Howard Mann's Sham of a Defense

After reading what the fake HTWF fans had to say about commentary regarding Melissa Johnson, I decided to take a different approach to a blog about Howard Mann. This blog will consider both the Estate's take on Howard Mann, as well as Mann's (sham of a) defense. If you would like to read the Estate court docs, click here. Warning: the court docs were posted at TMZ.

The first 34 pages of the Estate's claim are easy to read so we'll begin with the First Claim for Relief, beginning on page 35. I'll post the Estate's stance first, then Mann's position.

First Claim of Relief

Estate: Estate claims that they own the rights to This Is It, the posthumous Michael Jackson "documentary", including key art and trailers. Estate claims that Howard Mann, as the owner of the website Jacksonsecretvault.com, has willfully infringed on the Estate's sole right to this property, intellectual or otherwise. Note: if you click on the link to Mann's website, there are, at this point, no pictures of This Is It on the front page. Estate claims that at one point, This Is It images were posted at the site.

Mann: Mann's attorneys state that the Estate violated the Digital Millenium Copyright Act, because they did not send a cease and desist letter warning Mann of the copyright infringement before filing a lawsuit. However, page 9 of the Estate's court doc states that a cease and desist letter was sent to Mann on December 8, 2010. The Estate filed the lawsuit on January 20,2011. If the Estate claims this, then they most certainly have a copy of the cease and desist letter.

Score: Estate 1 Mann 0

Second Claim for Relief

Estate: The Estate claims that Sony owns the sole rights to the song "Destiny" by the Jacksons, originally released on December 17, 1978. Page 11 states that "Sony has assigned to the Estate to bring any and all copyright claims relating to (Mann's) unauthorized use of the song 'Destiny." Estate claims Mann knowingly released the sony Destiny remixed as an unreleased song called "Opis None".

Mann: Mann's attorneys state that this claim for relief falls under the "with prejudice" ruling that Vaccaro (original owner of Vintage Pop Media) obtained from a court when Michael Jackson did not pursue any more action. The court ruled "with prejudice", meaning that the same person can never sue the same person again for the same reason. Mann also states that the cease and desist letter was sent too late. (Estate claims cease and desist letter was sent 12/8/10.)

Here is a copy of Mann's public apology for releasing the now infamous "song" Opis None, releasing liability of Katherine Jackson. Mann also took the song down a day or two after, however the song was place right next to the book he and Katherine were selling, Never Can Say Goodbye. The point of this is this: Mann does not own the rights to a Jackson song, pure and simple.

Score: Estate 2 Mann 0

Third Claim for Relief

Estate: Estate claims copyright infringement for use of Thriller song and video, as well as liner notes for Thriller 25. Estate claims Mann used Thriller/Thriller 25 song, video and liner notes on the website as well as in the "Book" (Never Can Say Goodbye).

Mann: Mann claims that a "viewer" of the website uploaded the video of Thriller, therefore he is not responsible for uploaded content. Also uses the cease/desist letter too late defense. Mann also claims that the content has been removed from his website. (However, when I took a look at the site today, the Thriller video was still there and it said Source: YouTube.)

Score: Estate 3 Mann 0

Fourth Claim for Relief

Estate: Estate claims that the "Book" (Never Can Say Goodbye) contains drawings done by Michael Jackson. "Bubbles Chair", "Key III", "Happy Gate", "Boy" and "We the People" are named as "The Drawings." Estate maintains that they are the sole owner of "The Drawings".

Mann: Mann claims that he has a letter from the co-owner of Michael Jackson's drawings, Brett Livingstone Strong. Mann attaches a copy of the letter from Strong to his deposition. Note: Michael did in fact work with Strong, forming the Jackson-Strong Alliance in 1992. However, Mann states that Strong is the "co-owner" for Michael's drawings, therefore I would assume the other co-owner is the Estate. Mann legally cannot use any intellectual property without the consider of BOTH the owners of the drawings. Below is a picture of Michael and Strong taken in 1992.

