Michael Jackson’s final days could be allegorized by an oil tanker colliding with a rocky shoreline, dumping millions of gallons of crude into a crystal-clear ocean. Part of the early warning system of that doomed craft was never functional – that of the naming of a guardian and custodian of Jackson’s children in the event he should become incapacitated. Thankfully, the wheels are now in motion to rectify both errors: we hope Katherine Jackson, though aged, proves to be a reliable guardian for her son’s offspring.  Yesterday, Los Angeles Superior Court Judge, Mitchell Beckloff, tapped Margaret G. Lodise, a partner at a downtown Los Angeles law firm specializing in probate matters, to serve as the children’s guardian ad litem in the settling of their father’s estate.  Interestingly this is the same judge that first entertained some probate matters in the Estate of Anna Nicole Smith which I wrote about several months ago. Lawyers for Katherine Jackson, 79, oppose certain elements of merchandising and memorabilia contracts hammered out by the estate administrators, John Branca and John McClain.  The judge said today that he will ask for input from the children’s guardian before deciding whether to approve the contracts. The waters might Read More …

As the old saying goes, there is no rest for the weary.  Several weeks ago, I took a much-needed vacation to a small hamlet on the Baja Peninsula.  That same region was awakened from its peaceful existence Monday by a series of 4 earthquakes of 5.0-magnitude or greater (the greatest being 6.9); they emanated from the narrow seaway between the Baja peninsula and Mexico’s mainland which reduced its chances of causing major damage, and they were felt as far away as San Diego and Phoenix.  I know firsthand how unsettled one can become from these temblors.  Let us be thankful these did not cause the destruction of those we reported earlier this year in Italy.