14 DAY TRIAL // Within hours of announcing that he would be returning on the stage this summer with a final series of concerts, Michael Jackson, the King of Pop, managed to do the unthinkable by breaking all known records in terms of ticket sales and public response. “This Is It,” Michael’s “curtain call” is hailed as the biggest event of our times, not only of this year – if it takes place, that is.
Amidst intense speculation that the singer might not be in the best physical condition to pull off such a challenging task of performing on 50 different dates, it has emerged that a group of lawyers is looking to prevent “This Is It” from happening, as TMZ can confirm. Consequently, the attorneys have already sent cease and desist letters to the British organizers, telling them that the contract with Michael was signed in violation of another contract, which had it the star could not commit to anything for a year and a half.
The other contract in question is, according to the source, a deal that would see the entire Jackson family performing together. Once Michael’s agent signed on the dotted line that the King would also take part in the reunion, he agreed to not have him commit to anything else for a period of 18 months. The attorneys are now saying that Jackson signed for “This Is It” shortly after agreeing to the first contract, thus breaching one of its most important clauses.
“We’ve learned AllGood Entertainment – the company that was putting together a series of concerts with Michael Jackson, Janet Jackson, and their brothers – has fired off a cease and desist letter to the people organizing Jacko’s London concerts, demanding that the show not go on. Here’s what went down. In late 2008, Jackson’s manager – Frank Dileo – signed a deal promising that M.J. would appear with his family on tour. Part of the deal – Jackson was prohibited from making another concert deal for 18 months. But lawyers for the family tour claim after their deal was signed, Jackson went and signed up for his London concerts – allegedly a violation of the 18-month blackout clause.” TMZ says of the upcoming lawsuit.
The lawyers are now seeking to block all 50 dates at London’s O2 Arena, scheduled to start this summer. According to the same source, Michael’s position as of now is reportedly that he personally did not sign anything. However, as TMZ points out, “his manager signed, and in the law an agent can often sign for the client.” For updates on Michael Jackson’s “This Is It,” keep an eye on this space.