Score: Estate 4 Mann 0

Fifth Claim for Relief

Estate: Estate claims that the logo for VPM contains Michael Jackson's likeness and his famous Smooth Criminal "lean". Estate maintains that they sent a cease and desist letter to VPM (Mann) which was ignored. In the Estate filing, you can clearly see that the "V" of VPM uses Michael's name and his signature "lean" move from Smooth Criminal.

Mann: Mann first uses the "with prejudice" ruling. Mann then states that this "lean" move was used by other entertainers other than Jackson, and that the "lean" move did not belong solely to Jackson. Mann also claims that the "lean" move was used in the movie Step Up 2. Mann then goes on to state that even if the Estate "could" prove that Michael once owned the move, that the "with prejudice" ruling bars the Estate from suing him.

Sidenote: Michael Jackson, Michael Bush and Dennis Tompkins patented the famous shoes that allowed for the Smooth Criminal lean in 1993. Now granted, the shoes are patented and not the dance move. However, the logo for VPM clearly represents Michael Jackson, which is a violation of the intellectual property rights that the Estate own.

Score: Estate 5 Mann 0

Estate: Estate claims that the book Never Can Say Goodbye has a remark on the inside liner notes that says "Special thanks....to the Estate of Michael Jackson." Estate this confuses the public into thinking that the Estate either endorsed or facilitated with the book.

Mann: Mann claims that Katherine is the one who was saying thank you to the Estate. If Katherine were to testify in court that indeed, she was thanking the Estate, Mann could win this point. If not, then Mann deliberately tried to confuse the public.

Score: Undetermined

Seventh Claim for Relief

Estate: Estate maintains that several domain names that Mann/VPM own are deliberately set to confuse the public into believing that the Estate is actively involved in these websites. Because these websites have merchandise for sale on them, and the Estate has no control over it, Estate claims cybersquatting on the domain names/websites.

Mann: Mann claims the "with prejudice" ruling bars the Estate from filing this claim. (Again, Mann doesn't own intellectual property, so ruling goes to the Estate.)

Score: Estate 6 Mann 0

Eighth Claim for Relief

Estate: Basically same as Seventh Claim, but asking for restitution for the revenue made from these websites/domains.

Mann: Mann claims the "with prejudice" ruling bars the Estate from filing this claim.

Score: Estate 7 Mann 0

Ninth Claim for Relief

Estate: Reiterates both Seventh and Eighth claim, as well as involves the (fake) Heal the World Foundation. Claim states Mann "attempted to trade on Jackson's fame by advertising that "part of the proceeds of sales [of the purported Jackson Secret Vault Lithographic Collection] go to Heal the World Foundation. Such promotion was intentionally designed to raise money by trading off Michael Jackson's well-known, but former, association with Heal the World Foundation."

Mann: (Broken record...) Mann claims that the "with prejudice" ruling bars the Estate from filing this claim. (Can you believe that??)

Score: Estate 8 Mann 0

Tenth Claim for Relief

Estate: Estate claims that Mann may have acquired master recordings that he may have a sole or co-ownership to. However, Mann still does not have the intellectual property rights to the masters. He cannot reproduce, copy or distribute them because the Estate owns the intellectual property rights.

Mann: Uses "with prejudice" ruling as his (sham of a) defense.

Score: Estate 9 Mann 0

Eleventh Claim for Relief

Estate: Estate claims that Mann/VPM have violated the California Business and Professions Code which states that "unfair competition shall mean and include any unlawful, unfair or fraudulent business or practice and unfair, deceptive and untrue or misleading advertising..."

Mann: (Wanna guess what his defense is? That's right!) Uses "with prejudice as his (sham of a) defense.

Score: Estate 10 Mann 0

Twelfth Claim for Relief

Estate: Estate is asking for a portion of the profits that Mann has made from Mann's revenues made from the likeness/image etc of Michael Jackson.

