Heads-up: If you were planning on attending Michael Jackson's lawn sale in California in April in hopes of getting your hands on some collectibles, put your credit cards away (for now) because Michael has filed suit against the auction house.
The lawsuit claims Julien's Auction House founder Darren Julien promised to send Jackson an inventory of sale items, but that the singer hasn't given permission to move them all.
The suit claims many of the items are "priceless and irreplaceable" and describes the attempt to sell them as "malicious, fraudulent, extreme, outrageous and without any legal justification whatsoever."
Julien said Wednesday night that the lawsuit was a "total surprise to us, because Jackson had been apprised of everything since the day we started. His manager ... has approved everything."
In December, Julien's company announced it would administer a five-day auction in April featuring more than 2,000 of Jackson's personal items, including his American Music Award for "Thriller," a velvet cape given to him by his children for Father's Day in 1998, a pair of rhinestone-trimmed socks from 1981 and a basketball signed by Michael Jordan.
Platinum and gold records, a customized Harley Davidson, a Rolls Royce limousine and his own original artwork were also set for sale, according to the original announcement.
MJJ Productions authorized the auction house to remove the items from Jackson's Neverland Ranch, according to court documents, but not to sell them without Jackson's permission.
"There was no other intention when we picked up the items" but to put them up for sale, Julien said. He said that Jackson's camp had since requested some items be returned, which the firm honored.
"Up until two days ago we were working with his managers," including final details such as a date for the catalog to be ready and signed, he added.
Developing....
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