Judge fines Michael Jackson over missed hearing
8/17/2005, 12:13 p.m. CT
By MARY FOSTER
The Associated Press

NEW ORLEANS (AP) — An irate judge, miffed by pop star Michael Jackson's failure to be represented at an earlier hearing in a federal civil case, fined the singer $10,000 on Wednesday.

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Jackson was a no-show and had no lawyer present at a July procedural matter in a case accusing him of sexual assault during the 1984 World's Fair.

Jackson's lawyer, Charles F. Gay Jr., told U.S. District Judge Eldon Fallon that the summons for the earlier court date was simply lost in the confusion of Jackson's trial in Santa Maria, Calif., in which Jackson was acquitted of child molestation charges. The summons for the New Orleans court appearance arrived on June 13.

"I would like to point out that June 13 was probably the most anxious day of Michael Jackson's life," Gay said. "That was the day the jury reached the verdict."

At that time, Gay told the judge, Jackson was not eating or sleeping and was worried about his and his children's futures.

"The order of June 13 did not get in the proper people's hands because of the chaos in Michael Jackson's life," Gay said.

Jackson was not required to be in court himself and was not there Wednesday.

Fallon said he did not feel it was appropriate to fine Jackson for contempt, but he was not sold on Gay's excuse either, so he levied other fines related to court costs.

"It strains my understanding of the facts that Mr. Jackson did not know of this matter," Fallon said. "The same person received all the summonses."

Fallon said he could have had Jackson arrested after the July hearing and certainly would have done so Wednesday had Jackson not been represented then.

Fallon did fine Jackson $5,000 for missing the earlier hearing and $5,000 to cover the costs of the attorney fees for plaintiff Joseph Thomas Bartucci Jr.

Bartucci claims he was lured into Jackson's limousine by one of the singer's employees, then held against his will for days. He also claims he was sexually assaulted by Jackson during a drive to California and back. Bartucci was 18 at the time and claims he repressed the memories until 2003, when he saw the coverage of the child molestation charges brought against Jackson in the California case.

The judge scheduled a conference Sept. 7 to choose a trial date.

Gay said he doubted the case would go to trial.

"It's very unlikely," Gay said. "There is probably a problem with the statue of limitations."

There is a one-year statue of limitations from the time Bartucci claims he regained his memory, but Gay said Bartucci allegedly discussed the allegations with his wife in the 1990s.

Bartucci claims he regained memory of the event in November of 2003, his attorney William A. Pigg said.

Bartucci's legal team also filed a motion to have Gay dismissed as Jackson's attorney. Bartucci signed an affidavit saying he had met with attorneys from Adams and Reese, the firm Gay belongs to, and discussed the case.

"Mr. Bartucci's memory appears to be false," Gay said of the claim.

Bartucci is seeking unspecified monetary compensation from Jackson on a variety of claims such as emotional distress.

Pigg said he will push for a quick trial.

"My client has been under a great deal of stress," Pigg said. "He has been the victim of character assassination. He had animal blood smeared on his door a couple of weeks ago."

Okay yeah..
I am a Michael fan..but to the people that aren't..this "accuser's" own girlfriend said that he was lying and making the whole thing up.
Hmmmm
Give it up haters..oh yeah who has the biggest selling album still?
It is Michael so shut up haters!

for the love of god! can't they just pass a law that prohibits rediculus claims against MJ! For once I would like Judge Judy to handle one of these cases. she'd put these moneygrabbers in their place.

I thought it said missing cape case at first.