Michael Jackson was fined $10,000 (£5,500) yesterday for missing a pre-trial hearing in a civil prosecution for sexual assault.
But the singer escaped arrest, which he faced for missing a procedural hearing in July, after his lawyer told a judge in New Orleans that clerical errors were to blame. He said that a summons arrived on the ''anxious'' day that the jury in Jackson's trial in California reached its verdict and was overlooked.
The singer, acquitted in June of abusing a 13-year-old boy, had also risked a possible default judgment in favour of his accuser had his lawyer not attended yesterday's hearing.
Joseph Bartucci Jr is suing Jackson for unspecified damages, claiming that he was lured into the singer's limousine during the 1984 World's Fair in the city and assaulted.
Mr Bartucci was 18 at the time and claims he repressed the memories until 2003 when he saw media coverage of child molestation charges brought against Jackson.
The singer denies the allegation.
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