SANTA MONICA, Calif. -- A travel agent is suing Michael Jackson,
alleging the so-called "King of Pop" did not pay her for a private
jet she chartered for him.
Lawyers for the Los Angeles-based agent, Cynthia Montgomery,
filed a complaint in Los Angeles Superior Court, West District here
against MJJ Productions and Michael Jackson for the cost of the
charter, $18,000, plus her commission and damages.
According to the complaint filed with the court Feb. 18, the
suit involves the private jet Michael Jackson flew from Las Vegas
Nov. 20 to Santa Barbara where he surrender to authorities on
alleged child molestation charges.
"Cynthia Montgomery had worked for Michael as his private tour
coordinator," Montgomery's attorney Robert Moore of the Beverly
Hills, Calif.-based firm of Moore, Sorensen & Horner, told
TravelWeekly.com. "Any time he rented a jet, traveled privately,
she would obtain the jet and make arrangements for him. That was
done on a billable basis. After the fact, she would submit a bill,
they would pay her, and she would pay the jet" operator.
Montgomery paid Xtra Jet, the charter company, about $18,000 in
cash to charter the flight expecting to get reimbursed by Jackson.
However, it was later revealed that Jackson was secretly taped
during the flight and Jackson's camp sued Xtra Jet and refused to
pay for the flight.
Montgomery "is not involved in any way with the secret video,"
Moore said. "Somebody did something that was really evil and she is
kind of stuck in the middle."
To contact reporter Michael Milligan, send e-mail to [email protected].