Judge ruled there is enough evidence for wrongful-death case against AEG
Michael Jackson's family are one step closer in their fight for justice over the pop superstar's death after a judge ruled today that their lawyers have enough evidence to go after concert promoter AEG.
The famous family are suing AEG Live claiming that the company is responsible for hiring Conrad Murray, the doctor convicted of involuntary manslaughter and therefore partially-responsible for Jackson's death.
A judge in Los Angeles has ruled that the family's lawyers have enough evidence for the wrongful-death suit after Jackson legal team presented an email showing that AEG has supervised Murray, who, in November 2011, was found guilty of administering a fatal dose of the hospital anesthetic propofol and sedatives to the singer, which played a key role in his death and he is currently serving a four-year prison sentence.
The Jackson clan are claiming that AEG put pressure on Murray to make sure the star was concert ready and able to
perform for his This Is It comeback tour at London's O2 Arena in 2009, despite his exhausted condition.
AEG said it should not be held responsible for Jackson's passing, arguing that Murray did not work for the company but was rather hired by the entertainer, and that AEG could not have foreseen Murray's administering of propofol, among other dangerous drugs.
But the "smoking gun" email being presented as evidence, between AEG Live's co-CEO Paul Gongaware to This Is It's concert director Kenny Ortega, appears to suggest that Murray could have lost his £99,000 ($150,000) -a-month job if he failed to make sure Jackson was ready for rehearsals.
It allegedly said: "We want to remind [Murray] that it is AEG, not MJ, who is paying his salary. We want to remind him what is expected of him."
AEG is also accused of not doing a proper background check on Murray and therefore had overlooked his large debts that made him susceptible to financial pressure.
Ortega reportedly wrote to AEG asking for "professional guidance" to deal with Jackson's "weakened and troubled state", company president Randy Phillips replied: "This doctor is extremely successful (we check everyone out) and does not need this gig so he is totally unbiased and ethical."
Los Angeles County superior court judge Yvette Palazuelo ruled that the case will go to jury trial next month and if found liable, AEG Live could be ordered to pay more than the company is worth – estimated at £5.3bn ($8bn).
"The truth about what happened to Michael, which AEG has tried to keep hidden from the public since the day Michael died, is finally emerging," Jackson attorney Kevin Boyle told CNN. "We look forward to the trial where the rest of the story will come to light."
Michael Jackson's family are one step closer in their fight for justice over the pop superstar's death after a judge ruled today that their lawyers have enough evidence to go after concert promoter AEG.
The famous family are suing AEG Live claiming that the company is responsible for hiring Conrad Murray, the doctor convicted of involuntary manslaughter and therefore partially-responsible for Jackson's death.
A judge in Los Angeles has ruled that the family's lawyers have enough evidence for the wrongful-death suit after Jackson legal team presented an email showing that AEG has supervised Murray, who, in November 2011, was found guilty of administering a fatal dose of the hospital anesthetic propofol and sedatives to the singer, which played a key role in his death and he is currently serving a four-year prison sentence.
The Jackson clan are claiming that AEG put pressure on Murray to make sure the star was concert ready and able to
perform for his This Is It comeback tour at London's O2 Arena in 2009, despite his exhausted condition.
AEG said it should not be held responsible for Jackson's passing, arguing that Murray did not work for the company but was rather hired by the entertainer, and that AEG could not have foreseen Murray's administering of propofol, among other dangerous drugs.
But the "smoking gun" email being presented as evidence, between AEG Live's co-CEO Paul Gongaware to This Is It's concert director Kenny Ortega, appears to suggest that Murray could have lost his £99,000 ($150,000) -a-month job if he failed to make sure Jackson was ready for rehearsals.
It allegedly said: "We want to remind [Murray] that it is AEG, not MJ, who is paying his salary. We want to remind him what is expected of him."
AEG is also accused of not doing a proper background check on Murray and therefore had overlooked his large debts that made him susceptible to financial pressure.
Ortega reportedly wrote to AEG asking for "professional guidance" to deal with Jackson's "weakened and troubled state", company president Randy Phillips replied: "This doctor is extremely successful (we check everyone out) and does not need this gig so he is totally unbiased and ethical."
Los Angeles County superior court judge Yvette Palazuelo ruled that the case will go to jury trial next month and if found liable, AEG Live could be ordered to pay more than the company is worth – estimated at £5.3bn ($8bn).
"The truth about what happened to Michael, which AEG has tried to keep hidden from the public since the day Michael died, is finally emerging," Jackson attorney Kevin Boyle told CNN. "We look forward to the trial where the rest of the story will come to light."
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