Michael Jackson, seen in London in March, is to begin his This Is It concert series on July 13. Michael Jackson, seen in London in March, is to begin his This Is It concert series on July 13. (Joel Ryan/Associated Press)

With about a month to go until the start of Michael Jackson's This Is It comeback concerts in London, a New Jersey promoter has followed through on a threat to sue the troubled entertainer.

Allgood Entertainment, which first threatened the lawsuit in May, filed a breach of contract lawsuit against Jackson in a U.S. federal court in Manhattan on Wednesday.

The company alleges that it had signed a deal with Michael Jackson's representatives for his participation in a Jackson 5 reunion concert. According to Allgood Entertainment, the deal specified that Jackson could not perform anywhere else before the event or for three months after it.

The company charges that the forthcoming London series — organized by music promoter AEG Live — breaks that contract.

The intention isn't to stop the London concerts from occurring, Allgood lawyer Ira Meyerowitz said.

"What were looking for... is for our clients to be involved in the London concerts or be compensated for agreements they entered into."

Late last month, Jackson's camp delayed the start of his This Is It concert series by several days. It is now scheduled to kick off at the O2 Arena in London on July 13 and continue through March 2010.

The 50-year-old Jackson, who has sold more than 750 million albums worldwide, hasn't toured since 1997 and released his last album of new material in 2001 (Invincible). Since being acquitted of child molestation charges in 2005, he has lived as a recluse in different countries and also suffered a host of legal and financial woes.

With files from The Associated Press