In an earlier blog posting, we discussed the wrongful death civil trial in which Michael Jackson’s surviving family members pursued a wrongful death lawsuit against concert promoter AEG Live.
The suit alleged that AEG hired Dr. Conrad Murray, the physician who administered the fatal dose of anesthetic that killed performer Michael Jackson in 2011. The suit also alleged that AEG pushed Murray into appeasing Jackson, demanding that he have the singer ready for a final 50-date tour, despite any signs of declining health. The Jackson family also claimed that AEG did not properly investigate or supervise Murray, who was convicted of involuntary manslaughter in connection with the superstar’s death and sentenced to four years in prison.
Following nearly three days of deliberations which ended early in October, the Los Angeles jury had decided that while concert promoter AEG Live did hire Dr. Conrad Murray, the doctor was not unfit or incompetent “to perform the work for which he was hired for.” As a result, the jury unanimously decided that AEG was not negligent in the death of the Michael Jackson and will not have to pay damages to Jackson’s family.
AEG Live attorney Marvin Putnam said in a public statement:
“The jury’s decision completely vindicates AEG Live, confirming what we have known from the start—that although Michael Jackson’s death was a terrible tragedy, it was not a tragedy of AEG Live’s making.”
References:
Miami Herald
