- Title: USA: Michael Jackson wrongful death suit headed to court
- Date: 27th March 2013
- Summary: LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA, UNITED STATES (FILE) (ORIGINALLY 4:3) (UNRESTRICTED POOL) (NIGHT SHOTS) VARIOUS OF MICHAEL JACKSON FUNERAL
- Embargoed: 11th April 2013 13:00
- Keywords:
- Location: Usa
- Country: USA
- Topics: Entertainment,General
- Reuters ID: LVAE87J87ZAZHMF8B5OXDCZOBWYP
- Story Text: Michael Jackson will be the subject of yet another court case - this time a civil one, brought on by his mother Katherine against concert giant AEG Live. The trial - which is scheduled to begin jury selection on April 02 - will examine if AEG was criminally negligent in its hiring and supervision of Dr. Conrad Murray, Jackson's personal physician who was found guilty of involuntary manslaughter in 2011.
"Well clearly, the hardest case here is to prove that Michael's death can be pinned on AEG, that's the connection here. That's what's difficult," said The Hollywood Reporter Executive Editor, Matthew Belloni. "You have Katherine Jackson saying that AEG was negligent when it hired this doctor to deal with Michael Jackson in connection with the tour. So, that's a pretty big jump that you have to make; you have to find that they were negligent, that they knew that there was going to be a potential problem, but went forward anyway with this doctor and that the risks came to fruition. I think that if you had to say which side has a tougher case to prove, I think Katherine Jackson's side is a pretty tough case to prove."
AEG Live was in the midst of working on a series of Jackson comeback concerts in 2009. The tour, called "This Is It," was supposed to be a 50 show residency at London's O2 arena. Their plans ended on June 25, 2009 when Jackson died at his Los Angeles home from a lethal dose of the anesthetic propofol, administered by Murray.
Katherine Jackson's lawyers will argue that AEG controlled Murray's actions and failed to properly investigate the doctor before agreeing to pay him to work as Jackson's physician. AEG vehemently denies any wrongdoing and their attorney has said Murray was not employed by the promoter and in no way could they have foreseen that Murray was a danger to Jackson.
"AEG is a billion dollar company. Losing a lawsuit would not put it out of business. It likely has insurance to cover such kinds of claims. But there is somewhat of a tarnish that comes along with litigation. Michael Jackson is a guy that they had a lot of faith in, but they also stood to make a lot of money from and if the perception is that they exploited him or were not careful of him when they were preparing for this tour, then that could be a problem for them in the public's eye," said Belloni.
As for Murray, he has said he is willing to testify, but according to multiple reports, has also said he may plead the Fifth if asked anything about Jackson's death.
"He's not a party in this case, understand - he's not being sued - but he is essentially responsible for the behavior that is at the center of the lawsuit, so I think whatever he says to that jury would be a big deal."
In another twist in an already complicated case, the judge ruled that Jackson's 2005 trial and acquittal on child sex abuse charges may be revisited during this case. Attorneys for AEG could use information from that case as part of their defense, claiming it is a relevant example of the singer's battle with drugs.
If a settlement is not reached before Tuesday (April 02), a more than three month trial is anticipated. Online tabloid TMZ has reported that Katherine Jackson is seeking 40 billion dollars in damages. - Copyright Holder: POOL (CAN SELL)
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