and john branca goes hey, we're inside the roosevelt room.to give you an idea -- >> let me bring you back to this branca thing. here's what i'm thinking. the way this will is structured right now, branca and maybe a couple of these other attorneys, since they're the ones in charge of the will, could they literally freeze katherine jackson out of this thing? and just for the sake of -- let me take this to a ridiculous end here and say do they have so much power over this will that they could literally take all the money in the estate and give it to whoever they wanted to, including their own children? >> yes and no. a lot of that will be determined by the trust, because there are specific names in the trust that is attached to this will, the 2002 will. i got to talk to you about 1997 as well because there's another will that popped up. hold that thought for just a second. the very interesting point is that the jackson family, especially katherine jackson, they want respect. they want to be kept in on the loop because they're asking john branca

john branca was his lawyer since 1980. john branca really was responsible for most of michael's wealth, guiding him. and advising him. john mcclane was a boyhood friend of michael's. >> larry: the son-in-law -- the nephew of ralph branca, the famed former pitcher of the dodgers. who -- what happens august 3rd, at that hearing? >> august 3rd, we hope and expect the judge will appoint john branca and john mcclane the executors of the estate. >> larry: does katharine have a say at that hearing? >> katherine can have a say at that hearing -- she doesn't necessarily have to but she can appear and she can express her opinions and her desires. >> larry: executors of an estate are usually professionals at it? >> no, i don't think that's necessarily true. i think family members many times are executors, some times, business advisers, lawyers, accountants. in this situation though, michael was clear what he wanted. and he surrounded himself with john branca, joe katz, an attorney who has taken over most of the music work, and john m

the will says john branca is in charge of managing michael's estate. katherine jackson was given the temporary authority when it did not appear there was a will in place. michael jackson could have designated his mother as the controller of his business interest but he didn't. what the court did today was simply honor michael's wishes for his estate. branca was conciliatory in court. he said he will consult with katherine jackson and the family. the judge asked him to do that. there is no doubt who is in charge here, it is john branca. >> how come katherine jackson's lawyers were arguing irreparable damage could be done to the estate if these two executors are allowed to take control? >> i think frankly that was just lawyer talk. that combative attitude seems to have faded over the course of the day. i think everyone knows that michael jackson's estate, the long-term financial interest is in much better shape with john branca, a very sophisticated long time music executive rather than katherine jackson in charge. they still want some control over how t

so nothing -- john branca made some very good deals for michael jackson. he's a highly regarded attorney. to have him involved makes sense. if you look at the deals he's put together in michael jackson's past. >> yeah. especially with what -- with his estate and possibly unreleased music, a good business mind like that would seem to be a good thing. lisa, your thoughts? >> caller: what? >> go ahead, lisa, you're up. >> caller: i was watching the interview with joe jackson last night. number one, i can see why michael didn't want him anywhere near him. number two, was the slanderous comments against aeg, i wonder if aeg could charge joe jackson with slander. he said awful things about them. >> thanks for the call, lisa. jim, address that, some of the things said that basically leonard rowe, this concert promoter, who had been an associate with michael jackson, said aeg controlled the situation, didn't want people around michael who were not aeg people, can they come back at leonard rowe and joe jackson legally? >> i'm sure they have a signed contract. and t

john branca was his lawyer since 1980.n branca really was responsible for most of michael's wealth, guiding him. john mcclane was a boyhood friend of michael's. >> larry: the nephew of ralph, the famed former pitcher of the dodgers. what happens august 3rd, at that hearing? >> we hope and expect the judge will appoint john bank ka and john mcclane the ex-tech to tee the estate. >> larry: does katharine have a say at that hearing? >> she doesn't necessarily have to but she can appear and she can express her opinions and dee dee desires. >> larry: executors of an estate are usually professionals at it? >> i don't think that's necessarily true. lawyer s lawyers, accountants. he surrounded himself with john branca, joe katz, an attorney who has taken over most of the music work, and john mcclane. michael knew what he wanted. >> larry: he was a pretty smart guy? >> i thought he was very smart. he could be focused. he was intelligent. he was someone who understood what was going on in the legal proceedings. so i always enjoyed a

