Serves me right for being prepared and writing some CMU stories yesterday. I had my piece on how Michael Jackson was due in London to appear in the High Court in the previously reported Sheikh trial all written yesterday afternoon, referencing all the fans that were expected to gather outside the court and commenting, very amusingly, how the court would be wishing they had taken my suggestion of opening a memorabilia store. And then we hear the whole dispute has been settled out of court.
Yes, Michael Jackson has reached an out of court settlement, in principle, with Sheikh Abdulla Bin Hamad Bin Isa Al-Khalifa, who accused the singer of being in breach of contract for pulling out of a joint venture business that was to release Jacko's longtime-in-development new album. The Sheikh also says he is owed money from loans he made to Jackson shortly after he was acquitted of those child abuse charges. Jackson claimed there was no business contract, and that the loans had been gifts.
As previously reported, when the case opened last week Jacko initially tried to avoid giving testimony in the London court on grounds of ill-health, but after medical reports were submitted last week his lawyers said he would, in fact, testify, and in person. However, last night, with Jackson reportedly already on his way to the UK, it was confirmed an out of court deal had been done, so no such testimony will be required.
Details of the deal are not known, and given it's a deal "in principle" presumably it could, as yet, collapse, forcing the dispute back into court.