Michael Jackson: Mother loses control of estate

Michael Jackson: Mother loses control of estate

Late Michael Jackson's mother, Katherine Jackson, lost her bid to control his estate. Superior Court Judge Mitchell Beckloff, at a hearing on Monday in Los Angeles, gave temporary control of Michael Jackson's estate to the pop star's former lawyer John Branca and music producer John McClain.

Branca and McClain have temporary control until a further hearing on Aug 3.

Katherine Jackson is the temporary guardian of singer's three children. Her lawyers expressed concerns about McClain and Branca's financial leadership.

John E. Schreiber, one of her lawyers, said, "Mrs. Jackson has concerns about handing over the keys to the kingdom".

Katherine Jackson was placed in temporary charge by the judge Mitchell Beckloff last week.

But now, Beckloff said that the emergence of a 2002 will that named the two longtime Jackson associates, Branca and McClain, as executors persuaded him to remove the singer's 79 year old mother from the position of limited power she had held over the estate for a week. 

Beckloff said, "I think the law compels that result. I think Mr Jackson felt comfortable with these individuals, at least in 2002".