Michael Jackson drops bid to block Las Vegas auction

Lawyers for Michael Jackson dropped an effort Friday to block an auction of the pop star's personal belongings and other Jackson family items, including Jackson's gold record for his "Thriller" album.

Jackson did not appear in person in a Las Vegas court where his lawyer told a judge that a confidential agreement had been reached with representatives of an auctioneer, the current owner of the materials, and a New Jersey man who claimed a warehouse full of Jackson memorabilia after a failed business venture wound up in bankruptcy court.

Lawyers declined to describe terms of the agreement, which settled an April 27 lawsuit.

Universal Express Inc., the Boca Raton, Fla., luggage transportation company that owns the items, claimed the materials were worth about $50 million, according to court records.