Jackson family lose negligence case against promoter
A JURY has cleared a concert promoter of negligence in a case that attempted to link the death of Michael Jackson to the company that promoted his ill-fated comeback shows.
The panel rejected a lawsuit brought by Jackson’s mother claiming AEG Live was negligent in hiring the doctor who killed Jackson with an overdose of a hospital anaesthetic that the singer used as a sleep aid.
With its verdict, the panel also delivered a somewhat surprising message – jurors did not believe Dr Conrad Murray was unfit or incom- petent to perform his duties involving Jackson.
The ruling on that particular question ended any further consideration on damages and who was at fault for the death.
AEG Live lead defence lawyer, Marvin S Putnam, said after the verdict: “I couldn’t be more pleased with the way the jury came out.”
Katherine Jackson said she was okay after the verdict was delivered.
A victory could have meant hundreds of millions of dollars in damages for Mrs Jackson and the singer’s three children and provided a rebuke of AEG Live, the second-largest concer t promoter in the US.
Murray was convicted of involuntary manslaughter in 2011 after giving Jackson the overdose as he prepared for a series of comeback shows.
Testimony at the civil trial showed only Jackson and Murray knew he was taking the drug.