In a recent development, the estate of the late pop icon Michael Jackson has objected to an attempt by LaToya Jackson's ex, Jeffre Phillips, to postpone the trial in their ongoing legal dispute. The estate, managed by executors John Branca and John McClain, has urged the court to dismiss Phillips' request to delay the trial date by six months, arguing that he has failed to provide a valid reason for the postponement.

According to court documents, the executors claim that Phillips has consistently obstructed settlement talks. They argue, "Any trial continuance will only decrease the odds of a settlement. To date, and despite repeated requests, Phillips has never made a settlement demand in this action." They further allege that Phillips and his legal team have shown no interest in private mediation, despite the executors' willingness to consider a settlement.

The executors have also raised concerns about the financial implications of a delay, stating that it would "significantly prejudice" them, as they have already incurred six-figure legal fees in the litigation process.

The legal battle between the estate and Phillips began last year when the executors accused Phillips of stealing a significant amount of Michael Jackson's memorabilia from his home. The alleged theft occurred amidst the chaos following the pop star's death. The stolen items reportedly include handwritten notes, five hard drives, three silver Mac laptops, two iPods, cassette tapes, and a large black bag with a skull on it. The executors suspect that the hard drives may contain unreleased music, and they estimate the value of the stolen property to be over $1 million.

Phillips, who was in a relationship with LaToya Jackson from 1995 to 2015, has vehemently denied these accusations. He asserts that he was asked by Katherine Jackson, Michael's mother, to remove the items and store them on her behalf. "I have never lied about having the Carolwood Items or otherwise concealed the fact that I kept the Carolwood Items in storage. Jackson's family members knew I had these items," Phillips stated.

He further claimed that if the estate had asked for the property without resorting to "premeditated set-up and bullying tactics," he would have returned the items, provided Katherine Jackson instructed him to do so.

The court has yet to make a decision on whether Katherine Jackson will be deposed or if the trial date will be postponed. As the legal battle continues, the fate of the alleged stolen memorabilia hangs in the balance.