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- Geraldine Hughes -

Mr. Pellicano responded to Mr. Rothman's request via fax
stating that their client, Michael Jackson, had done nothing
wrong and therefore they would not consider paying the
twenty million dollars requested. He did, however, express a
willingness to assist the father's business venture by giving
him a $350,000 screenwriting deal. He specifically said the of-
fer was being made to resolve the custody dispute and to al-
low Dr. Chandler a chance to spend time with his son. (This
was to overturn Dr. Chandler's accusation that Michael Jack-
son was destroying his relationship with his son by spending
too much time with him and causing Dr. Chandler to lose his
son's affection). This was the only claim that Michael Jackson
was willing to take responsibility for because in his heart and
soul, this was the only thing he may have been guilty of.
In another meeting which took place on August 13th 1993
in Mr. Rothman's office with Mr. Pellicano, Mr. Rothman coun-
ter offered for three screenplay writing deals. He gave Mr.
Pellicano an ultimatum for three screenplays or nothing. Mr.
Pellicano's counteroffer was for $350,000, which he said was
made to help resolve the custody dispute and give Dr. Chan-
dler an opportunity to work together with his son on the screen-
plays. I was able to read the letter Mr. Pellicano wrote to Mr.
Rothman, stating this was his client's intention for making the
counteroffer.
Mr. Pellicano stated from the beginning that this entire al-
legation of child molestation was about money. Although they
were willing to negotiate with Mr. Rothman to appease Dr.
Chandler's claim of losing time with his son, and allowing him
and his son an opportunity to work together on a movie deal,
he was not going to allow Dr. Chandler to make Michael Jack-
son the victim of extortion.
I cannot help but speculate that had Michael Jackson gone
to trial and not settled this case with Dr. Chandler, he could
have won. Mainly because, in my opinion, there was more
evidence collected by Michael Jackson's attorneys and investi-
gators to prove the extortion charges than the police had to
show that any type of molestation ever took place. (Later, in

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