Mann: With prejudice ruling for his shame, er I mean sham of a defense.

Score: Estate 11 Mann 0

Howard Mann doesn't have a legal leg to stand on if he continues this sham of a defense. Both Mann and Melissa Johnson of the fake Heal the World Foundation will owe millions to the Estate by the time these attorneys are done with them. Johnson better hope the IRS/Tax Franchise Board don't come after her for fraud, and I have a feeling that Howard Mann should be looking over his legal shoulder as well.

More on Vaccaro and Michael's Memorabilia

I wanted to post this six part series which originally aired on BBC in the UK in 2002, called Liquid Assets: Michael Jackson's Millions. I found this at the VindicateMJ blog, and I believe it was contributed by David Edwards (see comments). This is a fascinating look at the life of Michael Jackson up until 2002. It is quite negatively biased at times, yet the information held within this series gives Jackson fans insight into some areas that I believe have either been misinterpreted or forgotten. I will highlight each part of the series, and you can choose what you want to watch, as the series is almost an hour long.

Parts 1 shows Mr. Lucky's, the very first place the Jackson 5 performed, at 3:04. Gordon Keith of SteelTown Records shows his 45's of the first recordings of the Jackson 5 at 5:15. In 1967, Joe Jackson signs the jackson 5 to SteelTown Records for 3 cents a record at 5:51. Michael made less than 3,000 pounds ($4800.00) with SteelTown Records at 7:16. Joe Jackson took the Jackson 5 to Motown after the SteelTown contract expired. However, Motown was extremely controlling and Joe Jackson did not like that, in addition to the fact that Motown was not paying the Jackson 5 much money. One estimate is that the boys were making 1/2 cent a record with Motown at 9:26. He also estimates that Michael Jackson may have made approximately $300,000 in all his years with Motown. Motown kept all future royalties. In a tour in 1972, Michael Jackson was paid $5 a week in pocket money.

At :36, Walter Yetnikoff begins with Michael at CBX. Off the Wall sells 15 million records at 1:18. At one point Thriller was selling a million records a week in the U.S. and Jackson was making $5 per record, at 1:45. At 4:40 Michael estatlished as the king of music videos and at 5:53 as the best dancer ever. At 8:11, a MUST SEE look at Henry Vaccaro inside a storage locker with an intimate view of Michael's belongings.

A continuation of the Vaccaro interview and at 1:03 Vaccaro shows a file cabinet with Janet and Michael's contracts in it, some sketches Michael made and stunning photographs of Katherine at 2:24. Vaccaro estimates that there are 3 boxes that contain only Michael's belongings at 3:18. Bob Giraldi on the Pepsi accident at 4:41 and that MJ made $5 million for a year of endorsement deals with Pepsi at 5:27. Great footage of the Sultan of Brunei's birthday bash at 9:24, in which he made $1 million for the night.

Michael's real estate investments at 1:30. At 2:30, Vaccaro shows Neverland contract, which shows purchase price at $17 million. A visit to a New York townhouse that Michael rented during the making of Invincible at 4:09. Lies about Michael and McCartney and the Northern song catalog at 8:18.

At the beginning of part 5, Uri Gellar states that Michael's "main ambition is to help humanity" (0:06). Footage of Jordan Chandler as a young adult at 2:24, Friedman BS at 3:24 and at 4:30. Vaccaro showing what he calls skin bleaching agent at 8:46, and at 9:11 Vaccaro shows sketches of Michael's nose.

Part 6 is unremarkable and heavily negatively biased. I just wanted to put it in there because it finishes the entire long show. A big thanks to VindicateMJ blog and I believe David Edwards. I will have another blog regarding more information on Vintage Pop Media and another court dispute tonight.

