Posted on 07/20/2005 9:15:45 PM PDT by Aussie Dasher
MICHAEL Jackson has failed to show up in court for a hearing on a lawsuit by a man who says the pop singer held him against his will and sexually assaulted him in 1984.
Jackson or a lawyer had been ordered to appear before US District Judge Eldon Fallon to discuss who would defend the singer in the lawsuit, but no one came, a court clerk said.
Judge Fallon set August 17 for a hearing in which Jackson must show why he should not be held in contempt of court and a default judgment issued against him, according to a court order.
Plaintiff Joseph Bartucci claims he was lured into Jackson's limousine during a trip to the 1984 World's Fair and sexually assaulted and battered while held against his will for several days.
Mr Bartucci, 18 at the time of the alleged assault, has said his memories of the events were suppressed until two years ago, when news coverage of child molestation charges against Jackson in California revived them.
Jackson, 46, was acquitted last month of child-sex abuse charges in a sensational trial in Santa Maria, California, near his Neverland Ranch.
Jackson spokesman Brian Oxman said the no-show was the result of "an administrative problem that occurs in a big organisation".
He also rejected Mr Bartucci's claims.
"Michael Jackson has had many such lawsuits and each one has resulted in him being exonerated or the case being dismissed," he said.
"This is part of the magic and burden of being Michael Jackson."
Oh boy...quick call Greta. See if we can tear her away from day 57 of Aruba Missing Teen coverage.
Let's face it. The only career this guy has is as a walking freak show.
Better get some while the gettin' is good, he's going to be broke and in bankruptcy court soon.
The only thing sensational about that trial was the LSM's non-stop 24/7 obsession with it.
Unfortunately I saw about 10 minutes of the coverage on Court TV. You would have thought this twisted freak's trial was the most important thing that's ever happened. Pathetic!
Assaulted in 1984????? 21 years ago????
And he really expects anyone to believe him after all this time?
I'll personally send the creep (Michael) $5 if he'll just go away forever & stay out of the news forever. Who'll join me????
I think he's in France for "le Tour de Jeunes Garçons" (young boys)...
Bloody oath! Can we get it in writing first?
LOL!!! Very funny!!!
He/she/it was my favorite protester in Santa Maria.
He's running. I just have a feeling he's running.
In Hi-Heels?
He's out of here!
Happy Anniversary!!!!
Thanks!
He's such a creep, but I don't believe this accuser at all. He was molested at the age of eighteen, and he just remembered? Give me a break.
I never heard about this case. It sounds like an adult sex assault case. The guy was 18 and claimed he was held against his will? Was he a very petite 18? Jackson could have skated on this one had he showed. If he could escape conviction on the child molestation case...
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