By Ruth Manuel-Logan on Sep 16th 2010 10:05AM
Filed under: News
Katherine Jackson and
Michael's three children are suing concert promoters
AEG Live over Michael's untimely death last year. The Jackson matriarch's lawsuit claims that the event production company was negligent in providing proper medical care and life-saving equipment for Jackson as stipulated in a contractual agreement with the mega-entertainer.
The complaint was filed on Wednesday at the Los Angeles Superior Court . The lawsuit alleges that AEG Live, a subsidiary of the Anschutz Entertainment Group, had a legal obligation to keep the King of Pop healthy in planning the "This is It" tour:
"By the nature of their contractual, joint-venture, and special relationship, AEG had legal duties to Michael Jackson to treat him safely and to not put him in harms' way," the lawsuit claims. "But AEG, despite its knowledge of Michael Jackson's physical condition, breached those duties by putting its desire for massive profits from the tour over the health and safety of Michael Jackson."
The lawsuit also alleges that Michael was asked to drop his own physician and use Dr. Conrad Murray, whom the company hired as the gatekeeper for the superstar's health. Murray, a cardiologist, is accused of administering a fatal overdose of the anesthetic drug propofol, which Jackson used as a treatment for insomnia. Conrad has pleaded not guilty to the involuntary manslaughter charge and is awaiting trial.
Kenny Ortega, who was hired to direct the "This is It" tour, is also named as a defendant in the lawsuit.
The civil action also seeks damages for emotional distress on behalf of Jackson's oldest son, Prince Michael, who the lawsuit said had witnessed his father injured and dying and "has suffered great trauma and severe emotional distress."
Brian Panish, an attorney who was hired by the Jackson family, released a statement with regards to the lawsuit:
"The purpose of this lawsuit is to prove to the world the truth about what happened to Michael Jackson, once and for all."
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Comments: (7)
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By: vincentpricenut2 on 9/16/2010 12:31PM
Michael never got the respect that he deserved. Therefore I believe Mrs.Jackson. Peaple are crazy about money and I do believe that he somehow is responcible For this tragic Loss. Everybody all over the world Loves Michael Jackson. How can they pay the whole world!
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By: Mi' Haliah on 9/16/2010 1:36PM
I definitely agree with Mrs. Jackson. There has been something very "fishy" about this entire case from day one. We have a doctor (heart specialists, as you will) who performed CPR on a BED? Michael should have been placed on a firm surface.
In addition, the guy leaves MJ's bedside without a nurse or someone to monitor him (this doctor knew the dangers of the medication he was pushing)?
Also, far too much time had elasped before an ambulance was actually called? 911 tapes reveal that Michael's identity was never emphasized. Why?
Michael was long gone when the medical crew arrived and many of them will testify to this fact.
Moreover, Conrad tried to get rid of a lot of evidence before help arrived. He even made a statement to other staff members in the home that day NOT to contact anyone until he took care of a few things first?
Then when help finally does arrive, he refuses to sign a death certficate and he quietly disappears for a few hours without anyone knowing his whereabouts?
I could go on and on, but does anyone else smell a big FAT rat yet??? Add up all of the facts and it looks like MJ was murdered in every sense of the word. Of course, it doesn't take a rocket scientist to figure out that he would be worth sooo much more dead than alive.
Conrad was simply a puppet who bungled his role terribly. Guess the heat was getting a little bit too hot for him. He was even contemplating suicide at one point. Hmmmmm......supposedly he's experiencing tremendous debt and can't even pay his child support.
Makes one step back and wonder where all this money is coming from to keep his medical operations running, to cover his mortgage, taxes, car payments, child support, lawyers expenses, etc...etc...etc....
Don't think that ruthless, blood-sucking companies
such as AEG and Sony didn't have a clue......
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By: denise on 9/16/2010 4:02PM
Yes; Michael's mother must do what's needed to be done in order to preserve her son's name and also to protect his children. I so sorry to read Michael's son had to see him dying. This poor child will have that horrible picture in his mind the rest of his life. That's soooooo sad. All of this is sad, but Katherine must stay strong and continue to fight for Michael's children. Those three children lost the only parent they ever knew because of neglect by someone in the medical profession their father trusted with his life. Shame on Conrad, and shame on AEG for not better protecting this amazing human being.....thats now gone too soon!
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By: patti777 on 9/17/2010 11:56PM
AEG collected on a $17 million insurance policy upon MJ's death. They had a party to celebrate the windfall. I believe that Katherine and MJ's children are entitled to a portion of that payment since AEG's no nonsense approach to dealing with Michael's health concerns contributed to his death.
He was so stressed that he could not sleep, and AEG did that to him. I hope she wins.
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By: rasfanta on 9/19/2010 5:10AM
Thank God for Katherine & Joe. MJ was murdered. Do you understand the cause of death was homocide? Somebody needs to be held responsible for it. Somebody killed Michael. He felt like somebody wanted to kill him. Threats must have been made to him. He knew he was going to be murdered. AEG assigned incompetent, dr conrad murray, to be MJ's attending physician. Didn't they bother to check out his ability to provide the reasonable standard of care to michael?
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By: clarke on 9/25/2010 10:54AM
YOU DUMB ASS PEOPLE ARE CRAZY AS HELL. MICHEAL JACKSON WAS RESPONSIBLE FOR HIS OWN DEATH. AND HIS FAMILY KNEW HE WAS AN ADDICT. PAAA-LEASE. WAKE THE HELL UP PEOPLE
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By: missy on 10/18/2010 8:43AM
Mike was murdered! He was not an addict like the media/tabloids wants people to think!
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