Michael Jackson estate opposes Paris Jackson’s $1.16m legal fee claim

Executors of the Michael Jackson estate, John Branca and John McClain, are opposing a request by Paris Jackson for approximately $1.16 million in legal fees and costs.

The dispute follows a previous court ruling in which Paris Jackson successfully challenged $625,000 in bonus payments made to outside law firms in 2018. The court determined those bonuses were not sufficiently justified and ordered them returned. As part of that ruling, Paris was permitted to seek reasonable legal fees incurred during the challenge.

The estate argues that the $1.16 million claim is excessive and includes legal work not directly related to the specific issue of the disallowed bonuses. Executors contend that any reimbursement should be limited to the actual financial benefit obtained for the estate and that Paris has not clearly demonstrated the total savings achieved through the litigation.