his attorney, john branca, and music executive, john mcclain.is children remain in the custody of jackson's mother, katherine. but the battle over who will win permanent custody is only beginning to take shape. and who should have custody of jackson's three children is the subject of tonight's "face-off" debate. joining us, children's rights attorney, wendy murphy. and attorney and child advocate, gloria allred. thank you both for being here. gloria, you said that debbie rowe has definite rights to these children. how so? >> well, lou, she definitely has the legal edge, if there is going to be a battle for custody of the two older children of michael jackson, who were born during her marriage to michael. and that is because she is the only surviving parent. the courts still will have to look at what's in the best interest of the children, but unless katherine jackson can prove that it will be detrimental to those two older children to be with their mother, then she will certainly have the right to have them. >> and wendy, you say that debbie row

today and found out that shortly after michael bought that catalog, he quietly and his lawyer, john branca, went over to see little richard, sat down with him and said, look, little richard, you have been so important to my life, you've made such an impact in music, here, we want to give you your music back. at the same time, it was worth, what, $4 million to $5 million in revenue streams each year. ultimately, they couldn't work out the details with sony, but little richard told us today, and he'll be at the services, both the private memorial and the public memorial tomorrow, he told us today that that indeed happened and that it meant so

it was very willful and then just recently, john branca came back into the picture.s great manager during the "thriller" era came back. joel katz was brought in and suddenly michael has this terrific team that was going to put together these london concerts and go forward with them. i think it's a very solid group and john branca having done this means that it's very solid. i don't think there's much to challenge in it. i do know that the one problem with it, but it's michael's choice in the trusts he only mentioned three of his nephews, and three children who are cousins of children who are cousins. but there are 20 other nieces and nephews who are pretty put out at the moment. >> larry: eliminating the ex-wife, common, mark. >> yes, in facts, i think that, as i said before, this is probably no area i know less about, but generally speaking, you have to name and if you don't name, there's a problem. so. >> she was well compensated earlier on. >> larry: katherine the mother is 79, legal grardian. does this mean pretty good bet she will get custody, permanent custody

and you and john branca are good friends and he's the executive -- >> we're good friends. i was going to bring him over. >> we want to talk to him. >> when do you want to see him? >> i want to see him tonight. >> it's a little late. >> how about in the morning. >> sure. >> he was at the white house -- >> branca is the guy that got it all together. it was amazing. the first time mtv was ever in the white house and he was just so cute. i mean, people loved him over there. >> thank you, sir. >> stay well. >> you are a wealth of knowledge. i could talk to you all night, but unfortunately, i only have the time over here. >> i'm a legend in my own mind. >> hang on, we're not done yet. norman winter. join us for michael jackson the memorial all day tuesday starting on "american morning" 6:00 a.m. eastern. limb: dude that was sick! i've been hangin' up there for, what, like, forty years? and then - wham - here i am smacking the pretty off that windshield of yours. oh, what you're looking for an apology? well, toss another coin in the wishing well, pal. it's not happenin'. limb: he

the people who are running the estate now are john branca, joel katz, frank deleo back as the manager. these people will sit down and fig out how this estate is going to run. they're going to provide a lot of income for the children. they're always going tore look out for the children. i think the jacksons will be pleasantly surprised in the end about having these people in charge. katherine jackson is obviously not really in any shape to look over a big estate think she's smart to leave it to these professionals. >> john, let me get your take on tomorrow. this memorial is supposed to be huge. >> huge. >> every name in the world. predicting an audience of $1 billion people because of the internet. so many more people will have access to this than, say, princess diana's funeral. the only thing you can compare, i guess. what's your take? >> i think it's going to be jubilant, upbeat. remember, the majority of the people in the audience are fans who have gone to a bit of trouble to get these tickets, to arrive, to go downtown to see this. i think they're going to want to remember the good

and these two guys, branca and mclean, they're big wigs, right? >> right.ichael branca helped him acquire the beatles cat lower. i agree with jeff toobin completely. i don't think katherine has a leg to stand on. katheri katherine's side making a big deal the will not being notarized. in this will, michael jackson signed, virtually every clause, specifically naming the three executors and specifically stating if one of these falls out, you don't replace that person, so katherine can't come in and say i should be that third person. there's just no basis for it. >> james you worked with the family in the past and you actually think they're making a big mistake here. >> i think the whole process is handled wrong. for one i kind of agree with jeff. kind of landmark. what i said, campbell, the family should have met with executors, met with the attorneys, you have a 78, 79-year-old woman. do you think if this goes the full length. do you really think the emotional toll will not wear her down? i'm saying, let's put this to bed p. there's millions of dollars comin