No Friend of Michael's: Howard Mann and Melissa Johnson

Most MJ fans know about his Heal the World Foundation, which was suspended in 2002. Under the direction of Michael Jackson, Heal the World Foundation donated millions of dollars to charity. Michael's Dangerous Tour proceeds went to the foundation. The foundation also brought children to Neverland, and sent goods into war-torn areas such as Sarajevo when needed.

Enter Melissa Johnson. According to the Estate court documents against her, Melissa Johnson began harassing Jackson in 2002. She sent him letters, sent him packages listed with his assistant's name and address on them, and even showed up at Neverland. In Johnson's own words, she states that:

"I would not be bothering Michael , nor did I, for eight years because I just couldn't believe it myself. But I have seen, in a 1993 near death-type experience, the future of many things...Michael will find me and we will go to work for the Children of our Father. Michael will not go forward with Heal the World, without me." Eight years...eight years of Johnson harassing Michael Jackson due to her "near death-type experience" and her delusion that she and Michael would run Heal the World Foundation together.

According to this CBS article, Johnson started her own Heal the World Foundation in 2008. However a month after Michael's death, Johnson "filed for a new tradmark 'Michael Jackson's Heal the World Foundation." In the month after Michael died, July of 2009, many fans were searching for a charity to donate to due to their grief and respect for Jackson. Johnson's foundation "begun asking for donations from visitors who want to post or read material on the site that is dominating by comments by fans around the world. Records provided by the charity show indicate that the website received $6,191.57 in donations during the month of July through PayPal."

This Courthouse News article states that a defendant in the case against Johnson is United Fleet, and it was incorporated the day Michael died and that the president posted on Johnson's Heal the World website, that they urged fans "to be patient with us and allow the family time to grieve as we wait for the direction they would have us go." In addition, Johnson has identified as being associated with Heal the World Foundation since 1993 (clearly NOT the case) and that United Fleet and Johnson's Heal the World Foundation used the same address and are clearly connected.

According to the court documents filed by the Estate (see link above) Johnson has clearly filed for numerous trademarks in an attempt (which was successful) to profit. As you read through the court documents, you will see that Melissa Johnson blatantly lied to Michael Jackson fans who believed that Heal the World Foundation was still up and running with Michael Jackson's interests at the helm. The irony of this is that Johnson accused the Estate executors of exactly what she is guilty of...greed and a clear attempt to glean a profit from Michael Jackson's name and his fans.


And then there's this guy...Howard Mann. There is not a lot of information about Howard Mann on the Internet. However, here's a little history lesson for those who do not know:

2006 - Howard Mann's 121 Media/Ventures creates Naked Online Casino Gambling. Yes MJ fans, you read that correctly. So just what exactly does Naked Online Casino Gambling entail? According to this article, "121 Gaming Online CEO Howard Mann said, 'Online gaming will never be the same. Why would anyone choose to play against a boring online video game that could be altered to drastically favor the house? Now people can play real casino games in real time, with real live sexy dealers, just like in a real casino...the dealers are either wearing bikinis or are topless."

2007 - 121 Ventures with Mann as it's CEO, announced that they will be airing pay-per-view Naked Women's Wresting League with Carmen Electra as it's ringmaster. One of the wrestlers was Mary Carey of porn fame, who also ran for governor of California a few years ago. Eventually, Electra sued Mann for $300,000 saying she was promised $400,000 but only paid $100,000. DVD's were made under the names Operation Naked Storm, Tag Team Dream and Twin Peaks, which you can find on the Internet by googling them, at a pay-per-viewing for a price.

2009 - Howard Mann buys the majority of memorabilia from Henry Vaccaro. Mann takes over the website Vintage Pop Media and goes into business with Michael's mother, Katherine Jackson. (Sidenote: This blog is NOT, I REPEAT NOT, intended to malign Mrs. Jackson. I have purposefully left her out of any comments as the Estate has.)

