Everything associated with Michael Jackson’s name is not easy, as Kings Auctions learned the hard way. It’s like watching a Drama series.
A court-ordered sale of Michael Jackson’s artwork, scheduled for August 3 at King’s Auctions in Las Vegas, was abruptly halted at the last minute when an entity associated with the property owner suddenly declared bankruptcy.
The Jackson-Strong Alliance LLC filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection in the U.S. District Court for the Central District of California. Overseen by artist and former friend of Michael Jackson, Sir Brett-Livingstone Strong, the alliance was ordered to sell 120 “museum collection” artworks to satisfy a $3.25 million debt owed to Dallas-based firm Vinson Investments, according to the bankruptcy filing.
The JSA filing was made a day before the planned sale, on August 2. Vinson was listed among the 20 largest creditors as was iconic singer Cher, under the full name Cher Allman. She is owed $1 million, according to the filing.
An attorney for Vinson did not immediately respond to requests for comment. Brad Patterson, Strong’s attorney, clarified that he is not the bankruptcy counsel and stated that while his client has not filed for bankruptcy, the Jackson-Strong Alliance (JSA) has.
“Although I am not bankruptcy counsel, we look forward to an expedited proceeding and all creditors being paid in full,” Patterson said in an email.
According to a representative for King’s, JSA filed for bankruptcy the day before the auction at 5:50 p.m. in a last-minute effort to halt the sale and retain Michael Jackson’s art collection.
The representative claimed that Strong also filed bankruptcy in 2007 to wipe out $40 million in debt, adding that “there are many questions here regarding the legitimacy of the Friday filing.” Asked about this, his attorney Patterson said: “I don’t respond to factually incorrect rants.”
In late July, the Superior Court of Los Angeles, Santa Monica division ordered the sale of the Jackson artworks to be held on August 3 by King’s Auctions.
According to King’s: “JSA/Brett Livingston Strong owes millions and used the MJ collection as collateral. The lien holders were to be paid through the courts from the auction proceeds, Vinson Investments, ex-wife Monica Strong, and other creditors with liens against Strong. Attorneys believe this is just another tactic by Brett-Livingston Strong to delay once again after seven years of litigation.”
Asked what will happen to the artworks now, the King’s representative said: “There will be another auction date set!”
King’s is still offering the giant throne featured in a segment of the 2014 Billboard Awards honoring Jackson. “The throne came from a different source and remains available for purchase, as it was not sold due to the auction halt,” the company stated.
As previously reported by Artnet News, Jackson and Strong first met in 1979 and maintained a collaborative friendship until Jackson’s death in 2009. Strong claims that Jackson assigned him the copyrights to his artworks before passing away.
However, Jackson’s estate has expressed doubts about the authenticity of the works in the sale. A representative for the estate told TMZ that they do not recognize the sketches as authentic and have communicated their concerns to the auction house.
According to King’s, the lawyer for the singer’s estate “has confirmed in writing to King’s Auctions’s counsel that the estate’s position is merely their opinion, and they have no factual basis to dispute the authenticity of the artwork.” They added that “there appears to be substantial hard feelings between the seller of the artwork and the estate that have existed for more than a decade.”
However, Jonathan Steinsapir, a Los Angeles-based attorney representing the estate who corresponded with King’s, told Artnet News: “I have never confirmed, in writing or otherwise, that the Estate of Michael Jackson has ‘no factual basis upon which to dispute the authenticity of the artwork.’”
“Indeed, as previously explained, representatives of the estate—all of whom knew Michael—examined this artwork several years ago while it was being stored in a hangar at the Santa Monica airport, and the inspection only raised further concerns. We have made this clear to the auction house and others many times since. The estate asked for evidence that these works were in fact created by Michael, and no sufficient evidence has ever been produced.”
What a drama!
