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Paris Jackson has secured a significant legal victory in her ongoing dispute over the estate of her late father, Michael Jackson, after a Los Angeles judge ordered that $625,000 in bonus payments be returned to the estate.
According to court documents filed on May 13, the payments had been approved by estate executors John Branca and John McClain for third-party law firms during the second half of 2018. However, the judge ruled in Paris' favor after she objected to the bonuses.
"Ms. Jackson's objection to the $625,000 of bonus payments made in the second six months of 2018 is sustained," the motion stated. "The bonus payments are not approved; they are disallowed. The payments shall be returned to the estate."
The ruling also allows Paris, 28, to seek legal fees and related costs tied to the case. The court order noted that she "may bring a motion for her reasonable attorneys' fees and costs under the common fund theory for her meritorious objection to the executors' fee petition."
Paris, who is one of the beneficiaries of Michael Jackson's estate alongside her brothers Prince and Bigi, has spent months challenging the actions of the executors. She has accused Branca and McClain of abusing their authority and failing to operate transparently, allegations they have repeatedly denied.
In a statement following the ruling, a spokesperson for Paris said she "has always been focused on what's best for her family and this ruling is a massive win for them."
The statement continued, "After years of delay, the Jackson family will finally get the transparency and accountability measures Paris has fought for."
It also criticized the management of the estate, saying it was "supposed to be a prudent, fiscally responsible entity that supports the Jackson family, not a slush fund to help John Branca live out his Hollywood mogul fantasies."
Attorneys representing the estate responded by saying they "disagree with the decision" but "fully respect it and plan to move forward accordingly."
They also stressed that none of the disputed funds were paid directly to the executors and noted that the court "did not in any way say that the executors had made any inappropriate payments to themselves."
The legal dispute is part of a wider conflict between Paris and the estate's management team. Earlier this year, she accused the executors of attempting to "mock and belittle" her through legal filings and media comments while pushing for more transparency regarding the estate's finances.
Michael Jackson's estate, which was reportedly more than $500 million in debt at the time of his death in 2009, has since become one of the most profitable celebrity estates in the entertainment industry.
