Jackson's ex-wife seeks $500,000 for defamation

Debbie Rowe, Michael Jackson's ex-wife, is suing a Florida woman for nearly $500,000 over claims she was only interested in money and wasn't interested in gaining custody of her two children.

Described as a "close friend", Rebecca White told US television show Extra in an interview that Rowe would give up her parental rights to her two children, Prince Michael and Paris, respectively 12 and 11 years old.

Rowe sued White in July over this comment, but White failed to respond and Rowe is seeking a default judgment.

In legal papers filed in Los Angeles last week, Rowe's lawyers said she should be awarded $490,000 in general and punitive damages.

White's defamation and invasion-of-privacy action sought to recoup any money that she may have been paid for the interview, which was estimated to be $100,000 by Rowe's lawyer.

They are also seeking $100,000 for emotional distress, $45,000 for medical and legal fees and $245,000 in punitive damages.

A court hearing to decide the outcome is scheduled for November.
Rowe has some visitation rights with her children under an agreement with Jackson's mother. It is believed that no money has been changed hands in the arrangement.

White claimed in the interview that she had exchanged e-mails with Rowe after Jackson's death on 25 June. and Rowe had emphatically stated in an e-mail that she did not want custody of Jackson's children.

Rowe's attorneys have denied White and Rowe are friends and that they exchanged any e-mails.

Source: Global Times