Paris Jackson is accusing the executors of her father's estate of using his fortune to bully her.
According to court documents reviewed by TMZ, the 28-year-old daughter of Michael Jackson and her legal team claim executors John Branca and John McClain are filing documents that “mock and belittle” her.
On the other hand, Branca and McClain argue she is spreading incorrect information and is “more interested in playing to the media than” resolving the dispute. They also claim her media team tried to frame a court's “rather routine actions” as “some sort of blockbuster ruling by the court in favor of Paris.”
The dispute centers on payments to third party law firms, with Paris questioning how large bonuses and fees are approved. Branca and McClain maintain they turned the estate from insolvent into a multibillion dollar enterprise and say Paris has benefited significantly.
In a new filing, Paris rejects their characterization, saying, “At nearly every hearing, and again in this filing, executors try to avoid the merits by characterizing Paris' concerns as lawyer-driven or in service of some purported desire for media attention. Neither is true."
She adds that “litigation is painful" and "a distraction from her own life and her own career." She also claimed that Branca's use of "the media to attack Michael Jackson's daughter is unacceptable and is not mirrored by any concomitant effort by Paris," and calls accusations that she sought press coverage "unfounded."
Paris also alleges the executors are using "her father's money to attack her in the media," pointing to a statement she calls "sexist" that described her "strutting" into a hearing. She reportedly referred to the executors as the "grown-ups" compared to her and her siblings.
She believes the conduct is meant to pressure her into backing down, while the executors have previously dismissed her claims in court.
“To be clear, the estate and its executors have never given a single gift to anyone for any reason. Additionally, no payment ever made by the estate has ever been disallowed by the court or determined to be unauthorized,” estate attorney Jonathan Steinsapir told TMZ. ”The executors have been meticulous and conscientious in every decision that they have made. It is shocking that Ms. Jackson, through her attorneys have made these false and specious objections, considering she has and will continue to benefit substantially from dedicated and tireless work of the executors of the estate.
“Ms. Jackson has already received roughly $65 million in benefits and stands to inherit many hundreds of millions more."
He also said, “This is from an estate that was $500 million in debt and facing bankruptcy at the time of Michael's death, but was turned by the executors into a business generating billions in revenue.”
TMZ’s report comes just weeks before the Michael biopic arrives in theaters on April 24.
