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Jackson gets another day to pay $306,000 in Neverland wages
Tuesday, March 14, 2006
(03-14) 12:12 PST Los Olivos, Calif. (AP) --
Michael Jackson got a day's reprieve Tuesday on a deadline to pay a $100,000 fine and $306,000 in wages he owes Neverland ranch employees.
Jackson now has until 5 p.m. Wednesday to pay the penalty and remit back wages owed dozens of workers, who complained to the state that they had not been paid since Dec. 19.
He could face a state lawsuit if he does not comply by then.
Jackson no longer lives at the ranch full-time. He mainly has been living in Bahrain since being acquitted of child molestation charges last year.
A call to Jackson's spokesman, Raymone K. Bain, for comment was not immediately returned.
However, Jackson was "aware" of the extension, said Renee Bacchini, spokeswoman for the state Department of Industrial Relations.
The extra day was granted after Jackson's financial representatives contacted the department to say "they are trying to come up with the money," Bacchini said.
"They're trying to work with us," she said.
Such extensions are not uncommon, she said.
"That's a normal course of business," she said. "If somebody comes forward with good faith ... with anyone, we would be reasonable."
The 2,600-acre ranch in Santa Barbara County remained virtually shut down Tuesday under an order issued by the labor department last week. Sixty-nine employees were ordered to stop work after it was discovered that their mandatory workers compensation coverage for job-related injuries had lapsed.
Financial representatives for Jackson indicated they are complying with the order and "anybody who's out there on the ranch is not an employee of Michael Jackson," Bacchini said.
A security guard could remain on duty if the guard was paid by a separate company that has workers compensation coverage, Bacchini said.
Similarly, people remained at the ranch to care for the singer's exotic menagerie, which at times has included elephants and a giraffe.
"There are people who are being paid to take care of the animals" but Jackson was not paying them, Bacchini said.
She did not have other details.
Officials previously said local animal welfare agencies had been notified of the shutdown and offered their help if needed.
Jackson also faces a fine of $69,000 for allowing the workers compensation coverage to lapse. But he has 30 days to appeal that fine, which was issued last week.
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