Paris Jackson has blasted the executors of her late father Michael Jackson’s estate, likening them to the enigmatic ‘Wizard of Oz’ in a new legal battle over finances.
Challenging the Executors
Paris Jackson, 27, has intensified her legal battle against the executors of her father Michael Jackson’s estate. She filed court documents on October 3, opposing their request to pay fees for third-party law firms.
“That conduct, born of comfort and arrogance, is indefensible, and Executors have done nothing to indicate otherwise,” Paris’ lawyer stated. “Instead, like the Wizard of Oz, they demand that the Court trust them blindly, refusing to let anyone look behind the curtain.”
The executors, John Branca and John McClain, are under fire for allegedly making six-figure, extra-contractual payments in 2018, with accusations that they disbursed millions more in undisclosed gifts over the past seven years.
“Executors’ only attempt to justify these payments consists of a conclusory assertion that the payment of gratuities to music lawyers is ‘not uncommon,’” continued her lawyer.
The Call for Transparency
Paris asserts that the executors have no right to oppose her petition as all her evidence comes from their own filings. She argues that the executors lack authority to make these payments and initially failed to disclose them in official documents.
“This record would be highly problematic even if the extra-contractual payments could, theoretically, be justified, and they cannot,” Paris’ lawyer emphasized.
Her motion asserts the importance of questioning the executors’ actions: “Indeed, it should be obvious that Executors are not immune from criticism based on misconduct disclosed in their filings.”
Executors’ Defense
Branca and McClain defended their positions by revealing Paris has benefited significantly from the estate since her father’s passing.
“Few have benefited more from the Executors’ business judgment than [Paris] herself, who has received roughly $65 million from the Estate in benefits,” they claimed.
The executors argued that paying nearly $600,000 in bonuses within a year where the estate earned $300 million is justifiable.
“The Executors welcome review of their actions,” a lawyer for the executors stated. They turned an estate that