I will not repeat what MJ fans already know. The Oprah interview, the coffee table book "Never Can Say Goodbye", and now the Good Morning America interview. The latest news is that Michael's children have donated $10,000 on behalf of Johnson's Heal the World Foundation to L.A. Housing Corporation, one of Michael's favorite charities.

Mann believes he is allowed to use Michael Jackson's name and likeness due to a legal loophole that occurred in 2006 when Michael was litigating over the memorabilia with Henry Vaccaro. A judge dismissed Michael's complaint "with prejudice", meaning that Michael could never sue Vaccaro (or any owner of Vintage Pop Media, I assume) again.

However, Mann is dealing with the likes of veteran attorneys who have taken months to research and collect precedents in the case against him. Weitzman, Branca et al. are, in my opinion, going to absolutely put Mann and Johnson on legal notice that they are breaking the law by using Michael Jackson's name, likeness and any affiliation to the Jackson family.

In addition, Katherine Jackson "waived" her right to counsel for the "contract" between she and Howard Mann. An attorney who frequently posts at (sorry) TMZ, posted this, which states that Mann does not have a legal leg to stand on and the Estate will win this case hands down.

In addition, another blogger, United4MJLegacy has been under fire by a certain (and questionable) MJ "fan". I want to thank them for their blog and their research into this subject. I agree with them 100%, that Mann and Johnson must be stopped.

Howard Mann and Meslissa Johnson have two things in common. The first is their motivation for greed and profit has no bounds and the second is their delusion that they will win against the Michael Jackson Estate executors.

JOHN BRANCA ROCKS

Most MJ fans by now have read the story that the MJ Estate has raked in $310 million since Michael's death a little over a year and a half ago. We have also read the stories that MIJAC will be moving to Sony/ATV, which concerned some fans. Lastly, we now have read the letter that John Branca has sent to fans via the MJ online team.

As first reported by TMZ, which I am refusing to provide links, other media outlets followed suit and used their usual copy/paste journalism to publicize the story. What is certain is that someone, in all probability Harvey Levin, has access to unredacted court documents that should have been sealed to anyone besides the court.

What we do know from prior court documents leaked by TMZ, is that the Estate is mandated to file a status report every nine months, beginning as of September 7, 2010. Since a status report was filed on September 23, 2010, which I blogged about and you can find here (yes, sadly a TMZ link), one can only surmise that the newest TMZ story stating that the Estate has made $310 million since Michael's death pertains to the original September 22, 2010 filing. We can look forward to another status report in June, 2011.

Basically, those that are interested are getting a peek into the redacted amounts of the court documents dated September 22, 2010. Among them are the following highlights:

1. Michael Jackson died almost $400 million in debt. One of the reasons for this was that Michael had entered into agreements with financiers who held extremely high interest rates on the loans he had.

2. The estate execs, namely Branca, restructured the debt interest rate to much more favorable terms.

3. In addition, Michael was not as poor as the media portrayed him to be when he died. He still owned assets, including the Encino compound ($4,150,000), a condo ($315,000), Desert Auto LLC ($676K), 3 Rolls Royces totalling $190K, and nearly $475K in cash in bank accounts. (This information was released in September by yet again, the infamous/notorious TMZ.) Of course his largest asset is his ownership of the ATV catalog, in which estimates range from $500 million to $1 billion.

4. Branca negotiated the deal with Sony, AEG and Ubisoft.

5. $3.8 million was paid in legal fees.

6. The Estate execs paid off the Encino home mortgage and as we know, are paying $30K a month in addition to the combined income of $86 million to Katherine Jackson and Michael's children, so the Encino home can be renovated. (This is of course, if Alejandra and her children would ever move out so they can actually renovate the home.)

7. In all, the Estate has paid $159 million of the approximate $400 million debt in a year and a half.

____________________________________________________________________

The other story that needs to be told is that of the MIJAC catalog. As we already know, MIJAC was highly leveraged at the time of Michael's death, to the tune of $75 million. According to CNBC, Branca renegotiated a new loan interest rate, down from 16% to 4%.

