Legal Battle Over Jackson Will Heats Up

The battle for legal control of Michael Jackson's estate is heating up, with the late pop star's mother accusing the administrators of his will of "keeping her in the dark" about his affairs, according to a Los Angeles Times report Wednesday.

Katherine Jackson, 79, filed court papers in Los Angeles Tuesday asking a judge to force John McClain and John Branca, two business associates of Jackson's who were named executors in the singer's 2002 will, to submit to depositions and turn over documents, including the contract for Jackson's comeback shows in London.

Judge Mitchell Beckloff didn't grant a special hearing to Katherine Jackson's attorneys, instead saying that he would consider the issues along with others surrounding the case Monday, when he is set to address the validity of the will, according to the Los Angeles Times.

Howard Weitzman, attorney for McClain and Branca, said in a statement that allegations that the pair had "not been forthcoming in providing information to Katherine Jackson's attorneys is not accurate."

According to Weitzman, Katherine Jackson's team is trying to "rewrite Michael's will" to make her the executor. The will appointed her guardian of Jackson's three children.

After McClain and Branca produced the 2002 will, Beckloff ordered them to keep Katherine Jackson informed of business dealings regarding the estate until the legitimacy of the will could be established.

Weitzman said an offer was extended to Katherine Jackson to view her son's last contract for the London performances, provided she kept the terms confidential. She refused, said Weitzman.