Michael Jackson Produced Lots of Records - Court Records, That Is

Everyone knows Michael Jackson.  His face is universally recognized around the world.  People in every country are currently mourning his death, playing and replaying the music that made him an international superstar.

But he was almost as famous for his wildly eccentric lifestyle: a compound named after Peter Pan's fictional home, his friend Bubbles the chimp, his plastic surgeries, rumored drug dependencies, and the alleged purchase of the Elephant Man's bones all added to his mystery and led the tabloids to dub him Wacko Jacko.

And, of course, there were the hints and rumors of inappropriate contact with children.  Several people accused Jackson of molesting them, and some even went to court.  Jackson settled one of those civil lawsuits for a reported $20 million.
The low point in these swirling accusations for Jackson was when the star was charged with drugging and molesting a minor child who had stayed with Jackson at Neverland Ranch many times.  Over the course of the trial, many allegations were passed between the parties, including Jackson's assertion that he had never had any sexual contact with the child and was the subject of an extortion plot.

The trial turned into a media circus, and Jackson's team successfully challenged the child's family's accusations and secured an acquittal for Jackson in 2005.

FindLaw was there the whole time, gathering court documents and listing profiles of the attorneys involved.  Our special section on Michael Jackson is still around, and offers a unique glimpse into a period in the life of one of the most interesting celebrities the world has ever known.

See Also:
Shock and Grief Over Jackson's Death (NYTimes)
People v. Jackson (Wikipedia)
Michael Jackson: how he came to be known as Wacko Jacko (Telegraph)