'Talks to settle' Jackson case

Negotiations are under way to settle a US lawsuit brought by Janet Jackson over items she and brother Michael say have been stolen, a lawyer has said.

 

Lawyer Edgar Pease III said he was "negotiating a resolution" to claims brought by Janet Jackson against Henry Vaccaro, from New Jersey.

 

Michael Jackson has stopped pursuing his portion of the case, which centres on a warehouse full of memorabilia.

 

Ms Jackson's spokespeople were not available to comment on the case.

 

The items include gold-trimmed costumes, financial documents, letters, awards and one of Michael Jackson's first outfits worn with the Jackson 5.

 

Underwear and other items were seized by authorities in Santa Barbara, California during their unsuccessful prosecution of Mr Jackson on child abuse charges.

 

Storage facility

 

Mr Vaccaro says he was awarded the items after years of legal wrangling following a failed business venture which ended in bankruptcy proceedings.

 

He had taken the items from a storage facility after the Jackson family had allegedly failed to pay a bill for the items.

 

Michael and Janet Jackson sued, saying some of the items still belonged to them and Mr Vaccaro only had a right to property belonging to their parents and their brothers, Tito and Jermaine.

 

Mr Pease said virtually all of the memorabilia - except for some of the items seized in the child abuse investigation - had been sold on and Mr Vaccaro no longer has them.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/entertainment/4587372.stm