Michael Jackson's Former Manager Sues Singer's Estate

SANTA MONICA, CA – A Los Angeles judge has cleared the way for trial of a lawsuit brought against Michael Jackson's estate by one of his former managers, who alleges he's owed money for his work in preventing a foreclosure on the singer's Neverland Ranch in 2008.

Santa Monica Superior Court Judge Mitchell Beckloff said there are triable issues as to whether Tohme Tohme's services to Jackson were those typically done by a real estate broker and whether the plaintiff was required to be licensed to perform such work.

Beckloff, who heard arguments on the estate's motion to dismiss the case on Dec. 18 before ruling nine days later, said the agreement between Jackson and Tohme called for the plaintiff to receive a finder's fee if he performed obligations under the deal.

Tohme says he found out in 2008 that the promissory note on Neverland Ranch in Santa Barbara County was in default and that the lender had begun foreclosure proceedings. Tohme says he introduced Jackson to Tom Barrack, CEO for the private equity firm Colony Capital LLC.

"As a result of my efforts, Colony Capital agreed to advance funds to pay off the promissory note which ... resulted in a cancellation of the foreclosure proceedings against Neverland Ranch," Tohme says in a sworn statement.

According to Beckloff, the terms of the contract between Tohme and Jackson called for the former manager to receive $2.3 million as compensation upon identifying and introducing Jackson to a Colony Capital representative.

Trial of Tohme's lawsuit is scheduled for Feb. 5.

Jackson died in June 2009 at age 50 of a drug overdose. His estate is run by entertainment lawyer John Branca and longtime music executive John McClain.

Colony Capital is the same company that entered into talks in October to buy some or all of the assets of the Weinstein Co. in the midst of revelations of sexual harassment allegations against Harvey Weinstein, but the negotiations ended a month later when the two sides could not agree on a price.

City News Service; Photo: Singer Michael Jackson poses backstage at the 2003 Radio Music Awards at the Aladdin Casino Resort October 27, 2003 in Las Vegas, Nevada. Police armed with a search warrant swarmed Jackson's Neverland Ranch in the Santa Ynez Valley November 18, 2003 outside of Santa Barbara. The purpose of the search was not disclosed. (Photo by Carlo Allegri/Getty Images)