Jackson sued by veterinarian at Neverland
By Quintin Cushner/Senior Staff Writer
The chief veterinarian at Michael Jackson's Neverland Valley Ranch near Los Olivos has sued the pop star in Santa Barbara County Superior Court for $91,602.05 in past fees.
Plaintiff Martin Dinnes, who owns the Dinnes Memorial Veterinary Hospital in Santa Clarita, filed suit Dec. 27 in Santa Maria, naming Jackson and several entities controlled by the singer.
Dinnes has for the past 15 years helped Jackson acquire the diverse animals living in Neverland's zoo - including flamingos, giraffes, elephants and orangutans, said Dinnes' attorney, Brenton Horner.By Quintin Cushner/Senior Staff Writer
The chief veterinarian at Michael Jackson's Neverland Valley Ranch near Los Olivos has sued the pop star in Santa Barbara County Superior Court for $91,602.05 in past fees.
Plaintiff Martin Dinnes, who owns the Dinnes Memorial Veterinary Hospital in Santa Clarita, filed suit Dec. 27 in Santa Maria, naming Jackson and several entities controlled by the singer.
The veterinarian continues to treat the animals at the 2,700-acre ranch on a near weekly basis, Horner said.
“He filed this (lawsuit) with great reluctance,” Horner said, adding that his client hoped the case would settle quickly. “He has a lot of admiration for Michael. This is just a business matter.”
Dinnes accuses Jackson of breach of contract and seeks payment for services rendered and legal costs.
The first hearing in the case is set for May 2 in the Santa Maria courtroom of Judge Zel Canter. Jackson would not be required to attend the civil matter.
Canter has handled other Jackson civil cases in the past, including a trial pitting the singer against concert promoter Marcel Avram. At the conclusion of that trial, a jury found that Jackson reneged on a performance contract with Avram and ordered him to pay $5.3 million.
Dinnes, 65, did not return calls for comment Thursday. He is renowned for his expertise in zoo and aquatic animal medicine and surgery, according to a press release from his alma mater, the University of California, Davis.
Jackson, 47, was last seen in a Santa Maria courtroom on June 13, when a jury acquitted him of child molestation and conspiracy charges after a five-month trial. The singer has recently spent time in the Middle East, primarily in Bahrain.
Because the lawsuit has not yet been served on Jackson, his spokeswoman Raymone Bain declined comment Thursday.
“I can't respond because I know nothing about this,” Bain said.
Calls to longtime Jackson attorney Robert Sanger were not returned Thursday afternoon.
Testimony at Jackson's criminal trial by a forensic accountant for the prosecution indicated that Jackson may be as much as $285 million in debt. Though that amount was disputed by his defense attorneys, the testimony called into question how long Jackson could afford to maintain Neverland, which includes a zoo and amusement park.
Pete Miller, supervising animal control officer for the Santa Barbara County Animal Services Department, said that there is no investigation into the quality of treatment of animals at Neverland.
“We have no first-hand accounts or complaints of any mistreatment,” Miller said.
dejo a los expertos traductores que hagan el trabajo de traducir. Son casi las 2 de la madrugada agui.
Dinnes, 65, did not return calls for comment Thursday. He is renowned for his expertise in zoo and aquatic animal medicine and surgery, according to a press release from his alma mater, the University of California, Davis.
Jackson, 47, was last seen in a Santa Maria courtroom on June 13, when a jury acquitted him of child molestation and conspiracy charges after a five-month trial. The singer has recently spent time in the Middle East, primarily in Bahrain.
Because the lawsuit has not yet been served on Jackson, his spokeswoman Raymone Bain declined comment Thursday.
“I can't respond because I know nothing about this,” Bain said.
Calls to longtime Jackson attorney Robert Sanger were not returned Thursday afternoon.
Testimony at Jackson's criminal trial by a forensic accountant for the prosecution indicated that Jackson may be as much as $285 million in debt. Though that amount was disputed by his defense attorneys, the testimony called into question how long Jackson could afford to maintain Neverland, which includes a zoo and amusement park.
Pete Miller, supervising animal control officer for the Santa Barbara County Animal Services Department, said that there is no investigation into the quality of treatment of animals at Neverland.
“We have no first-hand accounts or complaints of any mistreatment,” Miller said.
dejo a los expertos traductores que hagan el trabajo de traducir. Son casi las 2 de la madrugada agui.
