Michael Jackson got a day’s reprieve on a deadline to pay a $100,000 fine and $306,000 in wages he owes Neverland Ranch employees.
Jackson now has until 5 p.m. Wednesday to pay the penalty and remit back wages owed dozens of workers, who complained to the state that they hadn’t been paid since Dec. 19.
The 47-year-old pop star could face a state lawsuit if he doesn’t comply by then.
Jackson no longer lives at the ranch full-time. He has been living mainly in the Persian Gulf nation of Bahrain since being acquitted of child molestation charges last year.
A call to Jackson’s spokesman, Raymone K. Bain, for comment wasn’t immediately returned Tuesday.
Renee Bacchini, a spokeswoman for the state Department of Industrial Relations, said Jackson was “aware” of the extension. She said such extensions are not uncommon.
The extra day was granted after Jackson’s financial representatives contacted the department to say “they are trying to come up with the money,” Bacchini said.
“They’re trying to work with us,” she said.
The 2,600-acre ranch in Santa Barbara County remained virtually shut down Tuesday under an order issued by the labor department last week. Sixty-nine employees were ordered to stop work after it was discovered that their mandatory workers compensation coverage for job-related injuries had lapsed.
Financial representatives for Jackson indicated they are complying with the order and “anybody who’s out there on the ranch is not an employee of Michael Jackson,” Bacchini said.
A security guard could remain on duty if the guard was paid by a separate company that has workers compensation coverage, Bacchini said.
Similarly, people remained at the ranch to care for the singer’s exotic menagerie.
“There are people who are being paid to take care of the animals” but Jackson wasn’t paying them, Bacchini said.
Jackson also faces a fine of $69,000 for allowing the workers compensation coverage to lapse. He has 30 days to appeal that fine, which was issued last week.