Post by david g. on Jul 14, 2006 17:23:43 GMT -5
Jury in lawsuit against Michael Jackson queries judge
The jury in a financial dispute between Michael Jackson and his former associate F. Marc Schaffel resumed deliberations for a second day on Friday. They immediately asked several questions and sought read back of testimony.
In the civil suit, in which only nine of the 12 jurors have to agree on a verdict, one question from the panel was: "Do all 12 have to be accounted for, or can some abstain?"
Superior Court Judge Jacqueline Connor conferred with attorneys by phone. Connor sent the jurors a message that some could abstain from voting.
The jurors also asked if they could award damages significantly different than claimed by the parties in the legal action. They were told they could do so but had to follow jury instructions on the law.
The panel of six men and six women also asked to hear the court reporter read back testimony from Schaffel on how much he claims is due to him from his business relationship with Jackson.
Schaffel's lawyers have given varying amounts sought for his work on two Fox TV specials about Jackson and reimbursements for loans he said he made to the pop star.
At the beginning of the case, attorney Howard King had asked for more than $3 million for his client.
Court rulings reduced that amount to $1.6 million. Then in his final argument, King added together a number of figures and came up with $1.4 million.
Thomas Mundell, Michael Jackson's attorney, told the jury that Schaffel actually owes the pop star $660,000.
Mundell said the following in his closing statement:
“This is a case about misplaced trust. Here, we have a gentle artist, who despite all his fame and all his money, is lonely. He’s insulated. He brought his passion and his musical genius to the world, making him vulnerable to people who want to take advantage of him.”
The judge has agreed to take up a specific accounting phase of the case that is not being submitted to the jury.
source AP
The jury in a financial dispute between Michael Jackson and his former associate F. Marc Schaffel resumed deliberations for a second day on Friday. They immediately asked several questions and sought read back of testimony.
In the civil suit, in which only nine of the 12 jurors have to agree on a verdict, one question from the panel was: "Do all 12 have to be accounted for, or can some abstain?"
Superior Court Judge Jacqueline Connor conferred with attorneys by phone. Connor sent the jurors a message that some could abstain from voting.
The jurors also asked if they could award damages significantly different than claimed by the parties in the legal action. They were told they could do so but had to follow jury instructions on the law.
The panel of six men and six women also asked to hear the court reporter read back testimony from Schaffel on how much he claims is due to him from his business relationship with Jackson.
Schaffel's lawyers have given varying amounts sought for his work on two Fox TV specials about Jackson and reimbursements for loans he said he made to the pop star.
At the beginning of the case, attorney Howard King had asked for more than $3 million for his client.
Court rulings reduced that amount to $1.6 million. Then in his final argument, King added together a number of figures and came up with $1.4 million.
Thomas Mundell, Michael Jackson's attorney, told the jury that Schaffel actually owes the pop star $660,000.
Mundell said the following in his closing statement:
“This is a case about misplaced trust. Here, we have a gentle artist, who despite all his fame and all his money, is lonely. He’s insulated. He brought his passion and his musical genius to the world, making him vulnerable to people who want to take advantage of him.”
The judge has agreed to take up a specific accounting phase of the case that is not being submitted to the jury.
source AP