and you and john branca are good friends and he's the executive -- >> we're good friends. as a matter of fact, i was going to call him and bring him over here. when do you to want to see him? >> i want to see him tonight. >> it's a little late. >> how about in the morning. >> sure. >> he was at the white house -- >> branca is the guy that got it all together. it was amazing. the first time mtv was ever in the white house and he was just so cute. i mean, people loved him over there. >> thank you, sir. >> stay well. >> you are a wealth of knowledge. i could talk to you all night, but unfortunately, i only have the time over here. >> i'm a legend in my own mind. >> hang on, we're not done yet. norman winter. thank you very much. >>> join us for michael jackson: the memorial, all day tuesday starting on "american morning." new crest whitestrips advanced seal. get a dramatically whiter smile while you do just about anything. satisfaction guaranteed. now every drop of shell gasolines... contain a nitrogen-enriched cleaning system... that seeks and destroys engine gunk... left by

michael's mother, katherine jackson, had asked for branca to be removed from that role.ning me now to talk about this is an attorney, louis levinson. he was an attorney for family members of the estate of soul singer james brown as well. thank you so much for joining us and adding your perspective. >> thank you. >> again, we learned this morning that the judge in los angeles has granted immediate control of the entertainer's assets to the two gentlemen i have just mentioned. you say you expected this to happen. >> well, yes. it's not uncommon for the judge to appoint the person nominated by the deceased. at this stage of the proceeding, the co-executors are going to be having limited authority to collect the assets and to pay limited bills. i don't believe they have the authority from the court to sell any assets, dispose of anything, or to enter into any contracts which is not uncommon. >> also, we understand that they have been named special administrators, the two men as well, until the 3rd of august. exactly what does that mean? what is their role? >> that's exactly

jackson's attorney john branca and music executive john mcclain. they are the coexecutors and long-time friends of his, as well. they're now responsible for protecting the estate from any immediate losses and also will keep control of his will at least till august 3rd, the date of the next court hear. jackson's mother katherine is not happy about the ruling. her lawyer says she is worried about maclean's and branca's financial leadership. katherinehan applied for oversight to her son's estate but that was before the will surfaced. also new today, online ticket winners for tomorrow's big memorial began arriving at dodger stadium early this morning. that's where more than 8,000 ticket packages are being handed out. each includes two tickets and wrist bands. both are required to get into either venue. that's the staples center or the nokia theater across the street. also, the jackson family has 9,000 tickets reserved in their name but they cannot forget this is really about them and they can do what they want with those 9,000 tickets. >> unbelievable.

. >> tuvo donaciones importantes con el seÑor branca.cal. >> inicialmente, la madre del artista fue nombrada como la responsable de sus bienes. >> a sus abogados se les negÓ el pedido de mantenerla como como ejecutora. >> es heredera. >> aunque deja deudas por casi $500 millones, podrÁn ser saldadas con las regalÍas de su mÚsica cuyas ventas han subido hasta h@h@h@h@h@h@tifklevnkkphÚ palabra ya que decir verdades. presentada por los abogados de la muerte del cantante el juez citÓ a h@h@h@h@h@h@h@h@h@h@h@h@@ estaremos transmitiendo en vivo desde california, todos los eventos vehÍculos con el funeral del rey del pop. este martes, el dios al rey del pop. hacemos una pausa y al regreso las frenÉticas sesiones de manuel celaya para regresar a la presidencia de hondurasÑ ¿ademÁs, porque el pri barriÓ en las elecciones legislativas de mÉxico? y mÁs adelante, miles de fanÁticos le dan una calurosa bienvenidah@na nueh@strellh@ h@del reh@adrid.h@podemoh@ h@ tifk dkph@h@h@h@h@h@h@h@h@h@h@h@h@h@ presidente depuesto. hoy se iniciaron nuevas manifesta

john branca who was one of the executors, what they were saying about him is he was taken off, removedhael jackson after this 2002 will was signed. on june 17, eight days before michael jackson passed away, he had documentation showing that he was brought back into michael jackson's life as his attorney. >> he's back in the life of michael jackson as his lawyer just before his death. it seems to me katherine jackson doesn't have a leg to stand on. to you, leonard lee, you're the estate attorney. why is she so dead set of getting control of this estate? and why did the executors have to put up $1 million bond out of their own pockets? >> well, first of all, remember, she's married to joseph. joseph thinks he controls the estate. he wants the money. he was out there right after the death of michael. and with respect to the million dollars, i don't think it was enough. basically what they're saying is if the executors are in full control, what if they commit some kind of breach of fiduciary duty? how is the estate going to be protected? the court said $1 million should be enough. i don't

