LA, June 07: A Los Angeles judge will decide next week whether to give the go-ahead to a $12 million lawsuit against Michael Jackson that claims the King of Pop is "a ticking financial time bomb waiting to explode." Superior Court Judge Andria Richey said on Friday she would rule next Wednesday whether the suit brought by a former financial adviser to Jackson should be dismissed, and also whether to allow television cameras in court if the case proceeds.
Jackson is expected to be on the witness stand for three days in the trial, which is scheduled to begin on June 18.
Myung-Ho Lee and his firm, Union Finance and Investment Corp., have sued Jackson for breach of contract and fraud, alleging that the singer owes Lee $12 million. The lawsuit claims Jackson has squandered his fortune on "charlatans," "sycophants" and "swindlers."
Jackson, 44, has counter-sued, alleging that the man he called "Lawyer Lee" stole millions from him.
Jackson's lawyers have asked for Lee's case to be dismissed on the grounds that Lee was not a licensed financial adviser in California. If the case does go ahead, they want cameras banned from the courtroom, citing the worldwide media sensation over photographs of Jackson's bizarre appearance when he testified in a different court case in central California last November.
Judge Richey had been expected to issue a ruling in the current case earlier this week. No reasons were given in court on Friday as to why she had delayed her decision.
Bureau Report