.


http://www.cnn.com/2006/U...index.html



Employees haven't been paid since December.
Neverland Ranch has been siezed.

EvilWhiteMules said:

Neverland wasn't seized, but Jacko's employees are not allowed to work there until management reestablishes their workers compensation insurance. Plus he's being fined and was ordered to pay the unpaid wages of his employees:

LOS ANGELES (Reuters) -
Michael Jackson was ordered to shut down his Neverland Valley Ranch on Thursday by California authorities who have fined the pop star $169,000 for failing to pay his employees or maintain proper insurance.

Jackson's sprawling ranch in the central California foothills was closed, at least temporarily, by an agent of the State Labor Commissioner after the office discovered that his worker's compensation policy had lapsed in January.

"We went out there this morning and issued a stop order to the security guard at the front gate," state Department of Industrial Relations spokesman Dean Fryer told Reuters. "We asked to be escorted in to meet management, but we were refused and turned away, so we gave the order to (the guard)."

Fryer said local animal welfare officials had been asked to care for the inhabitants of Neverland's zoo.

He said that Jackson could reopen the ranch if he obtains workers compensation insurance but may face legal action by the state if he fails to pay the back wages.

Jackson, who was cleared last June of criminal charges that he sexually abused a young boy at Neverland, has spent much of his time since the trial in Bahrain and was not at his ranch when authorities arrived. His representatives could not immediately be reached for comment.

The order prohibits Jackson from employing anyone at the 2,800-acre (1,130-hectare) ranch until the insurance issues are resolved, Fryer said. "So it looks like this would mean for Neverland Valley Ranch that they would be closed down."

Jackson on Thursday was fined $69,000, or $1,000 per employee, for allowing his insurance to lapse. Earlier this week, authorities cited him for violating state labor law by failing to pay at least 30 employees since December of 2005. A letter for that citation imposes a $100,000 fine and demands that he make good on $306,000 in unpaid wages.

Fryer said his office learned of the workers compensation issue after a Neverland employee making an unpaid-wage claim remarked that a co-worker had been injured on the job and was uncertain about filing a claim due to the lapsed insurance.

If an employee were hurt at Neverland while Jackson was uninsured, Fryer said, "the medical expenses associated with that injury would have to be picked up by the state."

Prosecutors asserted during Jackson's child molestation trial that the pop singer was in precarious financial shape due to mounting debts.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/n...NlYwM5NjQ-

http://news.yahoo.com/s/a...NlYwNmYw--

Update: MJ Faces Deadline to Pay Workers...

LOS OLIVOS, Calif. - State regulators said Friday they will go after
Michael Jackson in court if he fails to meet a Tuesday deadline to pay $100,000 in penalties and $306,000 in back pay owed to nearly 50 workers at his Neverland Ranch.

"If they don't comply then we file suit to get a judgment," said Dean Fryer, a spokesman for the California Department of Industrial Relations.

The ranch operators have until the close of business Tuesday to pay up.

"It's pretty clear that they owe this money," he said. "We've got all these wage claims. People are telling me they haven't been paid from Dec. 19."

Jackson spokeswoman Raymone K. Bain said the entertainer was on a plane from London to the Persian Gulf nation of Bahrain most of the day on Thursday after traveling in Europe.

She said he learned of the situation at Neverland when he arrived in Bahrain late in the day, but she had been unable to discuss it with him because of the time difference.

"He's been made aware," Bain said. "I'm sure this will be resolved."

Jackson, who has been living in Bahrain since being acquitted of child molestation charges last year, has been rumored for some time to be in financial trouble.

Forensic accountant John Duross O'Bryan testified at Jackson's trial that the entertainer had an "ongoing cash crisis" and was spending $20 million to $30 million more per year than he earned.

There have been rumors — repeatedly denied — that Jackson might sell some of his assets, which include the ranch, several homes and a stake in the Beatles record catalog.

Thomas Mesereau Jr., a former Jackson lawyer, said he had been "in touch with people involved with Michael" and "I'm not aware of any plans to sell the ranch."

On Thursday the state barred scores of Jackson employees from working at Neverland after learning that workers compensation coverage had lapsed in January.

Some workers who live on the 2,600-acre estate can remain, but no work can be done until the ranch either obtains coverage or hires an outside company that has it, Fryer said.

The state gave ranch operators five days to appeal the decision and 30 days to appeal a $69,000 fine — $1,000 for each worker — but in the meantime all work must stop, Fryaer said.

An accounting firm that handles ranch finances for Jackson "assured us that they are trying to comply" and had informed employees that they had to stop work, Fryer said.

"To our knowledge at this point they are complying and we will follow up to ensure they are complying," he said.

The ranch includes several amusement park rides and has been home over the years to elephants, giraffes, snakes, orangutans, tigers and a crocodile. Fryer said local animal welfare agencies were notified of the shutdown so they could make arrangements to feed and care for the animals

The animal activist group People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals called Friday for Jackson's menagerie to be removed from the ranch and placed in sanctuaries.

"Mr. Jackson is universally known for his love of animals. We hope that he will accept PETA's offer to help ensure that none of the animals at Neverland end up at shabby roadside zoos or exotic-animal auctions or in the hands of exotic animal brokers, breeders, or dealers," PETA said in a letter faxed to Bain.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/a...NlYwM3MTY-
[Edited 3/10/06 21:20pm]

guess those thriller royalties just aint what they used to be...

Although this whole story (As with any mj story) has been grossly exaggerated and although i like mike etc, i just dont get what the fuck he is doing with his time. Its been almost a year since the end of the trial and he hasnt bothered to sort out any of his troubles, its taken him over six months to record one song which may not even be released. This is just not relevant to his situation now , he needs to release music that will make him $$$$ not a fucking charity record. Also, why doesnt he just sell most of his shit, he could make a fortune selling off unused property, selling some urns, some artwork etc, those 10 bentleys he has that have never been driven etc.

cborgman said:

or he has a very lazy accountant.



much ado about nothing...

FunkyBrotha said:

How do you know it's been grossly exaggerated? I saw your post on the other thread...the articles explain how the number (what he owes) was calculated!



Good points!