branca and mr.cclane had been -- sources tell me they've been in talks with the other side, to give allowances to the family, and they said what -- how much money do you guys want? how much money does katherine jackson need for the children? and they were given a number. and it was mutually agreed upon. furthermore, there has been absolutely no evidence brought forward by mr. mcmillan or anyone on katherine jackson's front that he was involved with any of his business affairs. dd >>> agents from the dea executing a search warrant at dr. conrad murray's houston clinic. then, murray's lawyers release a bombshell. a statement confirming that a potential case of manslaughter is being built against the doctor. who was with michael jackson when he died. the statement reads, in part, "the search warrant authorized law enforcement to search for and seize items, including documents, they believed constituted evidence of the offense of manslaughter." according to murray's lawyer, a gents took a forensic ima

. >>>> i'm hard whisman and this is jn branca. once again, ourheararelt condolenences a sympathies t to michael jackckson's amily. will allll miss m. thank you.u. >> mr. branca, will you sppeako the emerergency of this at all?? >> there is one ototr statent. ank you. >> l's go to cris jansing ght now. chris, what arethe legal velopmts there in califoia, the state court? >> i thinknk this is obvbviousl very signififint and bking moreignificant asas we len justst how mucmichael jackn's estate wilbe worth. hihisrecords have been selling li crazy. there's the possibilility ofll thes videoeos. the nameme and likens of michael jackson is at stake her hehere's wt was rereally ccial about this hearing. elawyers who ar named asas the ecutors in this will id, look, we c c't wait any lger. therere is biness at hand that nenes to b tendndedto. ta a look at where i am. i'm m at the staples center. there are big concerns abouthe mber of people who will l be out here w whunauthorirized miael jacksoson t-shirts, othth sortsf memorabilia.a. a big

she and the children remain to the main beneficiaries, but jackson's former attorney john branca is inharge of the estate. before the main event at the staples center, the family is holding a small, private burial service at a local cemetery. the los angeles police department said them very 3,000 firefighters and policemen providing security. >> tomorrow night, beginning at 9:00 eastern, diane sawyer and barbara walters will have a special editn of "20/20" with elizabeth vargas reporting on the future of jackson children. we have a chet to report. a architect or principal architect of the vietnam war. >> reporter: robert s. mcnamara was called the conscious much the west. before coming to washington he modernized the ford motor company, pulling the plug on the ill-fated ed zell. but everything is overshadowed by vietnam. >> i've asked robert mcnamara to assume responsibility of secretary of defense. >> reporter: for seven years, mcnamara directed the escalation of cmitment in vietnam. he was so enmeshed. by 1954 people were calming it mcnamara's war. >> our fire pow serum mens. why sho

the will says branca and mcclain are to control the estate as executors trumping katherine's jacksonrewill claim as temporary administrator. >> whenever you have no will, then the person who wants to handle the he skate is called the administrator. if there's a will that becomes the executor. >> reporter: still even if katherine is not controlling the estate she is the big beneficiary. abc news learned michael left 40% to his mother, 40 to his children and 20 to charities. the singer's will reveals specific plans for hid kids with whom he's se in this exclusive home movie. michael seen giving a birthday wish directly to son prince. >> prince, i wish for to you learn about perseverance and confidence and the true meaning of success which is love. >> reporter: but as jackson is memorialized and his estate straightened out -- his past continues to house of representatives his legacy. this videotaped deposition found its way into the tabloid news of the world over the weekend. in it jackson can be heard denying accusations that he ever molested boys. >> jesus said to love the children an

