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NBC News Investigates Julien's Auction's Michael Jackson Autograph Scandal

NBC News Los Angeles aired an investigative report on Julien's Auction's Tompkins & Bush Michael Jackson sale on Tuesday, Dec. 18's 11:00 News. Watch the report and read the accompanying article on NBC Los Angeles's website.

Julien's held the Tompkins & Bush Michael Jackson auction on December 2, but outrage has flooded Michael Jackson fan sites and the world of rock autographs since mid-November, as fans, dealers and collectors alike told Julien's CEO, Darren Julien, that almost all of the autographs in the sale were obvious forgeries.

The pleas to cancel the sale fell on deaf ears. All 290 lots of autographs were sold for a total of almost $1.5 million. The only autograph in the sale commonly believed to be genuine brought $896.

A discussion on this site about it, Michael Jackson Signing Styles in Julien's Tompkins and Bush Sale, was started on November 19. At 153 pages to date it is the longest discussion in the history of Autograph Magazine Live. Scores of suspected forgeries from the sale have been analyzed in the discussion. The consensus is that the most of the autographs were likely forged by the consignor, Jackson's long-time friend and costume designer, Michael Bush. The autographs have many of Bush's handwriting characteristics.

Julien's filed a copyright infringement claim against Autograph Magazine Live on December 13. On Dec. 17, our website company removed all the images Julien's claimed violated their copyright from this site pending our response and any further actions Julien's may take. We are legally allowed to use the images under Fair Use laws, and will file our counterclaim this week.

We will have uncontested images of autographs from the auction up starting tomorrow.

UPDATE: According to NBC, Darren Julien said that any client who questions the authenticity of the Michael Jackson autographs they bought in the Tompkins & Bush auction can return them for a refund. If Julien's will cover shipping both ways, that's the best news possible.

Tags: Julien's, michael jackson, nbc, tompkins and bush

7 members like this

Comment by Wendy Christine on December 19, 2012 at 5:36pm: Thanks to YOU Justin. You found the standee.

Comment by Donald Thomas on December 20, 2012 at 1:23pm: I bought a item in the Micheal Jackson 12/2/2012. It was the Jackson Five Action game, Lot# 555. Could anyone research this item for me at Julien's Auction and offer a opinion? Thanks

Comment by Steve Cyrkin, Admin on December 20, 2012 at 1:40pm: Donald,

I'm sorry but Lot 555 is definitely not real in my opinion. It's the style of forgery we believe Michael Bush signed.

Comment by Donald Thomas on December 20, 2012 at 1:47pm: Thanks Steve, I have a copy of refund policy for Julien's. Do you have any suggestions for me to move forward? Julien's auction states opinions of two experts, would I send item to PSA/DNA?..Don

Comment by MJ-fan-1965 on December 20, 2012 at 2:00pm: Actually Donald, just doubting the authenticity is all you need to do, Darren has offered to refund the money of anyone doubting they have a genuine MJ sig if you want to return your item. Please let us know though if he differs from this at all.

Comment by Donald Thomas on December 20, 2012 at 2:21pm: Thanks! I will contact Julien's Auction soon about the issue; but I upset to learn such a auctioneer would consider at large investment such as the 12/2/2012 MJ auction and base it on the word of the item supplier (Bush) and not first validate the items. I love MJ but I am no signature expert, I just wanted a unique item signed by MJ.

Comment by Steve Cyrkin, Admin on December 20, 2012 at 2:40pm: Good luck, Donald. Darren Julien said he'll refund the money of anyone who doesn't believe the signatures are genuine, so you should be fine as long as they cover shipping both ways. Let me know if you need any help...and let us all know how it goes.

Comment by Steve Cyrkin, Admin on December 20, 2012 at 3:13pm: Donald,

Julien's refund policy requires two authenticators both you and Julien's agree upon, at your cost. You'll want to take it straight to arbitration if you don't get a refund, because legal fees and costs (which would include experts) would be awarded to the prevailing party. If you have to go to mediation, contact me. I believe that there is an attorney interested in taking the arbitration cases without taking any fees or costs upfront, due to that clause in Julien's contract.

Comment by Donald Thomas on December 20, 2012 at 4:04pm: Thanks, I will! I plan to post my progress on this matter on Autograph Live. This was a huge auction and I sure others are upset about the problems with items from this MJ auction.

Comment by TeamMichael777 on December 20, 2012 at 4:35pm: I spoke to an attorney today, how many of you want to file a lawsuit against Juliens and Bush?? I say you do it, this way it will bring attention to the cause and others will join, we have come into contact with 2 or 3 people here, but we need to think about the other possibly 60 or more people who have been scammed out of money. Donald which location are you from, are you willing to work with an attorney, no charge to you at all?