Michael Jackson has reached an out-of-court settlement with Bahrain's Sheikh Abdulla bin Hamad al-Khalifa, who was suing him for $7 million (5.6 million Euros), his spokeswoman said Sunday.The reclusive 50-year-old had agreed last week to testify at the High Court.
"As Mr. Jackson was about to board his plane to London, he was advised by his legal team to postpone his travels since the parties had concluded a settlement in principle," a London spokeswoman for Jackson said on Sunday. "Therefore, he will not be attending court on Monday," said the spokeswoman from PR company Outside Organization.
Sheikh Abdullah bin Hamad al-Khalifa, second son of the king of Bahrain, said Jackson failed to honor a contract to record a new album, write an autobiography and produce a stage play. He also told the court last week that Jackson owed him $7 million after the prince paid for legal costs, travel and other expenses in 2005 and 2006.
Jackson and his children spent time in Bahrain as a guest of the royal family following a 2005 trial on child molestation charges, but he backed down from plans to work with Sheikh Abdullah in 2006.
He was acquitted of the charges in 2005, but the trial left Jackson's career, reputation and financial status in tatters and he has been a virtual recluse since.