Jackson siblings deny money at root of dispute

LOS ANGELES:

Three of Michael Jackson’s siblings vowed on Friday to keep up their fight to have the pop star’s will thrown out, but denied their efforts were motivated by money.

Janet, Randy and Rebbie Jackson said in an attorney’s statement issued on their behalf that their aim was only to replace the executors of their brother’s multimillion-dollar estate, who they accuse of mismanagement.

Michael, who died in June 2009, appointed his mother guardian of his three children, and made the children beneficiaries of his estate. His father and eight siblings were not included.

“It is important to stress that Janet, Randy and Rebbie have questioned the validity of the will with no financial motive whatsoever – they stand to gain nothing financially by a finding that the will is invalid,” Friday’s statement said.

“What will be gained... is that the executors will be replaced and the estate and the guardianship will be managed in a manner that is in the best interests of the children,” it added.

Michael Jackson’s estate is managed by a music executive and a lawyer. The executors have said that any doubts about the validity of Jackson’s will were debunked two years ago in a legal challenge that went all the way to the California state supreme court.

But Friday’s statement said, “Janet, Randy and Rebbie will continue to press forward in their search for the truth in order to carry out the wishes of their brother Michael.”

Published in The Express Tribune, August 5^th, 2012.