Man who claimed to be Michael Jackson gets court date

An eight-day trial is set for May 7 in the civil case by a Browns Valley man who contends Marysville police took no action to assist him after he appeared in the police lobby, claimed to be Michael Jackson and demanded a ride home.

William Joseph Hall, 38, exhibited obvious signs of being in an altered state of mind on July 19, 2009, according to the Yuba County Superior Court lawsuit filed the following year. But police did not assist, investigate or detain him, the suit asserts.

The same July afternoon officers responded to the 2300 block of Del Pero Street and Hall, wearing only his underwear, was shoved face-down on the black asphalt, sustaining third-degree burns over 20 to 30 percent of his body, the suit asserts. He was transported to UC Davis Medical Center and hospitalized in the intensive care unit, the suit says.

Attorney S. David Rosenthal of Sacramento, representing Hall, said Wednesday that a defense request for prior mental health records involving Hall produced nothing.

Hall has no such history, said Rosenthal, who called the defense effort "a fishing expedition resulting in zero."

Bruce Kilday, an attorney representing Marysville, could not be reached for comment.

Attorneys representing the city sought and received a court order this summer directing mental health agencies in Butte County, Chico and Gridley to comply with subpoenas for mental health records about Hall. Attorneys said the suit suggests Marysville police should have recognized signs of mental illness and assisted, investigated or detained Hall.

"Mr. Hall has put his mental health at issue in this la suit," attorney Kevin Dehoff wrote in requesting the records.

The defense researched mental health facilities located near where the incident occurred to determine if they had treated Hall, according to a court filing.

A Marysville police officer had said in a declaration of probable cause in the criminal case involving Hall that the suspect violently resisted and punched and kicked officers. Hall pleaded no contest to resisting a police officer and was placed on probation for two years. His attorney in the criminal case had said that Hall accepted a plea agreement because "he had neither the time, money or physical ability to fight the charges."