Friday, February 23, 2007
Judge blocks womanfrom Jackson settlement
LOS ANGELES -- A British woman who claims she is the mother of Michael Jackson's three children cannot intervene in the pop star's custody settlement with his ex-wife, a judge has ruled.
Nona Paris Lola Jackson, 36, of London, filed a motion in October demanding a role in the custody settlement between the singer and Deborah Rowe. Superior Court Judge Robert Schnider denied the motion in November and again on Wednesday, saying she had failed to properly notify Jackson and Rowe of her claims.
The woman hadn't provided "credible evidence" that she was the children's birth mother, the judge said.
He left open the opportunity for her to bring the motion again if Jackson and Rowe were served properly.
Nona Jackson's court papers contended that "Michael and I are a sexually active couple and have been this way from the beginning." She also claimed to have written more than 3,000 songs for him.
Nona Jackson, speaking by telephone, tried to question two lawyers for the 48-year-old singer in court Wednesday.
"Is Mr. Jackson denying I'm the mother of the children?" she asked. "What is he saying about my children?"
However, the judge told her the lawyers weren't obligated to answer. No lawyers for Rowe were present.
Michael Jackson has said Rowe is the mother of his eldest son, Prince Michael, and daughter, Paris. He has not identified the mother of his other son, Prince Michael II.
Jackson and Rowe settled a custody fight in September. Details of that agreement have not been released.
Trump's final project
BEDMINSTER, N.J. -- He may be a New York native. But it's the Garden State that may own "The Donald" for eternity.
Real-estate mogul Donald Trump has filed paperwork to build a wedding chapel on his golf course in Bedminster. He told The Star-Ledger of Newark that he wants to later convert the building into a mausoleum for himself and his family.
Trump called the 525-acre Trump National Golf Club property in picturesque Somerset County hill country, about 50 miles west of Manhattan, a "beautiful place." Trump built the course, which opened in 2004, on the former estate of the late automaker John DeLorean.
Plans to build the chapel would be contingent on approval from the Bedminster Planning Board, Trump said. The board is expected to review the application next month.
Today's birthdays
Actor Peter Fonda is 67. Singer-musician Johnny Winter is 63. Rock musician Brad Whitford (Aerosmith) is 55. Singer Howard Jones is 52. Rock musician Michael Wilton (Queensryche) is 45. Country singer Dusty Drake is 43. Tennis player Helena Sukova is 42. Country singer Steve Holy is 35. Rock musician Lasse Johansson (The Cardigans) is 34. Actress Dakota Fanning is 13.