Jacko's Stuff Still the Auction House's Treasure

Judge denies Jackson's bid to get his stuff back, auction still set for April 22-25

It's finders keepers, for now.

A Los Angeles judge has denied Michael Jackson's bid to have nearly 2,000 pieces of clothing, furniture and other memorabilia returned to him, thereby setting the stage for a massive auction to go ahead as planned later this month.

An attorney for MMJ Productions refused to comment, but Jacko's camp has asked for a preliminary injunction halting any sales until they get a chance to fight for a permanent injunction at trial.

A hearing on the motion is scheduled for April 15, a day after Beverly Hills-based Julien's Auction House is set to open up its recently acquired Jackson treasure trove for presale public viewing.

Expressing doubt that another judge would rule any differently, Julien's attorney Gerald E. Hawxhurst said Friday's ruling made it "as clear as well water" that the law favors his client.

Julien's carted off the memorabilia from Neverland Ranch at the request of Jackson's camp during a "financial reorganization" of the singer's estate, but MMJ filed suit March 4 to stop the auction, saying Jackson had never signed off—as stipulated in an agreement between the two—on the final auction catalog.

"To say [Jackson] hadn't intended for these items to be auctioned was disappointing," auction house owner Darren Julien said last month.

The auction is scheduled to take place online and at the Beverly Hilton hotel April 22-25.

Check out some of the disputed loot in our Michael Jackson Auction photo gallery.