Paris Jackson, the 27-year-old daughter of the late pop icon Michael Jackson, faced a partial setback in her ongoing legal battle against the executors of her father's multimillion-dollar estate after a Los Angeles court struck down key portions of her petition challenging their financial practices. Retired judge Mitchell L. Beckloff, serving as referee in the probate dispute, ruled in favour of executors John Branca and John McClain on November 10, dismissing several claims under California's anti-SLAPP statute, which protects court filings from retaliatory lawsuits. The decision mandates that Paris cover a portion of the estate's attorneys' fees, estimated in the tens of thousands, though the exact amount remains undetermined. This ruling comes amid heightened scrutiny of the estate, which has ballooned from a $500 million debt at Michael Jackson's 2009 death into a lucrative entity valued at over $2 billion, largely through music catalogue deals and licensing.

The petition, filed in July 2025, accused Branca and McClain of operating with insufficient oversight, including authorising "premium payouts" for unrecorded attorney time and irregular payments such as $125,000 and $250,000 non-contractual "gifts" to counsel between 2018 and 2023. Paris sought to compel the executors to submit detailed petitions for attorney compensation and reimbursements for those years within 90 days, arguing that a "five-year and growing lag" in filings prejudiced beneficiaries like herself, her brother Prince, and half-brother Bigi (formerly Blanket). While the motion did not contest the alleged transactions, it targeted Paris' objections to the timing and substance of the estate's probate submissions, deeming them protected speech. Surviving elements include demands for greater transparency on billing and oversight, allowing Paris to pursue those avenues.

In response, Paris' spokesperson issued a defiant statement to People magazine, emphasising resilience: "This order is limited to minor procedural issues and does not change the facts: the pattern of behaviour displayed by the executors and their attorneys raises significant red flags, and Paris will continue working to ensure her family is treated fairly. We will be submitting an updated filing shortly." The executors, in prior filings, countered that they have transformed the estate into "a powerhouse and a force in the music business today," crediting their stewardship for distributing roughly $65 million to Paris alone and generating billions in value through ventures like the Sony catalogue sale. They portrayed her challenges as unfounded, given the estate's success in resolving debts and funding the Jackson children's trusts.

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The ruling coincides with renewed interest in Michael Jackson's legacy, fuelled by the teaser trailer for the biopic Michael, starring his nephew Jaafar Jackson and directed by Antoine Fuqua, which amassed over 116 million views in 24 hours upon release. Set for April 2026, the film has drawn Paris' criticism for its "dishonest" script filled with inaccuracies, adding to tensions as the estate defends its involvement. Concurrently, the estate navigates high-stakes lawsuits, including a $400 million sexual abuse claim by Wade Robson and James Safechuck, and ongoing intellectual property disputes, all while balancing artistic tributes with legal accountability.

As Paris prepares her revised petition, the case highlights enduring family rifts over the King of Pop's posthumous empire, where transparency clashes with executor autonomy. Legal observers anticipate further hearings could test anti-SLAPP boundaries in probate matters, potentially influencing how celebrity estates manage beneficiary rights amid commercial exploitation. For Paris, who has navigated personal struggles, including substance abuse and nasal damage from past addiction, this fight underscores her commitment to honouring her father's vision while safeguarding familial equity.

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