Appeals court sets hearing in Jackson estate case

An appeals court has scheduled a hearing for lawyers for the father of Michael Jackson to argue that he deserves a role in decisions involving his son’s multimillion dollar estate. The Second District Court of Appeal said Thursday the appeal by Joe Jackson would be heard on Oct. 6. In November, the elder Jackson challenged a ruling by a state judge that the estate would be run by attorney John Branca and music executive and family friend John McClain. The men had been designated in the singer’s 2002 will to administer his estate. The will omitted Joe Jackson — in effect denying him any stipend or decision-making authority. “I think it’s an important issue for all fathers around the country and around the world that when their child dies they should have a say-so in their child’s estate,” said attorney Brian Oxman, who represents Joe Jackson. Attorney Howard Weitzman, who represents the estate, said the administrators were meeting all obligations to the beneficiaries named in the will. “As I’ve said before, Mr. Jackson’s appeal is not well taken,” Weitzman said. The singer’s estate has earned tens of millions of dollars since the singer’s death at age 50 in June 2009. Joe Jackson is also pursuing a federal wrongful death lawsuit against Dr. Conrad Murray, who has pleaded not guilty to involuntary manslaughter in the singer’s death. Authorities contend Murray, a cardiologist, gave the singer a lethal dose of the anesthetic propofol. The costs of the wrongful death lawsuit should be paid by Michael Jackson’s estate, Oxman said. The estate is not a party to the lawsuit.