Lawyer found in contempt in Jackson memorabilia case

An attorney fighting Michael Jackson was found in contempt of court Monday for his handling of the pop star's memorabilia.

District Judge Elizabeth Gonzales in Las Vegas said attorney David DeToffol violated her court order barring his client, Universal Express Inc., from selling or giving away some of Jackson's personal items.

The dozens of pieces of memorabilia, which include a Three Stooges collection and personal writings, still haven't been returned to Jackson. They're being held in a "secure location" at the courthouse, Gonzales said.

The controversy could be settled Friday in a New Jersey courtroom where a judge is handling another contempt of court case, according to Jackson's attorney.

Jackson has been trying to get 25 pieces of memorabilia bound for the auction block returned to him since May, when he and Universal reached an agreement to return the items to him.

Universal had paid $5 million for the collection from a New Jersey businessman who claimed the property after the family failed to pay a storage unit bill.

But on June 1, a day after the auction at the Hard Rock Hotel, Universal threatened to sue the company handling the auction if the company didn't give the items back to Universal.

Gonzalez said that action violated her order prohibiting Universal from "selling, giving, conveying or transferring by any means" the 25 items.

The auction company, Guernsey's, later turned the items over to the court.

DeToffol took the witness stand and testified Monday that he didn't intend to violate the court order, but Gonzales, who grilled the New York attorney with questions as he testified, felt otherwise.

She ruled that DeToffol will have to pay Jackson's attorney's fees and a $2,500 fine.