NEW ORLEANS – An irate New Orleans judge, miffed by pop star Michael Jackson's (search) failure to be represented at an earlier hearing in a federal civil case, fined the singer $10,000 Wednesday.
Jackson was a no-show and had no lawyer present at a July procedural matter in a case accusing him of sexual assault during the 1984 World's Fair.
Charles Gay Junior told Judge Eldon Fallon the summons for the earlier court date was simply lost in the confusion of Jackson's trial in Santa Maria, Calif., in which Jackson was acquitted of child molestation charges.
The summons for the New Orleans court appearance arrived June 13. June 13 was the day the jury reached the verdict.
At that time, Gay told the judge, Jackson was not eating or sleeping and was worried about his and his children's futures.
Gay said the order did not get in the proper people's hands because of the chaos in Jackson's life at the time.
Fallon said he did not feel it was appropriate to fine Jackson for contempt, but he is not sold on Gay's excuse either, so he levied other fines related to court costs.
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