Update:
AEG has to filed a motion to compel Taunya Zilkie. Taunya has been deposed for 5 hours on May 16 but her lawyer had 360 objections and Taunya refused to answer many questions. Currently Taunya is refusing to continue her deposition. She didn't also provide some documents such as copies of emails about Michael etc, even though she was requested. AEG is asking the judge to order her to sit down for the continuance of her deposition, order her to answer questions and make her pay monetary sanctions at least $20,000.
Summary of the motion
- AEG lawyers say Taunya has publicly declared them guilty of Michael's death - AEG has copies of tweets of Taunya dated February 2011.
- Taunya twice failed to appear for her deposition (on April 10 and May 1), finally her deposition started on May 16.
- Taunya's lawyer asked AEG to provide the list of the all of the questions they plan to ask. AEG didn't send a list as they say they aren't required to do so for third party witnesses.
- Taunya met Randy in 1997.
- Taunya worked for Michael between 2003 and 2005 as an assistant and website manager. Randy had hired her for the job. Taunya did not have any personal interaction with Michael after 2005.
- She worked for Randy as an assistant between 2005 and 2009.
- Taunya worked on organizing Michael's memorial.
- Taunya is also friends with Karen Faye, represented Karen during her work at TII tour and was present at Karen's interview with the police in December 2009. Taunya and Karen first met in 2004. Taunya later handled Karen Faye's bookings and billing etc.
- Randy , Janet and Jermaine had filed objections to Taunya's deposition.
- AEG says they still need to as Taunya about her tweets and her accusations about them, they need to ask her about Michael's finances especially his business deals with Randy and her relations with Jackson family.
- AEG says they are collecting information about Michael's finances so they can address and rebut Katherine's damages claims.
- AEG is asking about Taunya's relationship with Randy and Jacksons to see whether Taunya is biased or subject to influence.
- AEG is stating if Taunya is concerned about public disclosure of her testimony she can use the protective order in place.
Partial deposition of Taunya is included in the motion to demonstrate the objections by her lawyer and the questions she did not answer. From the deposition we learn
- Randy Jackson was present during Taunya's deposition.
- Taunya was represented by Baker & Hostetler --- it's the same firm mentioned in the Jackson siblings letter against the Executors. Taunya says they are representing Randy Jackson in general business matters for the last 9 to 12 months. When asked if Randy is paying her lawyer fees Taunya doesn't answer.
- There had been a phone call and meeting that involved Taunya , Randy and the lawyer from Baker &Hostetler one day before the deposition. This is the first time Taunya has talked and met with the lawyer. AEG asks questions about the meeting but cannot get any answers. The lawyer claims "joint attorney- client privilege" , AEG disagrees and says Randy is a third-person and privilege cannot be claimed and Randy is represented by Panish & Boyle law firm in this lawsuit.
- Vegas event. Taunya says she and Randy went to see Michael for a business matter. Bodyguards did not open the gate so they waited until someone came in and they drove right behind them and parked at the front door and asked to see Michael. Bodyguards did not allow it, according to Taunya they were "belligerent and aggressive". Randy later called Joe Jackson who came and was upset that the bodyguards was coming between brothers. Taunya says they wanted to leave but bodyguards was blocking their way. They let them out a few hours later. Taunya is asked about to explain the "business matter" they went to see Michael for, she replies "it was a financial matter". She makes it clear that visit was not an intervention attempt. AEG asks "is it about Michael Jackson owing Randy Jackson money?" Taunya refuses to answer.
- Taunya is asked for documents covering communications about Michael, Jacksons, This is it tour, Murray, intervention staged by Randy Jackson in Neveda (Taunya mentioned it to ABC News). She had produced 58 pages. However during her deposition she mentions that she did not look through her emails about Michael or TII tour etc as well as business documents. AEG is arguing that she didn't provide all the documents for their requests. Taunya got copies of Karen's emails - at least between Karen Faye and Frank Dileo - but she didn't produce them saying they are Karen's emails and not hers. Taunya also has emails between her and Karen, Grace, Evvy, Micheal Bush and Kerry Anderson.
- AEG has tried to ask about an event Karen mentioned Taunya about a situation with a Lloyds of London attorney at a prior tour which might be about Michael's health. They can't get any response.
- During Karen's police interview Taunya tells the cops to talk to Kerry Anderson to have a broader idea about enabling Michael's drug use. Kerry is Michael's head of security from 2004 and went to Bahrain with Michael. Some parts of this is redacted. As far as I can tell Taunya is mentioning a call from Terry in which he says Grace and Carol Lamere being a negative influence and he confiscated drugs from Carol and he was worried about Michael in general. Taunya says her understanding is that Carol was giving drugs to Grace who gave them to Michael.
- Taunya says from Randy she heard about a number of occasions family has tried to stage interventions. She doesn't know how many interventions were there. She says she only has specific knowledge of Vegas intervention.
Hearing on the motion to compel is set for November 28.
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