Names and faces

LITTLE ROCK — A California appeals court rejected a bid Tuesday by Michael Jackson’s father to challenge the administration of his son’s lucrative estate. A three-justice panel of the California Second District Court of Appeal unanimously affirmed a probate judge’s ruling that Joe Jackson didn’t have standing to intervene in his son’s estate. A copy of the opinion was not immediately available. Despite being excluded from his son’s 2002 will, JoeJackson had been seeking to have some control over financial affairs. Estate attorney Howard Weitzman said he was pleased the court affirmed the pop star’s wishes to make John Branca and John McClain executors of his will. “We hope this decision finally puts this issue to rest,” Weitzman said. Brian Oxman, Joe Jackson’s attorney, said the father should have some say in post-death affairs involving his son. “This is not right,” Oxman said of Tuesday’s ruling. The appeals court heard arguments in the estate case on Oct. 6. The panel questioned several steps taken by Joe Jackson in the case, including withdrawing his request for a monthly stipend. The panel also questioned why Oxman didn’t mention during a lengthy hearing in last November that he might file a wrongful-death lawsuit. Last June, Joe Jackson sued Dr. Conrad Murray, the physician charged with involuntary manslaughter in Michael Jackson’s death. Michael Jackson’s estate has earned tens of millions of dollars since the singer’s death in June 2009 at age 50 in Los Angeles.

Pop singer Madonna is opening a chain of fitness centers around the world to be known as Hard Candy Fitness global gyms. A partnership between Madonna, her manager and New Evolution Ventures plans to open the first gym in a posh neighborhood in Mexico City on Nov. 29. Madonna will attend the Mexico City opening. A statement by Hard Candy Fitness says gyms “will open in major cities around the world,” including 10more locations in Russia, Brazil, Argentina, Europe and Asia. No gyms are immediately planned for the United States, but the statement noted that more locations are possible in the future. New Evolution Chairman Mark Mastrov said Madonna’s input will be reflected in the music, space, light and design.