branca, john mclean, both seem to be good business minds. when we come back, we'll talk about the worth of michael jackson's estate. we'll get kim in on the conversation as we talk about it being worth upwards of $2 billion. that's not surprising, especially if there's a vault of unreleased music. that would sell like hot cakes. we'll take your calls on all that, 1-877-tell-hln. >>> welcome back to "prime news" on hln. continuing our conversation on michael jackson, we talked about the custody of the kids, a judge, they're going to have a hearing on monday. the experts are saying the deal is done. katherine jackson, michael's mom, gets sole custody. debbie rowe, the biological mom, we're told the kids will have visitation rights. sandy is with us in west virginia. sandy, go ahead. >> caller: yes. i'd like to know who determines what's in the best interest of a child? is it the people who have never even laid eyes on these children to know who these children bond with? because the grandparents' love is a lot stronger for their grandchildren t

john branca is doing a terrific job selling off all these different rights when the selling's hot. why shouldn't they sell the rights to these concerts and this video footage and so forth? why not. >> mike walker, you and i rarely disagree but there is something wrong with this steady stream of people and entities and corporate giants and everybody taking a little piece of jackson's dead body. some people may say it's good business. to me it's distasteful. there's something wrong with it. i don't like it. maybe i'm wrong. >> aeg is selling video. okay? nothing wrong with selling video. what joe jackson is going to do is take the living brothers and put them out on the stage and i don't know, have a little animatron or something be michael. it will be michael's voice. ghouli ghoulish. ♪ ♪ i want to rock with you ♪ all night ♪ dance you in the sunlight >>> i got this chill through my body. i said, "michael, if you take that medicine, you might not wake up." >> we're not investigating the doctors. we're investigating mr. michael jackson's death. >> you have doctors who allegedly overp

we know the executors now are john branca, john mcclain.does katherine have a strong argument here to be made a third execut executor? >> she does. i mean, she has a relationship, close relationship to the family. she's been involved in the family affairs all of this time. she's not joe jackson, who disappears and comes back. and she's a fairly credible person. and incredible person. she's been the glue that's held this family together. so a lot of this gossip that's been going on about her not getting certain documents and things like that is disheartening because we need to make sure that those kids are taken care of. and the fight between the attorneys is not appropriate for right now. >> yeah, jim, real quick-f she's made a third executor, can she veto decisions made by branca and mcclain? >> well, if there are three people, it would be as a tiebreaker so that you would have two against one, that type of thing. the problem for katherine is the document says if any of the executors either decline or aren't eligible there's no replacement

branca attorney, howard weitzman, is speaking for him. >> our goal is to protect and maximize the assetsensure that michael's legacy lives on forever. >> reporter: the will gives 40% to michael's mom. and another 40% to his children. 20% to charity. nothing to any other relatives. and explicitly leaves out the mother of two of his children, debbie rowe. >> michael expressed his intent in the will, that she not take anything from his estate. >> reporter: rowe's absence from the will, does not stop her from fighting for the children she delivered. according to a longtime friend, don't decide to file for custody until after michael's memorial. >> she gave birth to two of the children. whether or not she's the one that raised them, there is a maternal bond there. >> reporter: but some of jackson's closest friends say they are suspicious of rowe's motives. frank casio told robin roberts, the children stayed with him, after being arrested for child molesting charges. >> kids don't go with her. i'm sorry. it makes me mad. >> reporter: longtime friend, steve manning agrees, and thinks the childr

seems to be moving towards a consensus on this, that in terms of the money stuff, it looks like john brancaervisor of the empire. and on custody, it's going to be hard for debbie rowe even though she is the biological mother to paris and prince. the fact that they have lived with michael, that michael wants the grandmother to have them, that katherine wants them, everybody seems to think that's the right solution. the fact that blanket would want to stay with his two siblings. it seems to me that is probably not going to be that controversial. >> jim, apart from the custody issues, the investigation into what really happened continues. we're going to be hearing about this for a long time, aren't we? >> well, you think about the anna nicole case and you saw criminal charges handed down a little over a year after her death. you could see a similar situation here. because you really are two different tracks. what caused his death and then the separate investigation into all of these prescription medications. and the dea, the attorney general, they're going to be looking into those doctors as w

branca had previously managed the elvis presley estate. >> once they got something going, the two becameimmediately hired john. he told him flat out, he said, i want to be the biggest star in show business. >> there's really nobody who knows more about michael's business and creative life than john does. >> despite their success in recent years, the two had a falling out. katherine thinks the will no longer reflects michael's ce choices. >> for anyone to deny her her rightful place to serve and be a part of creation and the control of this legacy of her son, that's just unacceptable. >> the estate hearing is monday, and we'll continue to follow that story. this could turn out to be a prolonged battle. >> i'm sure. thanks a lot, dave. >>> we're going to talk to kai chase now. she was michael jackson's personal chef and in the home the night the singer died. she joins us now from los angeles. kai, good morning to you. >> good morning. >> i'd like to establish a timeline of that morning and see how it was different from other mornings. when you got there between 8:00 and 8:30 as you always

