California authorities have ordered the close of Michael Jackson's Santa Barbara ranch for failing to pay staff members' salaries or provide adequate insurance coverage.

Jackson was fined $169,000 for failing to pay 33 staff members since late 2005, and allowing his employer's insurance policy to lapse.

Since December 2005, most of the staff members who worked at Neverland Ranch refused to show up since they were not being paid and hadn't heard from Jackson. A few ranch operators, managers, and security guards remained.

Michael Jackson moved to Bahrain almost immediately after being acquitted of child sex abuse charges in June 2005.

The order to stop operations at the ranch were served Friday, but no one has heard from Jackson. Ranch employees have been ordered to stay away and the ranch managers were given five days to file an appeal.

Neverland ranch sits on nearly 3000 acres of real estate and contains an amusement park, a zoo (which includes elephants, giraffes, tigers and a crocodile), an ampitheater, art exhibits, a pool, and a nature preserve.

Over the past few months, Michael and brother Jermaine have teamed with a handful of musicians to record a song to help raise funds for the Hurricane Katrina relief efforts. The release date has yet to be determined.

Jackson may face a long legal battle with the state of California if he fails to compensate former employees.

PRINT THIS PAGE    E-MAIL PAGE    DISCUSS ARTICLE    ALL ARTICLES    TAKE A QUIZ

Web www.mybrotha.com