Quote:
Debbie Rowe's lawyer: No deal in Jackson case
By Alan Duke
CNN
LOS ANGELES, California (CNN) -- No deal has been reached between Michael Jackson's mother and his ex-wife over the custody of the late singer's children, according to a lawyer in the case.
Eric George, who represents Debbie Rowe, the biological mother of Jackson's two oldest children, demanded Tuesday that the New York Post retract its report that Rowe had agreed to take $4 million not to challenge Katherine Jackson for custody.
In a letter sent Tuesday afternoon to the newspaper's editor, George said the report "can only have been concocted with reckless disregard for the truth."
"There has been no agreement reached between Ms. Rowe and the Jacksons," George said.
While George said Rowe still has not decided if she will ask the court for custody or visitation, he said she will not try to get money from the Jackson family.
"Ms. Rowe has not accepted -- and will not accept -- any additional financial consideration beyond the spousal support she and Michael Jackson personally agreed to several years ago," George said.
The couple divorced in 1999 with Rowe giving Jackson full custody while she got a $8.5 million settlement, according to court documents. Jackson later agreed to additional support.
Jackson's lawyer has not responded to requests for comment Tuesday.
The Jackson family lawyer said last week that they were working to "privately and amicably resolve" the matter.
A child custody court hearing, which had been set for this week, was delayed until next Monday at the request of lawyers for Jackson and Rowe, a court official said.