Joe Jackson Accuses Michael Jackson's Executors of Fraud
Nov. 10 2009, Published 1:25 p.m. ET
The battle for Michael Jackson's millions intensified last night when the King of Pop's father, Joseph Jackson, filed a 60-page motion accusing the administrators of Michael's will of fraud.
Joe's attorney, Brian Oxman, filed documents in court late Nov. 9 claiming Michael — who died of an accidental overdose on June 25 – thought his friends John Branca and John McClain had defrauded him, reports the Associated Press.
Joe was omitted from his son's will (the money was divided between his mom Katherine Jackson, his three children Prince, Paris and Blanket, and children's charities).
Howard Weitzman, one of the attorneys representing Branca and McClain, issued a statement Monday night in response to the motion. A hearing on the matter is scheduled for Tuesday morning.
''These claims filed by Joe Jackson are so outrageous that they don't deserve any response,'' said Weitzman.
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Brian Oxman said that Joe is allowed to challenge the executors as ''an interested party who has the right to be an executor or personal representative.''
Most of Oxman's accusations were aimed at Branca, the attorney who represented Jackson for more than 20 years. He and Michael parted ways in 2006 but he returned to work for him shortly before the singer died.
Oxman claims Michael thought that Branca had embezzled him, but he said: ''It's not the truth or falsity of the accusation. It's that Michael believed it and that's why he terminated him.''
Branca says he resigned because he felt Michael was being influenced by people who did not have his best interests at heart.
Oxman claimed father and son had reconciled and ''Michael loved his father.''