Michael Jackson is being sued for unpaid bills by the veterinarian who tends to his menagerie of exotic animals at the Neverland Valley Ranch, the estate Jackson has not occupied since he was acquitted of child molestation charges last June.
The singer has been living in Bahrain. But the suit against him was filed in Santa Maria, the city where he stood trial last year.
The plaintiff, Martin Dinnes, owner of Dinnes Memorial Veterinary Hopsital, alleges that Jackson owes USD 91,602 in veterinary bills. His lawyer, Brenton Horner, said Dinnes helped the singer acquire animals for his zoo incuding flamingos, giraffes, elephants and orangutans. Dinnes continues to treat the animals on a regular basis, the attorney said.
"He filed this (lawsuit) with great reluctance," Horner told the Santa Maria Times. "He has a lot of admiration for Michael. This is just a business matter." A hearing was set for May 2.
Jackson lawyer Thomas Mesereau Jr, who now handles all of Jackson's litigation, said, "I have not seen the complaint and cannot comment until we evaluate the situation.