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Michael Jackson
Photo: MTV |
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Michael Jackson's lawyer
lashed out Tuesday at the charter jet company that flew the singer from Las
Vegas to Santa Barbara, California, last week, claiming XtraJet videotaped
the flight and tried to sell the tapes to the media.
"The videotaping of my client conferring with me was illegal and
outrageous," attorney Mark Geragos told reporters during
a
press
conference outside his Los Angeles office. Jackson flew home from Las Vegas on Thursday
to face multiple charges of child molestation (see
"Michael Jackson Surrenders To Santa Barbara Police").
The Santa Monica-based private air carrier insists it only found the tapes
and did not make them, but Geragos claims in a lawsuit filed Tuesday
(November 25) that the company secretly and illegally videotaped the flight
and then tried to sell the tapes for a sum in the high six figures. The
lawsuit claims Jackson had a reasonable expectation of privacy while on the
chartered jet and alleges invasion of privacy, public disclosure of private
facts, common law misappropriation of name and likeness, use of name and
likeness, recording of confidential information, and unfair business
practices.
The suit cites reports from "Extra" and
FOX News that indicate the media
have been shown the tape. FOX reported on Monday that it viewed the tape
without audio and that the footage showed Jackson being calm, though often
smiling or laughing, during the plane ride. The tape shows the singer
drinking a soda and, at one point, spraying cologne.
XtraJet had no comment Tuesday but had earlier told reporters that the
company found two video cameras with footage of the flight on them during a
routine sweep of the aircraft. The company told the Los Angeles Times
it did not know who was
responsible
for
taping
the
flight
and
that XtraJet
decided to show the tapes to media outlets because it was seeking advice on
whether it was legal to distribute or sell the tapes. An XtraJet executive,
Jeffrey Borer, told the Times that networks were asked sign a
confidentiality agreement about the taping.
"They all expressed interest in buying the tape. We told them the tape was
not available," Borer told the paper. "We did not ask a price from anybody.
... We were just trying to figure out the most ethical thing to do. We made
no decision because we had Michael's best interest in mind, as we would any
of our passengers."
Calling the taping "one of the most outrageous acts I've seen in my 20 years
of practicing criminal law," Geragos angrily declared that Jackson is not a
"piñata for every money-hungry publicity seeker to strike in the hopes of
hitting it rich."
"This is not the lottery," he said. "This is this man's life. This is his
family's life. These [molestation charges] are scurrilous accusations. This
entire case is about cash, and anyone who believes differently is living in
their own Neverland. We will land on you like a hammer if you do anything to
besmirch this man's reputation, anything to intrude on his privacy that is
actionable. We will unleash a legal torrent like you've never seen. We will
land on you like a ton of bricks."
Earlier Tuesday, a Los Angeles Superior Court judge awarded Geragos a
temporary injunction that prevents XtraJet from releasing the footage until
at least December 19. A hearing on extending the order is scheduled for
December 18.
On Tuesday evening, Matthew Geragos, Mark's brother and civil co-counsel for
Jackson, said on CNN's "Larry King Live" that the FBI had taken possession
of the tapes. An FBI spokesperson on Wednesday said he couldn't confirm that
the tapes were impounded, but he did say that agents were sent to a location
in Santa Monica on Tuesday.
For full coverage of the Michael Jackson case, see
"Michael Jackson Accused."
