MJ Courts Contempt

Michael Jackson‘s misadventures in court continue, despite his acquittal in June of child molestation charges.

Neither MJ nor his attorneys appeared in a New Orleans federal court July 20th for a procedural hearing in a civil suit accusing the fallen King of Pop of sexually assaulting an 18-year-old during the 1984 World’s Fair.

U.S. District Judge Eldon Fallon has scheduled an August 17th hearing for Jackson to explain himself or either be held in civil contempt or have a default judgment entered against him.

A spokesman for Jacko had no explanation for his absence at the hearing, but insisted the situation would be cleared up.

“I will take care of this matter and make sure it is handled in an appropriate way – the order from the court today and the lawsuit,” Brian Oxman said.

Joseph Bartucci Jr. claims in the lawsuit that he was lured into Jackson’s limo, held against his will and sexually assaulted while on a drive from Louisiana to California and back. He also claims he repressed the memory of the incident until 2003, when he saw media coverage of MJ’s recent child molestation trial.

Jackson hired a team of local attorneys after Bartucci filed suit in November, but they withdrew from the case in April and have sued Jacko for $50,000 in legal fees.