Paris Jackson achieved a significant legal victory against Michael Jackson's estate amidst a protracted battle over the late star's finances. According to court documents obtained by PEOPLE on Wednesday, May 13, a Los Angeles judge ruled that $625,000 in bonus payments made by executors John Branca and John McClain to third-party law firms must be "returned" to the estate.
The ruling states, "Ms. Jackson's objection to the $625,000 of bonus payments made in the second six months of 2018 is sustained. The bonus payments are not approved; they are disallowed. The payments shall be returned to the estate."
The court order further notes that Paris, 28, is entitled to attorneys' fees and costs. "Ms. Jackson may bring a motion for her reasonable attorneys' fees and costs under the common fund theory for her meritorious objection to the executors' fee petition," it reads.
In a statement shared with PEOPLE on May 13, attorneys for Jackson's estate said that while they "disagree with the decision, we fully respect it and plan to move forward accordingly." They added, "We are gratified that the Court itself recognized and praised the work of the executors and its outside counsel in today's decision."
The statement continues: "While the Court has previously approved several other bonuses to outside counsel over the years for their extraordinary services, and this was the first time they were the subject of objections, the executors have always understood that legal fees are subject to court approval and have always required outside counsel to agree to return any funds to the estate if the payments were not approved. And, to be clear, none of the $625,000 in bonuses – which represent only a small fraction of the Estate's expenses for the period in question – were paid to the executors, and the court did not in any way say that the executors had made any inappropriate payments to themselves."
A spokesperson for Paris told PEOPLE in a statement on May 13 that she "has always been focused on what's best for her family and this ruling is a massive win for them." They added, "After years of delay, the Jackson family will finally get the transparency and accountability measures Paris has fought for."
The statement further notes, "The Jackson estate is supposed to be a prudent, fiscally responsible entity that supports the Jackson family – not a slush fund to help John Branca live out his Hollywood mogul fantasies. After months of engaging in sexist, scorched-earth tactics against a beneficiary, it's time for John Branca to acknowledge his many missteps and act in the best interest of the family he has a fiduciary duty to protect."
Jackson's estate attorneys declined to comment further. Along with her brothers Prince, 29, and Bigi, 24, Paris is a beneficiary of the estate. She has accused Branca and McClain of abusing their roles as estate executors for their own financial gains, which they have denied. Last month, Paris filed a legal document accusing Branca and McClain of using their latest status report to "mock and belittle" her, per court documents obtained by PEOPLE.
