From Little Boys to Troubled Finances: Michael Jackson Trial Set for Summer

While his sister is losing weight, Michael Jackson may be losing millions.

The singer's abnormal financial wheelings and dealings are expected to be the focus of an upcoming trial regarding lawsuit filed by gay porn producer F. Marc Schaffel, a former Jackson associate who claims the King of Pop owes him $3.8 million in various expenses.

Schaffel's complaint, filed in Los Angeles Superior Court in November 2004, alleges that Jackson still owes him a good chunk of the $3 million he was promised in return for producing a pair specials on the singer to counteract the humiliating portrayal put forth by Martin Bashir's documentary, Living with Michael Jackson.

Additionly, Schaffel claims he's owed a portion of his salary for producing Jackson's post-9/11 charity single, "What More Can I Give?," along with reimbursement for a series of loans and payments he says he made for Jackson over the years.

Among the monetary requests Schaffel claims he fulfilled for Jackson include:

• Making a $1 million payment to Marlon Brando in return for appearing at a concert and in a music video
• Purchasing a $600,000 piece of jewelry for Elizabeth Taylor in exchange for her signature on a release

Meanwhile, Schaffel is also expected to bring up some of the facts from Jackson's child molestation trial when he testifies about his role in dealing with the family of Jackson's accuser.

Schaffel's attorney, Howard King, painted Jackson as hopelessly irresponsible with regard to his finances.

"Jackson carried no credit cards, wrote no checks, carried no 'walking around money' and had people attending to his every need," King wrote in a trial brief. "Jackson hired competent advisers to make business decisions then frequently ignored the decisions being made and ... incurred expenses without regard to any rational limits or accountability, as though funds were endless..."

In Jackson's countersuit, he accused Schaffel of misappropriating funds and and stealing $250,000 worth of artwork. He also claimed that Schaffel continued to portray himself as Jackson's business associate long after their relationship had ended.

Jury selection in the trial is scheduled to begin June 26.