Former Jackson Lawyer Testifies

A business associate who is suing Michael Jackson over a $1.6-million financial dispute tried to go behind the pop star’s back and sell rights to a charity record to a Japanese company, Jackson’s former lawyer testified Monday.

The charity record, which was to benefit victims of the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks, was supposed to be in Jackson’s name only, lawyer Zia Modabber testified. But unbeknownst to Jackson, F. Marc Schaffel obtained a $900,000 check from a Japanese record company in 2002 by touting his relationship with the singer.

He “was trying to have [a deal] without our knowledge,” Modabber testified.

The lawsuit is expected to go to the jury this week. Schaffel claims Jackson owes him millions in unpaid fees and loans for work on the record and two TV specials, and for money to buy jewelry for Elizabeth Taylor and to go on shopping sprees. Jackson has countered that Schaffel has taken about $1 million from him.

Jackson tried to fire Schaffel in 2001 after discovering he had been an adult film producer, Modabber said. Jackson became aware of his associate’s past only when the attorney showed him a video of Schaffel directing a gay porn scene, Modabber testified.

“I think he didn’t want to believe it was real or true,” Modabber said. “He appeared angry, upset.”

That same night, Jackson called Schaffel and told him he was off the charity project, acknowledged Schaffel, who also took the stand Monday.

The next day, Schaffel wrote and backdated a string of checks drawn on Jackson’s bank accounts and made out to Schaffel’s companies, he testified.

“I wanted to make sure I didn’t get stuck holding the bag on a whole bunch of bills,” Schaffel said.

The checks, totaling $784,000, were for six months’ advance rent and utility and cable payments for Schaffel, the filmmaker testified.

Modabber testified that he couldn’t understand why Schaffel was still involved in Jackson’s affairs in 2002 when he had been fired the year before. Modabber said the singer’s other attorneys told him they “were handling it,” he testified.

Schaffel said he remained involved in a children’s book project with Jackson, and was helping the singer try to adopt children from Brazil. The adoptions never happened.

Testimony is set to resume today.