Promoter sues Michael Jackson

Michael Jackson is being sued for $40 million on the eve of his comeback concerts at London's O2 Arena, due to start on July 13. The lawsuit has been filed by a US promoter, Allgood Entertainment, which claims that the pop star has broken a contract to play a Jackson family reunion concert in the US this summer.

Jackson's 50-gig residency at the O2 has been beset by postponements and rumours of health problems, with bookmakers offering 8-1 on the superstar cancelling all dates. Now the odds could be slashed further after AllGood filed its lawsuit in a New York federal court.

The promoter claims it made a deal with Jackson's manager Frank DiLeo in November to produce a Jackson family reunion this summer. It would include all members of the Jackson Five - Michael and his brothers Jackie, Tito, Jermaine and Marlon - plus his sister Janet Jackson and brother Randy.

But, says AllGood, two months after agreeing to the family concert, Jackson and his management "secretly teamed up" with rival promoter AEG Live to produce the sell-out London shows.

AllGood is arguing that the London shows violate a non-compete agreement. It says AEG Live knew of the US concert agreement but "due to their dominance and power in the live performance industry, coerced and/or induced DiLeo and Jackson to disregard the agreements with AllGood and to work with it instead".

AllGood, based in New Jersey, claims it doesn't want the London concerts cancelled - but it does want a piece of the London action or to be compensated for its loss. ·