there's executors of the will, which is john branca, his longtime lawyer and also music producers ase at the moment. >> mary margaret joining us from radar online. everyone, let's stop and remember army sergeant shawn duncan, 21, south carolina, killed iraq, on second tour awarded the bronze star, purple heart, army commendation medal. received a medal of heroism rescuing five girls from drowning. loved magic tricks, outdoors, camping, snowboarding, dreamed of a military career and starting his own family. leaving behind grieving parents, one brother, two sisters, grandmother eloise and widow ashley. shawn dunkin, american hero. thanks to our guests but especially to you for being with us. see you tomorrow night, 8:00 sharp eastern and until then, good night, friend. good night, friend. jirvegs -- captions by vitac -- www.vitac.com

judge taking away the power of michael jackson's mother and giving it to his long-time attorney john branca and personal friend john mcclean. they were named as executors in 2002 will. the judge went along with the argument at the time he wrote that will jackson wanted them to control the estate. at least until august 3rd, those two will control the jackson estate. you look at the crowd here, it is starting to build outside the staples center. a lot of these people will be moved out of the area for security reasons tomorrow. only people with valid tickets and wrist bands to get them into this vicinity will be able to come in. today you could see a large crowd of people coming and they will sign a mural that's been erected in jackson's honor taking turns one by one. also in force the media has come down to central los angeles in anticipation of the memorial service tomorrow. networks from around the world are setting up shop here. we are getting more information within the last hour about what is expected tomorrow during the public memorial service here. some of the people slated to take par

john branca, named as an executor in the will, came back into his life. i can't tell you that these people were actually in the inner circle and caused any of what was going on. this is very complicated. there are complicated relationships not only with doctors but those around him, his employees. i suspect it is going to take time before we can sort out what is going on and what happened. >> jim moret, jeff toobin. randy kay. >>> we want to give you a new twist in a story that is outrageous. an investigation of a former district attorney in texas who admitted giving hundreds of thousands of dollars in public funds to three secretaries. joe frank garza. we couldn't believe it when gary tuchman learned new details, about how much money he was giving away. take a look. >> reporter: it literally paid to be loyal to this man. the former district attorney in texas who was extremely generous to his secretaries who he says watched his back. >> they were my eyes and ears. >> reporter: he says he wrote checks for hundreds of thousands of dollars. it may have quadr

a los angeles judge gave john branca along with the music executive control of his estate over the objections of jackson's mother. i think the story is underplayed. i think the fight is just beginning. >> now this is the big one. this is howard hughes mach five. you have a huge estate, huge debt, you have a family, you have children. it's unclear who is actually going to be parenting them. you have a family around him. you have the entire story of michael jackson. we're talking about michael jackson in part because of all the things that peter king is upset about. he had these massive court cases. >> all right. thank you very much, guys. got to wrap here. >>> next up, bloggers beware i've been on your case for weeks because you've been on mine and in two minutes the ball's back in my court. ♪ you want to be starting somethin you got to be starting something ♪ ♪ ♪ (tucci) count onhe natn's fastest 3g network. at&t i' been hangin' up there for,hat, like, forty years? and th - wham - here i asmacking the pretty off that windshield of yours. oh, what you're looking for apology? well, toss anoth c

a 2002 will sign bid michael names trend john branca and john mclean as coexecutors of the will, notother. meanwhile, los angeles authorities are getting ready for tuesday's memorial service. 8750 lucky fans have been awarded a pair of tick for the staples center and nokia theater gathering. >> it was like a million and a half people that registered last night. so i got to be really lucky. >> people want to participate in this. only a very few will be -- will face that reality. >> reporter: jackson's death seem to have turned into a jieptd circus from drug allegation to estate battles to an upcoming custody hearing and a memorial service that could paralyze downtown l.a. despite all that, michael jackson was a superstar and that is how those would loved the king of pop wanted him remembered. >> i'm not asking to you cover up michael. i'm saying show the same respect for michael and michael's family that you showed for frank sinatra and elvis presley and ebb el. >> reporter: today's hearing will only address temporary control over michael jackson's estate. the custody battle has been

