Michael Jackson estate fighting daughter Paris’ demand for $1 million in legal fees

Michael Jackson’s estate has challenged a request by his daughter, Paris Jackson, for more than $1.16 million in legal fees following her successful dispute over payments previously made by the estate.

John Branca, an executor of Michael Jackson’s estate, filed court documents objecting to Paris’ request for $1,165,481.90 in legal fees, arguing that the amount is unreasonable. The dispute follows Paris’ challenge to $625,000 in bonuses paid to attorneys for her late father’s estate in 2018. A court ruled in Paris’ favour in April and ordered that the money be returned to the estate.

Because her legal action secured a financial benefit for the estate, the judge subsequently ruled that the estate should reimburse Paris for reasonable legal fees incurred in obtaining that benefit. Paris then sought $1,165,481.90 in legal fees. In its latest filing, the estate does not dispute that Paris is entitled to reimbursement but argues that the amount she is seeking is excessive.

The estate contends that her request includes legal fees connected to other disputes in the broader case rather than only the work that resulted in the successful recovery of funds. It also disputes Paris’ calculation of the financial benefit she obtained for the estate, arguing that some of the money included in that calculation had been voluntarily returned and should not be attributed to her legal efforts.

Branca maintains that Paris should be reimbursed for legal work connected to the issues on which she prevailed and for the financial benefits her efforts actually produced for the estate’s beneficiaries. The court has yet to determine how much Paris will ultimately receive in legal fees.