Jackson accuser family has not planned suit, says lawyer

SANTA MARIA, Calif. - Michael Jackson's accuser and his family have never planned to cash in on child molestation accusations with a civil lawsuit, a family lawyer told jurors on Friday in the pop singer's criminal trial.

In a charged exchange between two of California's leading lawyers, Jackson's attorney Tom Mesereau repeatedly questioned lawyer Larry Feldman about potential plans the accuser's family has in the case to sue Jackson.

Jackson's lawyers have said the family of the now-15 year-old boy has charged the pop singer falsely to enrich themselves in a separate civil suit.

Jackson is charged with molesting the boy at his Neverland Valley Ranch and with plying the youth with alcohol in order to abuse him. He is also accused of conspiring to commit child abduction, false imprisonment and extortion.

The pop king has pleaded innocent. He faces more than two decades in prison if convicted.

But Feldman, who has consulted with the family, repeatedly denied plans for a civil lawsuit, though he acknowledged that another boy he represented in a civil suit more than a decade ago won a significant settlement from Jackson.

"I had no plans to file a lawsuit" in the current case, he said at one point, adding, "I have never been asked to file any lawsuit against Michael Jackson." But Feldman agreed the current accuser still could launch a civil suit against Jackson.

The lawyer represented another boy who in 1993 reached a settlement with Jackson reported to have been $23 million. Court rules prevent Feldman from disclosing the amount of the 1993 case's settlement, but he made clear he considered the previous accuser had prevailed.

"It was absolutely resolved in (the accuser's) favor," he told the court.

Feldman's role in that case led to his consultation by the current accuser's family. The lawyer recommended the boy speak to psychologist Stan Katz, and Katz elicited the first claims from the boy of molestation against Jackson.

Jackson did not admit guilt in the 1993 case.

Attorneys for the 46-year-old entertainer say the current molestation allegations were invented by the then-13-year-old accuser's mother. Defense lawyers have also pointed to the jury the lack of evidence.

But Katz said in testimony earlier this week that in his 25-year-career as a therapist specializing in child abuse, he had found "very, very few false allegations" made by adolescent boys against men.

Jackson fans, out in force on Friday morning outside the courtroom, were joined on the pavement by anti-war and anti-President Bush protesters. Signs with slogans like "I believe in you Michael" jostled for prominence with others reading "Send Bush to Iraq" and "Honk if you hate war."

- REUTERS