Michael Jackson’s Family Lose Case Against AEG Live
The family of Michael Jackson have lost their battle for a £181m payout after a jury ruled his concert promoter was not negligent in hiring the doctor who treated the singer.
The King of Pop’s mother Katherine sued AEG Live LLC over the hiring of Dr. Conrad Murray, who was convicted of the singer’s involuntary manslaughter two years ago.
The 82-year-old, along with with Jackson’s two eldest children Prince, 16, and Paris, 15, claimed the promoter should have done a thorough background check on Murray.
The company denied hiring Murray and said the singer was responsible for his own drug-addled death.
The Jackson family are now considering an appeal against the verdict which could cost them million of dollars more in legal fees.
A source close to the Jackson said: “The family are naturally devastated by the jury’s verdict.
“They had hoped they would find in their favour and award the family the money they felt they were entitled in compensation.
“It is going to take a few days to decide but at the moment the family are rallying round to support Michael’s children.”
The panel of six men and six women began deliberating on September 26, more than five months after the start of the trial that provided an unprecedented insight into the superstar’s life.
Throughout the court case the star’s dependency on prescription drugs was laid bare as well as his battle against chronic insomnia and further allegations of abuse of young children.
At one point it was revealed drug addled Jackson had a secret implant usually given to severe heroin addicts.
The father-of-three had a “Narcan implant”, which is administered by doctors as a last effort to halt the effects of them killing themselves as they chase illegal highs.
The medical move came in 2003 as he tried a raft of ways to control his addiction as he consumed huge amounts of drugs.
The revelation has emerged from one of the Jackson’s former physicians in the trial.
It has remained a secret for the last decade.
The trial also showed the cut throat business between stars and their promoters in the pursuit of millions of pounds.
Jackson, 50, died in June 2009 while rehearsing for his long awaited comeback after announcing a 50 date residency at London’s O2 Arena for his “This Is It Tour”.
During the trial of Conrad Murray in 2011 it was discovered the doctor had administered the star a fatal shot of the surgical anaesthetic propofol after the star pleaded for help to sleep.
He was sentenced to four years in prison after a jury found him guilty.
An expert for the Jackson’s testified during the civil case that economic damages should be more than £620million.
However the lawyer for the Jacksons Brian Panish, urged jurors to award Jackson’s mother £21.8m and award a further £53.1m to each of the singer’s three children.
In closing arguments last month a video presentation documenting the singer’s career was shown, from his humble beginnings in Gary, Indiana, to his becoming the self-styled King of Pop.
The video ended with a clip of the mournful 1993 ballad Gone Too Soon and Jackson’s voice saying “I love you”.
Mr Panish said: “That is the best evidence that Michael Jackson would have sold tickets.”
The issue of Jackson’s potential earnings was crucial to the trial, as the family was seeking financial as well as personal damages.
The lawyer had also spoken of the anguish of Michael’s children, Prince, Paris and Blanket Jackson, over the loss of their father.
Mr Panish was warned by Superior Court Judge Yvette Palazuelos jurors were not to be swayed by sympathy in reaching their verdict.
He responded: “We’re not looking for sympathy. We’re looking for justice. Not partial, but complete justice.”
Just before the trial Paris attempted to commit suicide as the toll of the then pending case began to take affect.
It came as Oliver star Mark Lester – a close friend of Jackson – claimed he was the children’s biological father and not the singer.
A family friend said: “Paris has always wanted to believe Michael was her dad, but was aware that wasn’t really the case.
“She was convinced her and Prince were Michael’s. She always idolised him. Hearing that she wasn’t started a downward spiral.”
After cutting her wrists and taking several pills she was rushed to the UCLA medical centre hospital in Los Angeles.
She has remained in therapy ever since.