A former lawyer for Michael Jackson has testified in court that, during his time working for the singer, he made moves to stop a Japanese company from negotiating directly with Marc Schaffel regarding a Jacko project. Schaffel is, of course, suing Jacko over monies he claims he is owed, while the singer's lawyers are claiming that Schaffel mis-represented their client while working as his associate, profiting in the process.
Speaking for Jacko's side in the case, Zia Modabber explained that when he heard that the Japanese company, Music Fighters, were in contact with Schaffel regarding the ill-fated charity single that Jacko and Schaffel worked on - 'What More Can I Give' - his immediate concern was to "find out who they were and whether they were legitimate people to negotiate with. I never got to the bottom of it."
Modabber said that the Japanese company had attempted to acquire rights to the recording, despite his attempts to persuade them not to negotiate with Schaffel, adding: "I believe I let them know that without Mr Jackson, what they were buying was worthless". He added that Schaffel had $900,000 from Music Fighters, but the company had basically received nothing in return.
Previously, Modabber testified that it was he who had revealed to Jackson that Schaffel had been a gay porn producer, a revelation which led to Jackson's termination of his relationship with his then associate.