Gv Films Sues Michael Jackson

G V Films Ltd has taken US pop star Michael Jackson to court, claiming Rs 3 crore as damages for breach of contract for his failure to come to India and give two live concerts in 1993, as agreed with the film company, which had taken steps to organise them.

Justice Raman in the Madras High Court yesterday ordered issue of notices to Jackson, two United States-based companies which are his promoters, and to DNA Networks of Bangalore, which was to produce the live concerts, on two interim applications moved by G V Films in its suit.

The film company, of which well-known producer, G Venkateswaran, is the chairman, has sought a direction to the respondents to furnish security in the form of bank guarantee to the extent of the suit claim before Jackson arrives in India for his forthcoming concerts on October 30 and November 1.

In the event of their failure to furnish such security, Jackson should be arrested and detained in a civil prison until the bank guarantee was executed, the plaintiff prayed.

The plaintiff has claimed that because of the pop stars failure to fulfill his contractual obligation, the company had suffered financial loss as well as loss of reputation and credit-worthiness in the market.

According to the plaintiff, Jackson had been represented by two other defendants Mama Concerts and Rau GmbH and Pebbles Music Inc, both California-based companies, and DNA Networks of Bangalore, which marketed the concerts, had approached G V Films with a request to be the promoter for the two concerts, sponsored by Pepsi Foods Ltd.

The concerts, fixed for December 8 and 10, 1993, were to be in aid of the Rajiv Gandhi Foundation.

Based on its agreement with DNA Networks, the plaintiff had incurred considerable expenditure and effected large payments for the purpose of organising the concerts. However, it received a communication from the US companies on November 15, 1993, that Jacksons trip, which was part of a world tour, had been cancelled, GV Films said.

As a result of the breach of contract, the company suffered a financial setback and its share value fell considerably, it said.