Katherine Jackson May File Wrongful Death Suit

While the dust seems to have finally settled on Michael Jackson and his family after the singer’s June 25 death, his mother Katherine is reportedly mulling over filing a wrongful death suit in connection with the singer’s fatal cardiac arrest.

If a wrongful death suit is filed, it will more than likely be against Dr. Murray, who has admitted to injecting Jackson with the powerful hospital-grade anesthetic drug Propofol just hours before the singer suffered a heart attack and died.

Katherine Jackson’s lawyer, Burt Levitch, said in a statement today:

“The possibility of a wrongful death action has been floated. In that regard, no decision has been finalized.

“Dr. Murray’s name has been floated [as a possible defendant in the potential lawsuit] because he is under investigation.”

At this stage in the investigation into Jackson’s death, his personal physician, Dr. Conrad Murray, is still the prime suspect in any manslaughter charges that may be brought against those medicos who had provided the King of Pop with dangerous anesthetics to use in his home.

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Judge Grants Custody to Katherine Jackson

Katherine Jackson is now the sole carer of her late son Michael Jackson’s children, with a Los Angeles judge signing off on a deal to grant the 79-year-old full custody on Monday.

The Jackson matriarch and her son’s former wife, Debbie Rowe, reached an agreement regarding children Prince Michael I, Paris Michael – Rowe’s biological son and daughter – late last week, with Rowe agreeing to visitation rights and continued spousal support in exchange for relinquishing her claim on the children.

At the hearing on Monday, Superior Court Judge Mitchell Beckloff stated that Katherine would be supplied with a “family allowance” paid out of the King of Pop’s estate to better care for his children.

“It’s not my intention to deprive the children of anything,” Beckloff said.

Jackson’s other child, Prince Michael II – aka Blanket – will also be raised by his grandmother, with the judge ruling that there was “no legal mother” to care for him.

Rowe’s attorney, Eric George, released a statement on his client’s behalf outside of court, praising the result that had been reached.

“Today the parties and the California court brought about a result that is selfless and wise through a process that was collaborative and fair,” George said. “Everyone sought the same objective: doing what is best for the children of Debbie Rowe and Michael Jackson. Today’s result – five-and-a-half-weeks after the tragic death of Michael Jackson, eliminates uncertainty and offers stability to the lives of these children.”

A status hearing will be held on January 11, 2010.

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Jackson’s Mother Wins Custody of His Kids

Michael Jackson’s mother, Katherine, will be awarded custody of his three children, according to the terms of a new deal that has just been reached between the Jackson matriarch and her ex-daughter-in-law, Debbie Rowe.

The deal states that Katherine, 79, will get full custody and Rowe will have visitation rights; however, the former nurse won’t receive any money in exchange for relinquishing her custodial rights to Jackson’s mother.

Previous reports had suggested Rowe was set to give up her rights to care for the children for a large lump sum payment from the Jacksons, rumours which Rowe has vehemently denied.

“It’s an agreement,” said L. Londell McMillan, Katherine Jackson’s attorney in the case, “an agreement for the best interests of the children.”

McMillian was quick to point out that money had absolutely nothing to do with the deal that was struck between Rowe and the Jacksons, contrary to what the media has stipulated.

“This is not a money deal,” he said. “This is not about money.”

“There is no situation better for these children than for them to be raised and reared in the loving care of Mrs. Katherine Jackson,” McMillian added.

While the custody of Michael Jackson’s children may have been sorted, the battle for his estate is still on-going, with McMillian hinting that the King of Pop could have been worth more than $2 billion.

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Jackson’s Kids to be Raised by Aunt

Michael Jackson’s orphaned children will reportedly be raised by their aunt, Rebbie Jackson, if Jackson matriarch Katherine gains custody over their biological mother Debbie Rowe.

A source has revealed that Rebbie, one of the lesser known of the Jackson clan, has been “privately” and “deeply” involved in the lives of her younger brother’s three children, and is the best possible carer for Prince Michael, Paris Michael and Blanket.

While the Jacksons are still divided on many issues in regards to Michael’s estate, the source was adamant that everyone involved believes Rebbie should be the one to raise the children, and there would be no question that the 59-year-old singer would push to become their custodial parent.

Rebbie, who shares a Las Vegas home with her husband of 20 years, is currently living with her mother and Michael’s three children at the Jackson family’s Encino home.

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Jackson Guardianship Hearing Postponed

The guardianship hearing for Michael Jackson’s three children has been postponed for a second time, with reports that Jackson matriach Katherine and her onetime daughter-in-law Debbie Rowe are close to a settlement.

The hearing had been slated for July 20, but has since been re-scheduled for August 3, after sources revealed to TMZ.com that both Rowe and the Jackson family were “in discussion” over a custody settlement for the two eldest Jackson children, Prince Michael I and Paris Michael Katherine.

The deal, according to the sources, “is amicable and involves the children – not money,” and is expected to be agreed upon soon.

It is believed that Rowe had a secret deal with her ex-husband, Michael Jackson, involving the children and a very large sum of money, to be paid at various intervals for an “unknown” and extended period of time. That agreement is said to have “survived” Jackson’s death, which would explain why Rowe doesn’t seem to be pushing for money at this point in time.

Katherine Jackson will remain the children’s temporary guardian until the August 3 hearing.

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Debbie Rowe Denies Custody Deal

The great custody battle between Jackson matriarch Katherine J and her onetime daughter-in-law is still very much alive, with Debbie Rowe revealing she is continuing her bid for parental rights, and has no intention of ever selling her children.