16% of $75 million = $7,950,000. 4% of $75 million = $3 million. Therefore, just the restructuring of the loan by Branca saved the Estate nearly $5 million. This is just ONE deal, MJ fans. Branca is doing what he can to save the Estate money and trying to make it solvent in as fast a period of time as possible.

In addition, the newest story out regarding MIJAC, is that it will be going to the Sony/ATV catalog. The original story was written by Roger Friedman. Friedman reports that MIJAC is indeed going to Sony/ATV publishing from Warner Chappell. Friedman states that MIJAC is not owned by Warner, but they do administer the rights and collects heavy fees for them. More importantly, Friedman states that MIJAC moving to Sony/ATV was written into Michael's contract with Warner years ago.

When the MIJAC story broke, people were wondering, myself included, if Michael's catalog was merging with the Sony/ATV, however this is not the case. (One of the best explanations regarding ownership vs. administering rights is here, via Ivy at MJJC. A big thanks to Ivy!)

To ease fans' minds, John Branca emailed the MJ online team, who released the email to the public. In it, John Branca reassures fans that MIJAC will only be administered by SONY/ATV for a limited time, and under very favorable conditions for the Estate. Branca also reassures fans that noone will ever buy MIJAC while he and McClain are executors of the Estate.

This is why Michael Jackson chose John Branca to be the executor of his estate. Branca has raked in over $310 million for the Estate so far, and continues to make groundbreaking and unprecedented deals for the Estate. John Branca was not only Michael's attorney, but he was his friend. Branca is ensuring that Michael's children will inherit an estate that is solvent and solid. In short, JOHN BRANCA ROCKS, MJ FANS.

Did I mention that JOHN BRANCA ROCKS??

Vaccaro, Jackson Communications Inc. and the Jackson Family

As some of you know, I posted a blog about Vintage Pop Media, but someone commented that I had posted incorrect information. I thought that I had researched this subject thoroughly, but within an hour or two, I realized I had missed key elements in the history between Henry Vaccaro and the Jackson family. So here we go:

1992- Jackson Communications Inc. is formed. The corporation is owned by the 11 Jackson members, including Michael, Janet, LaToya, Jermaine, Jackie, Randy, Rebbie, Tito, Marlon, Katherine and Joe Jackson.

Entrepreneur Robert Petrallia met Joe Jackson almost a year earlier. The two discussed building a $350 million complex in Asbury Park, NJ. Asbury Park fails as financing falls through and the developer files Chapter 11 bankruptcy. Petrallia convinces the Jacksons for form Jackson Communications Inc. (from now on referred to as JCI) and appoint himself as chairman of JCI.

One of JCI's first moves is to acquire new businesses. One of the first was the Kramer Guitar Company in Neptune, NJ. Vaccaro is the owner of Kramer Guitar, and he already knows the Jackson family.

Kramer was a contractor for the Asbury Park development, but had dropped out of the project a year before Petrallia became involved. In 1988, before Kramer dropped out of the project, he hosted Katherine and Joe Jackson and gave them a tour of the city and took them to see Kramer Guitar Inc. Once a giant in the guitar business, by 1992 Kramer Guitar and Vaccaro were in bankruptcy. Kramer, through his HVV company, owns the assets to Kramer Guitar.

1992-JCI agrees to fund a reorganization of HVV through bankruptcy court. Essentially, JCI agrees to pay HVV's debt of $500,000 and in return, take control of Kramer Guitars.

This deal includes that Vaccaro will receive a 1% share of JCI, a five year consulting contract for $150,000, shares in the new Kramer Guitar, and a royalty profit for each Kramer Guitar sold.

1993- Kramer arrives at the Encino compound as a JCI advisory board member where JCI's corporate structure, investment sources and potential competition are discussed.

1993- JCI's first payment is due on the HVV debt restructure. JCI asks for a 60-day extension which is granted. The payment for $225,000 is made by JCI in the 60-day allowance term. However, the next payment is not made.

