After MJ's estate filed a lawsuit against him for breach of fiduciary duty, Tohme R. Tohme fires back with his own lawsuit, claiming he helpep MJ revive his career after his child molestation trial.
- Feb 18, 2012
AceShowbiz - A legal war over Michael Jackson's earnings has broken out between his estate and his former manager. Attorneys for both sides have filed lawsuit against one another in Los Angeles Superior Court on Friday, February 17. The late singer's estate accused Tohme R. Tohme of breach of fiduciary duty, but he insisted he helped save MJ's career after his child molestation trial.
The documents filed by MJ's estate noted that Tohme "took control of virtually all of Jackson's personal and professional affairs, then did as he pleased" after being hired. It further read, "With no oversight or supervision, Tohme quickly set about to and did install a far-reaching and very lucrative financial package for himself obtained as a result of a manifest breach of his fiduciary duties."
Tohme was also accused of making bad business deals on the late singer's behalf and of getting himself generous compensation in exchange. The estate claimed that the former manager introduced MJ to Colony Capital, which took over Neverland Ranch in 2008, and received a 10|percent| finder's fee on the refinanced loan and a promise of a 10|percent| take on any profit of the Ranch's future sale.
Claiming that Tohme had improperly retained MJ's property and financial records, the estate demanded that the former manager to "immediately and fully account for a return to the estate all money and personal property entrusted to him by any time by Jackson." The estate also asked for damages, interest, attorney's fees and legal costs.
In his response, Tohme, who worked for MJ from early 2008 until a few months before his death in June 2009, argued that he played significant role in reviving the singer's career after he was acquitted of child molestation charges. He also claimed to have saved Neverland and took credit for the name of MJ's comeback tour, "This Is It".