that is to be a decision of the executors, john branca and john mcclain.nt ago some of the pictures of the perimeter and police making that kind of "v" shape in order to best protect the perimeter, certainly now that the casket, the body of michael jackson, is inside staples center. we're getting word the city of l.a. has actually a website that allows the public to donate money to help pay for this memorial service. it's estimated that all the security and logistical costs run $4 million, is one of the numbers i heard. it definitely is expensive. it's been running so far, from what i've seen, without a hitch. there is the website now set up from the city that if people want to underwrite it, they can. >> bryan, the jackson family themselves, they have serious financial trouble. there are many members of the jackson family have had real financial trouble over the last year, many years. >> they have. they've tried to generate revenue separate from michael or straight from the jackson 5, the individual recording artists, jermaine was his own single recording

john branca negotiated that, right? >> yeah. the jackson estate gets 90% and aeg gets 10%. film is going to show that michael was completely in charge of his own faculties. >> larry: what keeps the legs going in this story? >> there are so many branchs. >> larry: the star is gone. >> no. that is not true. there is more music coming out. we are going to hear music from michael jackson for years. there is one estimate that movie could make $350 million at the box office. people are fascinated by michael jackson. he has been humanized with that horrible footage on fire. we see a different side to this man. people are looking at his art and this bizarre soap opera around his life. >> larry: do you think people feel sorry for him based on his father performs, roger? >> based on how his father performs. >> larry: looking the way his dad handled himself? >> i think people feel sorry for michael and they are starting to understand what michael and la toya have said over the years of what was going on in that house. it seemed unreal but now it is very real. >> larry: jim, they are g

could take another month her attorneys al argue that one of the executors namedjohn branca, had actually been fired by jackson in the past for different asons even though he was hired rently. they had questions about that. but in the end they said they did not contest the ll. they're okaywith it,but they stl want katheri jackson to reserve her right to be able to objecto things as she would be by law away. guys? >> nbc's michel kosinski, michelle, thks for the report. >> the bigger picture, the ongoing investigations in the wake of michael ackson's death. right now jackson tee childrenre in the custody of thsinger's mother. but the l.a. department of children and familservices is w looking into the wfare of thdren. thinvestigation invoes talking to thchildren about their life when their fath was alive. and the other vestigation, ether prescription drugs pled a role inichael jackson's death. he los angeles times" ports that five doors who prescribed medicine to jkson are unde inveation. joinin us is head anesthesiologist dr. howard neer >> thanyou. >> how do they put together an investiga

the judge handing over control of jackson's estate to his longtime attorney john branca and music executiveackson asked those two to administer his estate in his 2002 will. his estate is estimated to be more than $500 million. more than 10,000 fans received tickets to attend michael jackson's memorial service tomorrow in los angeles. hundreds of thousands may flock to the city to say their good-byes. that's turning into a big memorial and big business. julia joins us with the details. >> reporter: michael jackson's memorial service at the staples center is the hot ticket. 1.6 million people registered for the lottery, and now concert promoter aeg is trying to make sure that no one scalps the tickets. >> we're going to great lengths per the request of the family to create a system that will allow us to get the tickets and the wristbands in the hands of the fans. for those that would try to take advantage of this, shame on them. >> that didn't stop people from auctioning vouchers on ebay for tens of thousands of dollars. though ebay is cracking down, pulling all voucher sales from the site. a

michael named john branca and john mclean as the executors leaving 40% of his estate to his mother.peculate this petition is an attempt by joe jackson to give himself a seat at the table. but jermaine jackson believes michael's intentions will prevail. >> anybody that tries to contest this will on any level, whether it's with the executors or whether it's with anything, they're not living out michael's wishes. >> reporter: this is lisa fletcher for "nightline" in los angeles. >> it's sad to see his death in so many ways mimics his life in that there's been no privacy. the l.a. county coroner's office is saying hundreds of people improperly looked at the death certificate. what's worse they were printing it out. there could be criminal charges against these people who are mishandling sensitive information. >> these are people who perhaps leaked it to the media. these media leaks have been from the beginng. remember tmz, they were the first to report it the day of michael jackson's death. he died at like 2:26 in the afternoon. by 2:44 or so, tmz confirmed he was dead. that's quick inf