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Jackson vs Avram |
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November 13, 2002 |
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Entertainer Michael Jackson testifies in Santa Maria Superior Court, November 13, 2002, in a trial in which he is accused of canceling concert appearances, costing the promoter several million dollars. Jackson is accused by German-based promoter Marcel Avram of breach of contract and fraud for allegedly backing out of two New Year's Eve 1999 shows. |
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November 14, 2002 |
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�On 14 Nov., Michael had his second day of testimony at the court in Santa Maria (IFC reported). In the beginning, Michael's lawyers filed a complaint with judge Zel Canter because photographers, who were present in the court room the previous day, had published photos of Michael without his knowledge. The judge told the photographers to be less intrusive in their work but did not ban them from the courtroom. In his testimony, Michael said among other things: ";[I get] an overview of what's going on financially, but I'm in the creative department. I'm a visionary." When asked about a certain meeting, Michael responded: ";God, I have so many meetings, it is hard to pinpoint. They break up my [singing] sessions with meetings." About the logistics, which would have had to be organised if the two Millennium concerts had taken palce (on 31 Dec. 1999 two concerts had been planned, one in Sydney, and one in Hawaii, which would have been possible thanks to different time zones) Michael said, if he hadn't thought it was possible, he wouldn?t have signed the contract. But he also admitted: ";That would have been tough. It would depend on the situation, what happened on stage. Every show I lose 15 pounds. They weigh me before and after the show."; At the moment, the media are already speculating that the case might well last until December, with a one week break for Thanksgiving. The judge already asked Michael to consider giving up his trip to the Bambi Awards in Germany next week. Michael responded: "It is a significant honor for people working with children. I want to encourage more celebrities to do more for children around the world". |
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November 15, 2002 |
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On 15 November, Michael was questioned by Marcel Avram's attorney Louis Miller for the third time. It was the last testimony before Michael's trip to the Babmbi Awards in Germany, but after his return he will have to spend some more days at the court. Before entering the court building in the morning, Michael took time out to meet and greet some of the hundreds of fans who had gathered outside. He spoke a message to all fans on a dictating machine - you may listen to it here. |
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He said: "I love you. Thank you for all your love and support and God bless you. Without you there would be no me. All my love - Michael Jackson." |
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Avram's attorney Miller clearly said that that he found Michael's version of events to be riddled with inconsistencies. Michael stated: "My life is very complicated. I have a lot of things going on. I am juggling a lot of responsibilities. There is so much stuff going on that it is astounding, it really is. It is not unusual that I have thoughts that surface, that gel at certain times."
Michael's attorney Modabbar complained to Judge Canter that Mr. Miller was "browbeating" Michael, so that the jury might get the wrong impression that Michael was being evasive. About Marcel Avram Michael said: "As a tour promoter I think he does a wonderful job. But when it comes to finances I don't know if I totally trust him." Michael suggested that Avram had tried to steal the credit for his idea to have the millennium concerts admitted to the Guinness Book as the most-watched performances in history. "It's possible that he mistakenly thinks he came up with that idea, but I know I came up with it." |
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December 3, 2002 |
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As scheduled, Michael Jackson appeared again at the court in Santa Maria on 3rd Dec. to defend himself in the trial about the cancelled Millennium concerts. He arrived about 9.30am in a van, accompanied by several bodyguards, and was welcomed by fans and a number of reporters. On his way into the court, Michael signed her The Wiz album and gave some other autographs, while his staff was protecting him from the sun with an umbrella. Several reporters questioned Michael about the incident with his baby on the balcony in Berlin. As this topic is currently discussed a lot in the US media, and as Michael obviously had to answer such questions very often so far, he this time just responded with an annoyed look: It's my child. I love my children" Michael came in a white satin vest and matching tie, and it was reported that he later put on a tuxedo coat in the court room. Michael was walking with crutchesand was just wearing one shoe. At the left foot, he was just wearing a white sock because it was swollen after a spider bite. He explained: "It is real bad. If I showed it to you, you'd be shocked. It hurts very much right now as I speak."When asked whether this bite was from one of his pets, Michael answered laughing, no, it had been a smaller wild spider on Neverland. Michael's testimony was about certain meetings of Michael and his management team with Marcel Avram, during which the concerts alledgedly were cancelled. Michael said he did not remember wether he had been in New York on these days, 7th and 8th Aug. 1999. He also said he didn't remember the flight from New York to Los Angeles on 11th August. When a copy of Michael's calendar was shown, proving that the meetings had taken place, Michael said he did not recognize this calendar and, "I don't understand the writing." |
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At about 3.30pm, Michael and the jury were allowed to leave. When leaving the building, Michael was asked what he would say about Gloria Allred, an attorney who is calling for an investigation as a result of the balcony incident. "Tell her to go to hell," was his answer. Due to some long breaks on 3rd Dec., Michael was asked to come to court again on 4th Dec. |
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December 4, 2002 |
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When the press started questioning Michael again when he arrived at the court the morning of 4th Dec., he just wished everybody a "Merry Christmas" |
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December 5, 2002 |
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On 5th Dec., Michael was supposed to come to the Santa Maria Court again to testify for the last time in the case about the cancellation of the Millennium concerts. But the spider bite at his left foot caused him problems, so that he was absent this day and instead, with the agreement of the judge, underwent a medical examination. Because of the swollen foot and the pain caused by it, Michael's planned appearance at the Billboard Awards is now in doubt. Depending on the success of the medical treatment, he will appear at the awards if he can. Louis Miller, Marcel Avram's attorney, called Wayne Nagin, Michael's former bodyguard, head of security and business partner, to the witness stand on 5th Dec. He told the court that he was "a close friend, loyal all the way" Then he testified that he had been present at a meeting on 6th and 7th Oct. 1999 in New York City, when Marcel Avram postponed the concerts. In his testimony he only spoke about postponement, but not about a cancellation. |
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