Text size:

Psychologist says false claims rare

BY DIONNE SEARCEY | STAFF CORRESPONDENT

March 31, 2005

SANTA MARIA, Calif. - Prosecutors Wednesday presented the psychologist to whom a teen first aired charges of molestation against Michael Jackson, but testimony from the prominent therapist was more telling for what he didn't say on the stand than what he did.

Prosecutor Ron Zonen questioned Stan Katz, the man who sparked the criminal case with a call to authorities in 2003, for a mere 20 minutes. It was barely enough time for Katz to list his credentials, which include a television show, numerous TV appearances and books.

He told of interviewing the boy at the request of attorney Larry Feldman, who brokered a multimillion-dollar settlement between a child similarly accusing Jackson of molestation more than a decade ago.

The day after his second hourlong interview with the boy, Katz contacted child welfare authorities, he testified. And with that, Zonen turned over questioning to cross examination.

With the boy's first confession of the allegations unaddressed, defense attorney Thomas Mesereau Jr., tried to eke out testimony to support his theory that the teen and his family are trying to swindle Jackson.

Katz said that at one point Feldman was thinking of filing a suit on behalf of the boy's family, but the psychologist didn't know whether Feldman was still advising them.

The brevity of Katz's direct examination left legal analysts to speculate that prosecutors know testimony from the psychologist, whom Feldman paid $300 an hour for interviewing the boy and his siblings, could hurt their case. "The fact that he wouldn't be asked by the prosecution about [the boy's] allegations is a sign he's a tough witness for them," said Andrew Cohen, a Manhattan attorney and legal analyst for CBS.

Jurors Wednesday got a picture of the legal wrangling that went on in the months after the boy and his family cut off contact with Jackson in about March 2003 until they went to police. In the meantime, they turned to lawyers for help. One of them, William Dickerman, sent Jackson's attorney at the time, Mark Geragos, a letter threatening to seek a restraining order against Jackson, whom he accused of harassing the boy's family. Geragos, in turn, had the family's furnishings, apparently put in storage by Jackson's aides, delivered to Dickerman's legal office.

Dickerman said he put the family in touch with Feldman because "he was the go-to guy in regards to the Michael Jackson matter." Dickerman has an agreement with Feldman that should the family pursue a civil suit, he would benefit from any cash award. However, he said, "My understanding is there isn't a lawsuit or one in the offing."