Pop singer Michael Jackson is accused of sexual assault again. A man claiming that Michael had sexually harassed him at the age of 18, filed a lawsuit against the star.

Yesterday, Jackson failed to appear in court for the hearing of the sexual allegations.

The lawsuit was filed by Joseph T. Bartucci Jr and claims that the singer held him against his will in his limousine and sexually assaulted him on a trip to California and back during the 1984 World's Fair in New Orleans.

US District Judge Eldon Fallon scheduled an August 17 hearing in which Jackson must demonstrate why he should not be held in civil contempt or have a default judgment entered against him.

Michael Jackson's spokesman, Brian Oxman, said he doesn't know th reason why Jackson wasn't represented in court, but he will take care of the problem. "I will take care of this matter and make sure it is handled in an appropriate way - the order from the court today and the lawsuit," Oxman said.

He also declared the allegations are false and the lawsuit is another case of trying to take advantage of the singer's wealth and celebrity.

"Michael Jackson has had many such lawsuits and each one has resulted in him being exonerated or the case being dismissed," he said. "This is part of the magic and burden of being Michael Jackson."