Overview
- A private referee’s order, signed April 29 and reported Wednesday, directs that $625,000 in 2018 bonuses paid to Jay Cooper, Jeryll Cohen, and the late Howard Weitzman be returned to Michael Jackson’s estate.
- Executors John Branca and John McClain may not make bonus payments to attorneys without written consent from all beneficiaries or a court order.
- The ruling requires the estate to hold back 30% of attorneys’ fees until a judge approves the payments.
- Paris Jackson can seek reimbursement of her legal costs, and the referee credited her with prompting a deadline for fee petitions for 2019 through 2024 due Sept. 15, 2026.
- The executors said they disagree with parts of the decision but will comply, and the order also praised their stewardship while noting the disputed bonuses went to outside counsel, not to them.