In 2019, an unfortunate series of events involving an HBO documentary and a hefty tax bill left Michael Jackson’s estate in court and on the brink of disaster. Luckily, the estate’s attorney and co-executor, John Branca, was able to save the day. Read on to learn more about the circumstances surrounding the court cases and the exciting developments that followed the dismissal of them.
Settling a Tax Crisis
As mentioned earlier, John Branca and the estate have been in court battling a tax bill that would’ve cost the estate (valued at $1.3 billion) roughly $700 million. The issue arose from how the government valued the late king of pop’s name, likeness, and other assets. The government’s valuation was significantly higher than the assets’ true value. John Branca was able to prove this true value and settle the court case.
Leaving Neverland
In 2019, a documentary called “Leaving Neverland” was released that prompted the courts to reopen Michael Jackson’s child molestation case on account of changes in the law. John Branca was able to prove that the allegations were completely unfounded, and the case was sent to probate court to wrap up the proceedings. Unfortunately, the opposition is still attempting to appeal the ruling.
Reviving Michael Jackson’s Legacy
With the stress of the court cases off of the minds of those in charge of the estate, they can now focus on reviving Michael Jackson’s public image. Ironically, the first of these efforts is reviving a show in Las Vegas that was closed for over a year in the wake of the Covid-19 crisis. It is planned to be reopened on August 19th, 2021. Next, there will be a Broadway musical based on Michael Jackson’s endeavors. This musical is named “MJ: The Musical” and will debut sometime in the beginning of 2022 and chronicle various aspects of the late king of pop’s life.
Wrapping Up
To conclude, Michael Jackson’s estate has been struggling with legal issues in the recent past due to tax disputes and Mr. Jackson’s child molestation accusations. John Branca is the estate’s co-executor and attorney, and he has been successful in his attempts to clear up the issues. With the legal trouble off of the table, the estate’s executives can now focus on promoting Michael to the public once again.
If you are interested in learning more information about upcoming Michael Jackson-related events, search for more information on his website!
