Michael Jackson’s mother withdraws opposition to son’s longtime associates as will executors

Michael Jackson’s mother approves will executors

LOS ANGELES — Michael Jackson’s mother withdrew her objections Tuesday to the appointment of two longtime Jackson associates as executors of the singer’s will.

The surprise announcement came from Katherine Jackson’s new probate attorney Adam Streisand, who said his client felt it was time for the legal battle to end over the appointment of attorney John Branca and music executive John McClain to oversee the singer’s estate.

Katherine Jackson now believes their appointment, as spelled out in her son’s will, can “enhance the legacy of Michael Jackson in the best interest of his children,” Streisand said.

It was Streisand’s first major move in the case since he was chosen last month by Katherine Jackson to replace the team that had represented her since her son’s death in June.

Superior Court Judge Mitchell Beckloff intended to make his formal appointment after resolving the only potential roadblock, whether Jackson’s father can challenge the appointments.

Joe Jackson was omitted from his son’s will, with Michael Jackson’s assets going to his mother, his children and children’s charities.

Branca is an attorney who represented Jackson for more than 20 years and is regarded as the architect of his financial empire. McClain is a music executive and childhood friend of the singer.

Katherine Jackson’s original legal team complained that she was not being given enough of a role in making decisions after her son’s death. While they considered a challenge, the judge allowed the administrators to go forward with projects including the movie, “This Is It,” which brought $60 million into the estate and became a box office hit.

Branca and McClain were credited as executive producers on the movie.

A 60-page motion filed by Joe Jackson’s attorney, Brian Oxman, accused the administrators of fraud and conflict of interest. Attorneys for the estate argued that the elder Jackson is not an heir to his son’s estate and has no legal standing to bring the challenge.

Attorneys were ordered by Superior Court Judge Mitchell Beckloff to return and argue the point later in the day.

An earlier filing on behalf of Joe Jackson detailed his bid to get money from his son’s estate.

The father is seeking an allowance to help cover expenses that exceed $15,000 a month, according to the court documents.

The two had an often-strained relationship, and Michael Jackson said at one point that he would get physically sick — as a child and as an adult — at the sight of his father.

The documents said Joe Jackson receives a $1,700 monthly Social Security payment and had relied on his son for support for many years.

Howard Weitzman, an attorney for the administrators of Jackson’s estate, has said Joe Jackson’s petition would be considered along with all other requests for money from the estate.

Joe Jackson suffers from diabetes and had a stroke in 1998, the filing stated.

A former steelworker, he managed and trained his children and organized the Jackson 5. He has been married to Katherine Jackson for 50 years, but he lists his home in Las Vegas. She lives at a family home in the San Fernando Valley north of Los Angeles.

The filings list Joe Jackson’s age as 80 in one place and 81 in another.

His list of monthly expenses includes $1,200 for rent for his Las Vegas home; $2,500 to eat out; $1,000 for entertainment, gifts and vacations; $2,000 on air travel and $3,000 on hotels.