Items Seized From Jackson’s Parents

Federal marshals seized a grand piano and an aged Rolls-Royce Thursday from the home of entertainer Michael Jackson’s parents to satisfy part of a $1.3-million default judgment in connection with the purchase of a guitar company.

“This is a tempest is a teapot,” said Brian Oxman, attorney for Joseph and Katherine Jackson.

Oxman said the seizure was illegal because the couple had not been served with court papers before the default judgment was obtained.

Besides, he said, “The piano belongs to Michael, not his parents. It’s always been Michael’s. He wrote some of his biggest hits in the ‘80s on that grand. We want the piano back and we’re going to get it.”

As for the confiscated Rolls-Royce Silver Cloud, Oxman said the car is about 30 years old, doesn’t run and would fetch no more than about $3,000.

A bankrupt New Jersey company, HVV Corp., obtained the judgment against Jackson Communications Inc., a company in which Joseph and Katherine Jackson and several of their children own shares. HVV’s attorney, Robert Sainburg, said Jackson Communications purchased an HVV subsidiary, Keystone Guitar Co., for about $1.5 million, but paid only about $200,000 of that amount.

In addition to the entertainer’s parents, the 1996 judgment names his siblings Marlon, Tito, Randy, Jermaine and Rebbie Jackson, according to HVV’s attorney. Michael Jackson was not named. Oxman said the Jackson family members were given the shares by a promoter in exchange for allowing the promoter to use the Jackson name when he set up the company. The lawyer said they are not responsible for any of HVV’s claims. Sainburg said the Rolls-Royce and piano would be auctioned.

This was not the first attempt to seize property at the Jackson home. U.S. marshals went to the house in September with a court order authorizing them to confiscate a Rolls-Royce convertible, two Mercedes-Benz sedans and a Range Rover. They returned empty-handed, according to court records.

In 1997, HVV sued Katherine and Joseph Jackson, contending they lied about owning the cars and other property during sworn questioning by HVV’s lawyers. After the interview, the suit contended, the Jacksons sold all but one of the cars to prevent the company from executing the judgment.

The lawsuit was dismissed last month, but Sainburg said HVV plans to appeal.