Overview
- A Los Angeles judge found the 2018 bonuses to outside law firms lacked required approval and ordered the money returned to the estate.
- The court also ruled Paris Jackson’s legal fees were reasonable and approved reimbursement of a little over $625,000.
- Executors John Branca and John McClain said they will comply with the order and emphasized the funds went to outside firms, not to them.
- The executors argued the payments were standard for the industry and tied to work that increased the estate’s value.
- The dispute underscores years of tension over transparency and major transactions since 2009, including a partial sale of the music catalog to Sony Music.