESEPIC39,1980%LITTLE VOICE39JANET JACKSONDEF JAM/IDJMG36,670-29%DISCIPLINE910ERYKAH BADUUNIVERSAL MOTOWN35,5600%
 
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Am I seeing that right? Michael is Number 5 again? :wild:

And Janet is still in the top ten....

AWESOME!

Just loving this. You go Michael!
 
Here is the final. It is at #5 but actually increased 1% in sales this week as well.

[FONT=arial,verdana,helvetica,sans-serif]CHART DATE: 03/17/2008[/FONT][FONT=arial,verdana,helvetica,sans-serif]LAST UPDATE: 03/18/2008 13:33:08[/FONT][FONT=arial,verdana,helvetica,sans-serif]NOW IN: FINAL[/FONT]
s_shad.gif
blank.gif
[FONT=arial,verdana,helvetica,sans-serif]LW[/FONT][FONT=arial,verdana,helvetica,sans-serif]TW[/FONT][FONT=arial,verdana,helvetica,sans-serif]artist / album[/FONT][FONT=arial,verdana,helvetica,sans-serif]label[/FONT][FONT=arial,verdana,helvetica,sans-serif]power index[/FONT][FONT=arial,verdana,helvetica,sans-serif]% change[/FONT]--1RICK ROSSDEF JAM/IDJMG187,652--TRILLA--2NOW 27SBMG/COMMERICAL MUSIC GRP158,975--VARIOUS ARTISTS--3SNOOP DOGGGEFFEN132,192--EGO TRIPPIN'24JACK JOHNSONBRUSHFIRE/UNIV REPUBLIC54,848-11%SLEEP THROUGH THE STATIC45MICHAEL JACKSONLEGACY49,795+1%THRILLER - 25TH ANNIVERSARY ED.16ALAN JACKSONARISTA NASHVILLE49,449-58%GOOD TIME--7FAT JOEVIRGIN48,284--ELEPHANT IN THE ROOM88SARA BAREILLESEPIC39,1980%LITTLE VOICE39JANET JACKSONDEF JAM/IDJMG36,670-29%DISCIPLINE910ERYKAH BADUUNIVERSAL MOTOWN35,5600%
Is that the second week in a row it has increased in sales?
 
Dang, Thriller just won't stop. It looks like it is still gaining momentum from that MTV dance show. Cause I haven't seen any other promotion out there lately.
 
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