It was reported yesterday that the former dental nurse had relinquished her parental rights to the two elder Jackson kids in exchange for a lump sum payout of around $4 million – a near identical amount to the cash payment Rowe received for handing over her custodial claims in 2005 during the King of Pop’s very public child molestation trial.

However, Rowe has denied that any monetary settlement has taken place, and insists that the custody hearing scheduled for July 20 is still very much on.

Rowe’s lawyer, Eric George, has sent an open letter to the press, demanding an “immediate retraction” for the falsities that were published globally on his client’s apparent sell-out.

“There has been no agreement reached between Ms. Rowe and the Jacksons,” the letter states. “Ms. Rowe has not and will not give up her parental rights. No determination has been reached concerning custody or visitation. And Ms. Rowe has not accepted and will not accept any additional financial consideration beyond the spousal support she and Michael personally agreed to several years ago.”

No comment has been made by the Jackson camp in regards to this latest statement from Debbie Rowe and her lawyers, which makes it all the more likely that the Jacksons put the offer on the table, and the former wife of the Thriller singer declined it.

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Debbie Rowe Sells Kids… Again

Debbie Rowe, the former wife of the late Michael Jackson, has reportedly sold her children for a third time, reliquishing her custody rights to Jackson’s mother, Katherine, for a cool $4 million.

“It’s one final payday,” said a source close to the family.

The Jackson family “isn’t happy” about the large exchange of cash, according to reports, but they were willing to go through with it because they consider it to be a “necessary evil”.

A pal explained: “[The Jacksons] felt it was like a ransom-type thing. [Rowe] jumped back into the picture because she wanted money.”

Before Jackson’s June 25 death, Rowe – a former dental nurse – had previously given up all parental rights to her two biological children, Prince Michael I and Paris Michael Katherine, in exchange for a lump sum of $8 million plus $900,000 annually for the first five years.

However, when Jackson was accused of child molestation in 2001, Rowe attempted to regain custody of her children, threatening to drag the matter through the courts and further tarnish the King of Pop’s name. That never happened, and Rowe walked away – for the second time – with another $4 million in cash and a $900,000 home.

This time – the third time Rowe has threatened to reinstate her parental rights over the Jackson children – the onetime wife of the pop star has said she is “forfeiting her restored parental rights” to Katherine Jackson in exchange for another near $4 million sum.

“This would be it,” the source said. “This takes away any rights she has to challenge custody at any given time.

“If something happens to Katherine, [Rowe] can’t challenge the next [guardian], whether that be Diana Ross or someone in the family.”

Reps for neither Rowe or the Jackson family were available for comment at the time of this article.

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Debbie Rowe Wants Custody of Jackson’s Children

Michael Jackson’s former wife Debbie Rowe has reportedly decided to fight for custody of her two children, Prince Michael Jr. and Paris, whom she carried for the popstar in exchange for a large sum of money.

“I want my children,” Ms Rowe said. “I am stepping up… I have to.”

The reason Rowe has chosen to take the battle to court has to do with Jackson’s appointed guardians for the children – his mother Katherine Jackson, soon to be 80, and close friend Diana Ross, who the children have never met. Rowe is also concerned at the level of Joe Jackson’s involvement in the children’s lives, after the King of Pop accused his father of abuse years ago.

However, there’s a lot of obstacles for the nurse and onetime wife of the pop superstar to overcome, not the least of which is the rumours that she’s not the biological mother of the two eldest Jackson children. Rowe has said that she is willing to submit to any testing, including DNA, to prove that she is their biological mother.

Another of the many obstacles includes Rowe’s 2001 petition to give up her parental rights over the children, in exchange for a house and millions of dollars in cash. Rowe later “reversed her decision” and secured herself visitation rights, but legal experts say this could severly hinder any chance she may or may not have to win custody.

Jackson’s Last Will Includes Diana Ross

The last will and testiment of the late Michael Jackson has been filed with the court, and the documents made available to the media through TMZ.com.

In the seven-year-old documents, Jackson has labeled his mother, Katherine, as the guardian of his three children. The will also states that if Katherine died before him or, for some reason, couldn’t care for the children, they would be put under the guardianship of fellow performer, Diana Ross.

The will’s co-Executors, John Branca (Jackson’s lawyer) and John McClain (a music exec), released a statement on behalf of their deceased client.

“The most important element of Michael’s will is his unwavering desire that his mother, Katherine, become the legal guardian for his three children,” the joint statement read.

Jackson has left the entirety of his estate to the Michael Jackson Family Trust, with property to be divided equally between his three children. His ex-wife and mother to the two eldest Jackson children, Debbie Rowe, was not named in the will.

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Jackson’s Children Want to Stay With Grandma

Michael Jackson’s three children – Michael Joseph Jr. (12), Paris Michael Katherine (11) and Prince ‘Blanket’ Michael II (7) – say they want to stay with their grandparents, and most specifically their grandmother, according to sources close to the Jackson family.

The source added that the now fatherless children will continue to live with grandmother Katherine Jackson at her Encino home while the family grieves for the loss of 50-year-old Michael. The family – who are expected to fight for custody of the children, should a court battle ensue – are “100 per cent behind this,” and feel that they are the “only people” who can help the children understand the person their father was and teach them how to deal with the scrutiny of the press.

The children are “healthy,” the source said, but “miss their daddy.”

Debbie Rowe, the biological mother of the two eldest Jackson children, has never had a relationship with them, but is expected to serve the Jackson family with a custody suit all the same. Rowe gave up sole custody of the children to her ex-husband for an annual payment of $750,000, though she has given every indication that she will fight the Jacksons for custody of Michael Joseph Jr. and Paris Michael Katherine.

The source stated that the wish of the children to remain in the care of their grandparents will be “crucial” in any custody battle with their biological mother.

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