Psychologist Admits Civil Lawsuit Was Going To Be Filed Against Michael Jackson
Date 2005/3/31 7:38:00 | Topic: Michael Jackson in the News
| Psychologist Admits Civil Lawsuit Was Going To Be Filed Against Michael Jackson
Thursday, March 31, 2005
The jury saw numerous witnesses in court yesterday as the Accuser's psychologist and first civil attorney took the stand once flight attendant Cynthia Ann Bell finished her testimony from Tuesday.
Bell continued to testify about the flight from Miami to Santa Barbara on March 7th 2003 (where Star Arvizo claims Michael Jackson "licked" his brother's head and gave the children alcohol) and talked about a watch that Michael had bought Gavin Arvizo, according to the Associated Press. Prosecutors contend that the gift was a bribe, however Bell claims that she saw nothing inappropriate occur on the flight, and that she was keeping a close eye. "He was saying things like, `Look at what Michael got me,' and, `These are very expensive watches,'" Bell said. "He did say, `Michael bought this watch for me and he'll buy me anything.'"
The witness had already testified on Tuesday that the Accuser was obnoxious and demanding, and that she never saw any children intoxicated. Bell also claimed it was her idea to put wine in Coke cans so that Michael could drink to ease his fear of flying without his children knowing.
Prosecutor Gordon Auchincloss questioned the witness further about the contact between Michael and his Accuser on that flight. Auchincloss asked if she had seen Michael Jackson "cuddling" Gavin Arvizo, to which the reply was no, but that he had his arm around him as they listened to music. "What do you define as cuddling?" Auchincloss asked Bell, "I'd have to show you," she replied, eliciting laughter from the entire courtroom. "Your honour, may I approach the witness?" the Prosecutor quipped.
Once Bell had left the stand, psychologist Stan Katz was next to testify. Katz is the man who alerted authorities once the Accuser and his brother gave his story during the course of two interviews. He was also the psychologist of the Accuser in 1993. Because of patient confidentiality laws, and a ruling by Judge Melville, Katz was prohibited from discussing the Accuser's credibility and whether or not he believed molestation actually occurred.
Katz testified that it is extremely rare for adolescent children to make up claims of abuse, stating children who appear to tell the truth sometimes embellish and exaggerate their stories whereas "children who make false allegations are usually consistent, almost scripted." He testified that he interviewed the three Arvizo children as well the Mother at the request of the family's second civil attorney Larry Feldman. Feldman is also the civil attorney who reached a cash settlement for Jordan Chandler in 1993.
The witness testified that in May 2003 Feldman was considering civil action on behalf of the Accuser against Michael, "It was my belief that (Feldman) was thinking about filing a lawsuit," Katz said. He also stated that he informed the Accuser of the possibility of a lawsuit during their interview when discussing the consequences of reporting the allegations.
Katz interviewed the family in May and June 2003 according to the Santa Maria Times. On June 12th 2003, he reported what was said during the interviews to the Los Angeles County Department of Child and Family Services. The next day Detective Paul Zelis of the Santa Barbara County Sheriff's Department interviewed him.
After Katz had left the stand, civil attorney William Dickerman took the stand. He was the first of two civil attorneys the Arvizo family went to see, and comedy club owner Jamie Masada referred them to him in February 2003 to see what could be done about the Accuser's appearance in the Martin Bashir documentary Living with Michael Jackson. Dickerman testified that he wrote letters to Mark Geragos, who was Michael's attorney at the time. The letters were said to be about the Arvizo family allegedly being subjected to surveillance and harassment by Michael's employees.
During cross-examination he admitted that in his letters there was no mention of molestation, providing alcohol to children or false imprisonment. He also admitted that when he referred the case to Feldman he made a fee-sharing arrangement that would earn him part of any reward obtained in a civil lawsuit.
There is no court today due to a state holiday, but proceedings will resume as normal tomorrow, when a sheriff's investigator is expected to take the stand to testify about the search on Neverland Valley ranch. Prosecutors are expected to start questioning witnesses on Monday concerning the alleged prior acts evidence that was recently admitted by the Judge.
- Source - MJNI.COM
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