Paris Jackson is now asking for additional payments from the executors of Michael Jackson’s estate after a judge ruled that hundreds of thousands of dollars paid to outside attorneys must be returned. This is a significant moment in the ongoing legal battle surrounding the iconic pop star’s legacy and how his estate is being managed.
Jackson is now seeking $463,752 in interest related to bonus payments previously issued to third-party law firms. The money stems from a recent ruling ordering estate executors John Branca and John McClain to repay more than $600,000 to the estate. According to her representatives, Paris Jackson is standing firm on what she believes is rightfully hers.
“The law is crystal clear: when funds are misappropriated, they have to be paid back — with interest,” a representative for Jackson told TMZ. “There’s no reason John Branca should get special treatment from our legal system.”
Jackson recently scored a major win when a judge rejected $625,000 in bonus payments connected to outside legal counsel. This victory marks an important step in her fight for transparency and accountability within her father’s estate management.
Representatives for Branca and McClain defended the payments in a statement following the ruling. They emphasized that while the court had previously approved several other bonuses to outside counsel over the years, this was the first time such payments faced objections.
“While the Court has previously approved several other bonuses to outside counsel over the years for their extraordinary services, and this was the first time they were the subject of objections, the executors have always understood that legal fees are subject to court approval,” the statement said. It’s clear that both sides have strong positions in this ongoing estate dispute.
Paris previously accused Branca and McClain of filing court documents that “mock and belittle” her, while the executors have accused her of spreading inaccurate information to the media. The tensions surrounding Jackson family legacy and estate management continue to play out in the courts, drawing attention to questions of accountability and proper stewardship of one of music’s greatest fortunes.
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