According to Petrallia, the reason is the child molestation allegations in 1993 leveraged against Michael Jackson. Sponsors began to pull their support and money, including Pepsi, who withdrew their financial support.

1993-The Jackson Family Honors special on NBC is taped in November. Michael, understandably with the allegations against him, does not want to perform solo. He appears and sings with his family, and according to J. Randy Taraborelli, only performs minimally because his mother asks him to.

1994- With the withdrawal of financial support from advertisers, etc. due to the allegations against Michael, JCI sinks.

1994-Kramer Guitar changes from Chapter 11 to Chapter 7 bankruptcy, the liquidation process. Vaccaro receives no compensation for liquidation and Kramer Guitar is sold to Gibson Guitar.

1994-Vaccaro sues JCI in federal bankruptcy court. The Jackson family fails to respond to the lawsuit.

1995- Consequently, the judge finds the Jacksons in default and schedules a hearing in three months.

1996-The Jacksons fail to respond or appear at the hearing.

1996- Judge William H. Gindin finds for Vaccaro in the amount of $1,347,733.40. (See p. 19 on the link.)

Two important points on Gindin's ruling:

#1. Judge limited the liability of the judgement to those family members who had taken/received dividends from JCI. Michael, Janet and LaToya were NOT INCLUDED.

#2 Judge ruled that those family members were liable for damages because they had violated corporate rules. Again, this did NOT include Michael, Janet or LaToya. These family members had nine months to appeal, and not one of them did so.

1997- Vaccaro has to be able to serve each of the Jacksons, but Vaccaro targets Katherine and Joe Jackson. Vaccaro serves Joe Jackson in Las Vegas by disguising his process server as a newpaper delivery man.

1997-Brian Oxman takes both Katherine and Joe Jackson's statement. Both claim they have no assets. Katherine Jackson claimed she had less than $1000 in assets.

1998-Vaccaro hires private detective Frank Coonis. Although Katherine has claimed that she owns no cars, Coonis finds records that state that Katherine owns seven cars registered in her name. A judge gives authorization to Vaccaro and his attorney to seize the cars to satisfy the judgement in part.

1998-U.S. marshalls arrive at the Encinco compound. They seize one car. Katherine asks to the court to return the car but is denied.

1998-Vaccaro sees a television show with Katherine Jackson in it. Vaccaro asks a judge to be able to seize more assets and is granted the request. This time, they enlist a locksmith to open the wrought iron gate, and seize two more cars and a baby grand piano.

1998-Vaccaro is not satisfied. Vaccaro and Coonis devise a plan to trick the Jacksons. They issue checks to all the Jacksons in the amount of $50 in the form of a rebate. Three of the Jacksons cash the checks, providing Vaccaro and Coonis account numbers by the stamp on the back of the rebate check. Vaccaro seizes $7,000 from those accounts.

Vaccaro's attorney subpoena's the bank accounts. They got Katherine Jackson's cancelled checks and discovered a monthly payment to what they described as a vineyard. This lead to the discovery of the storage units where the memorabilia was held.

1999- Vaccaro seeks and receives a court order to open the storage facility. According to this article, Michael and Janet's possessions were not taken. (This, in my opinion, cannot be true because Vaccaro was in possession of Michael's underwear which was later seized by Tom Sneddon, as well as his sketches and other items that clearly belonged to Michael.)

1999-Most of the Jacksons in the lawsuit file for bankruptcy. Vaccaro had to return the possessions over to bankruptcy court. (Again, in my opinion, he did not turn over all of the possessions.)

2000-Despite some objections from the Jacksons, the bankruptcy judge orders all the items from both storage units, including Michael and Janet's possessions, to be auctioned to the highest bidder in a liquidation bankruptcy proceeding.

2001-Ultimately, Vaccaro buys the both storage units for $85,000.