Jackson's legal affairs have seemingly overtaking his music career

Los Angeles Judge Andria Richey is due to decide on Monday or Tuesday whether to allow the case, brought by Jackson's former business manager Myung-Ho Lee, to continue, and also whether TV cameras will be allowed in court.

The case is due to go ahead on 18 June.

If it does go ahead, Jackson is expected to be the court's star witness, and to take the stand for three days.

In the suit Mr Lee says the singer owes him millions of dollars, and that the 44-year-old singer is nearly broke.

'Ridiculousness'

Jackson's singers have asked the judge to dismiss the suit, saying Mr Lee is not owed money because his company is not a legally licensed investment company under Californian law.

In another case, the singer's lawyer called a lawsuit brought against him in his home state of Indiana borders on "ridiculousness" on Friday, it has emerged.

Jackson has been ordered to attend a court hearing in Indiana over charges he and his fellow Jackson Five members had used the name and songs of another band on an album without their permission.

The case has bee brought by Gordon Keith, who says the Jacksons used the names Ripples & Waves - which he says was used by another group - on a recent compilation record.

"The ridiculousness of this whole thing is that when these songs came out, Michael Jackson was nine years old and for him to have a recollection of what was going on 30 years ago, it's absurd," said Jackson's lawyer Robert Meyer.

The Jackson Five were formed by their father Joe

The songs in question appear on Pre-History: The Lost Steeltown Recordings.

While in Indiana Jackson is scheduled to make three public appearances on Wednesday, before giving his sworn testimony.

These will include receiving the keys to the city, attending an assembly at his brothers' old school and visiting his boyhood home.

Jackson has until Friday to complete a the court-ordered deposition in Indianapolis.

Anxiety attack

He had been due to appear at an Indianapolis court on 21 May, but was admitted to hospital with a mystery illness hours before he was to have given his testimony.

Amid allegations that he was faking the illness, a doctor who treated him submitted a statement to the court that Jackson had suffered a suspected anxiety attack, becoming dizzy, weak and dehydrated.

Jackson's lawyer, Brian Oxman, said the singer sometimes became nervous and failed to eat when faced with depositions.

He also said the Jackson Five - which included Jackson's brothers Jermaine, Jackie, Tito and Marlon - had also infringed on the name Ripples and Waves, which was reportedly used by another group from their hometown of Gary, Indiana.

Jackson's legal representatives have argued that Jackson did not authorise the release of the Pre-History album, so cannot be held responsible.