New Michael Jackson Trial Will Examine His Spending Habits

Michael Jackson is facing another trial, but this one is about his finances and not his love of children.

F. Marc Schaffel is suing Jackson for $3.8 million U.S. for what he claims are unrepaid loans and expenses, unpaid salary for work on a charity record and his share of the proceeds from two television specials. Jackson has had a number of recent financial problems and was forced to sell half of his stake in the Sony/ATV music publishing catalogue earlier this year to avoid bankruptcy.

Jackson isn't expected to appear in court, but will be seen through videotaped depositions. He has so far answered questions in two of them in London, England. The singer has been living in Bahrain and is now travelling in Europe, a spokesperson told Billboard.com.

While Jackson was acquitted of child molestation charges last June, facts from that criminal trial could resurface again when Schaffel testifies about his role in dealing with the family of a boy who claimed that he was molested by the gloved one.In a pre-trial brief, Schaffel attorney Howard King described Jackson as being very fiscally irresponsible and that he "carried no credit cards, wrote no checks, carried no 'walking around money' and had people attending to his every need.

"Jackson hired competent advisers to make business decisions then frequently ignored the decisions being made and... incurred expenses without regard to any rational limits or accountability, as though funds were endless."

Schaffel will call financial advisers and money managers as witnesses for the trial.

Jackson has countered with claims that Schaffel defrauded him and hid facts about an allegedly shady past.

Jury selection for the trial will begin on July 26.