Paris Jackson Faces Setback in Legal Battle Against Michael Jackson’s Estate

Paris Jackson’s ongoing legal dispute with the executors of her late father Michael Jackson’s estate has encountered a setback. Los Angeles Referee Mitchell L. Beckloff, a retired judge overseeing the case, recently ruled against parts of a petition filed by Jackson.

According to PEOPLE, Beckloff granted executors John Branca and John McClain’s motion to strike several sections of her petition, citing that it was based directly on the estate’s own filings. The executors successfully invoked California’s anti-SLAPP statute, which protects against retaliatory legal actions.

A representative for Paris Jackson told PEOPLE, “This order is limited to minor procedural issues, and does not change the facts: the pattern of behavior displayed by the executors and their attorneys raises significant red flags, and Paris will continue working to ensure her family is treated fairly. We will be submitting an updated filing shortly.”

In her petition, Jackson challenged payments made to attorneys by the estate and sought reconsideration of a 2010 order that authorised such expenditures. She requested that the executors file petitions to approve attorney payments for 2019 to 2023.

Her filing alleged irregular payments and non-contractual gifts of up to $250,000 to attorneys, arguing that these actions prevented effective oversight by her and her brothers, Prince and Bigi Jackson, who are beneficiaries of the estate.

While some portions of her petition were struck down, Referee Beckloff ruled that Branca and McClain are “entitled to an award of attorneys’ fees.” The motion did not dispute Jackson’s claims about irregular payments but objected to the petition’s reliance on the executors’ own court filings.

Michael Jackson’s estate has been subject to extensive legal scrutiny since his death in 2009, including debt management and lawsuits related to abuse allegations.

Paris Jackson has also criticised the estate for backing Antoine Fuqua’s upcoming biopic of Jackson, calling it “dishonest” and “filled with inaccuracies.”