Michael Jackson’s estate sued for using LA taxpayer money to pay for funeral

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A taxpayer has filed suit against Michael Jackson’s estate for making the city of Los Angeles foot the bill for the late singer’s $3.3 million public funeral this July. The people of Los Angeles will have to get in line. There are currently over $20 million in claims against the estate from various creditors.

City officials explained during a press conference ahead of Jackson’s memorial that they would pay for the event using taypayer money budgeted for unexpected events. They also asked for donations to help offset the costs. The Jackson estate should have paid for the whole thing, or at least a significant portion of it, but since the city ended up footing the bill someone has inevitably filed a lawsuit.

An alleged do-gooder has filed a creditor’s claim against the Michael Jackson estate, on behalf of the City of Angels.

Jose Freddie Vallejos claims it was illegal for Los Angeles city fathers to underwrite the Michael Jackson memorial last July to the tune of $3.3 million.

Vallejos claims the memorial benefited the estate so the estate should pay the full bill.

He filed the claim as a taxpayer for the City of L.A.

[From TMZ]

Before Jackson’s memorial, the City of LA was so broke they almost canceled a parade for the Lakers ahead of the NBA championship win this summer. Some officials initially said that they wouldn’t be able to afford the parade, but eventually caved after the Lakers took home the title. The memorial was a huge media event and was simulcast around the world. Maybe the press attention offset the cost somewhat, but there are still bills to be paid and things are pretty tight lately.

Photo credit: WENN.com

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14 Responses to “Michael Jackson’s estate sued for using LA taxpayer money to pay for funeral”

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  1. Laurrie says:

    I don’t see why taxpayers should have to fork out money for a funeral, for a death that was largely self-inflicted (in the sense of Jackson having a potentially fatal prescription drug habit).
    I hope the lawsuit succeeds in favor of the taxpayer.

  2. Beth says:

    I really don’t understand why the city paid for the memorial. Extra police and security is one thing but the memorial? That’s bizarre. He wasn’t a public official.

  3. Peach says:

    Good! I wondered why a broke city should have to pay for the funeral of a millionaire.
    It seems ridiculous. If the Jackson family wanted a tribute so badly they should have footed it.

    I never liked Michael Jackson and I didn’t think his music was extraordinary. Really. I get he was famous. But that’s no excuse. This money could go to help neighborhoods that actually need help in the LA area. Oh but they don’t have money for that. Nope. Got to celebrate the man with the secret ‘playroom’ behind his bed. Vomit.

  4. bella says:

    A lawsuit never should have been necessary: Jackson’s family or estate should have paid for it, especially since they charged the “little people” (read: folks like you and me) to attend. It’s not like the family is destitute; they certainly have the means to finance MJ’s super-duper funeral extravaganza. That a financially devastated city in a financially devastated state financed ANY part of MJ’s big send-off is shameful.

  5. SammyHammy says:

    I agree with everyone here. He was a millionaire many, many times over. Why on earth should it come out of taxpayer dollars?

  6. Jojo says:

    I completely agree with this. It seems especially irresponsible given how in debt the city is and given the economy in general.

    MJ’s estate should havbe to pay the money back, and with interest. I applaud the plaintiff!

    And according to Bella, they STILL charged for attendance, so where did that money go? In Shar-Pei Joe’s pockets?

  7. t says:

    In our city, funeral processions are required to have a certain number of police escorts based on the number of cars in the procession. The city does not provide this required service for free…the family must pay for it.

    I don’t know what the laws are in L.A., but I hope this guy wins and the Jacksons have to pay for services that ordinary citizens would probably have to pay for.

  8. Kevin says:

    Hope this doesn’t post twice,,anyways. They shoulda just melted him down into souvenir candles. When the Lord says “SHAMON”, you gotta go!

  9. QB says:

    You go tax payer and get your money.

    Isn’t this illegal , for the city to pay for something and a private group take the profits?

  10. Firestarter says:

    I blame the greedy Jackson’s for everything. They wanted a big splashing farewell for MJ, but wanted EVERYONE else to pay for it.

  11. lucy2 says:

    I can’t believe the city hasn’t gone after them for the money themselves. Good for this taxpayer, I hope it turns out in his favor.
    No reason for the city to pay all this for a private citizen, especially when there’s an estate worth hundreds of millions there. I know there was a ton of debt, but there was a lot of money also, and I’d imagine just the amount of his music sold at the time of his death would pay for it. Even if the city initially had to foot the bill for extra police and all, the estate could have made a donation back to them.
    This family is so money and fame hungry it’s disturbing.

  12. Catherine Zoltan says:

    This is what happens when people stop learning economics and social studies in school. They can’t think with the fact that the Jacksons have paid billions into the state coffer in taxes, as well as every economic exchange connected to them. Record sales today put tax money into California. Also the culture of artists in itself keeps the state afloat. Jose F. Vallejo, the person sueing, probably hasn’t figured out where he is yet and how things work.

  13. Catherine Zoltan says:

    Now I hope the celebrities that keep that state afloat with tax dollars, pack up and move out. The citizens can turn to Jose for direction.

  14. GatsbyGal says:

    So if I make my funeral public too, does that mean the taxpayers can pay for it instead of my family?