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Michael Jackson Wrongful Death Trial Reaches Final Arguments

Madeline Morris |
September 24, 2013 | 1:34 p.m. PDT

Health and Fitness Editor


The attorneys for Michael Jackson's family presented their final arguments Tuesday in their five-year-old multi-million dollar wrongful death lawsuit against Anschutz Entertainment Group (AEG). Jackson died in 2009.

The trial, which is being live-streamed, will determine whether AEG Live, Jackson's former concert promoter, was responsible for the negligent hiring of Dr. Conrad Murray during preparation for the "This Is It" concert series.

Murray was convicted in 2011 of administering a fatal dose of propofol to help Jackson sleep during his preparations for his comeback concerts. 

In his final statements Tuesday, Jackson attorney Brian Panish played heartwarming home videotapes of all three Jackson children bonding with their father. 

Attorneys for AEG will speak on Wednesday, and the plaintiffs will have the opportunity for a rebuttal on Thursday.

The Jacksons are expected to tell jurors how much money they are seeking for the death of the pop star. The damages are estimated at $1 billion. Even a small loss legally for AEG could be a big loss in terms of real dollars for the sports and entertainment company. 

A judge told the jury Monday that only nine had to reach agreement. An unanimous verdict is not required.

AEG, AEG Live's parent company, also owns the LA Live entertainment and hotel complex, the Staples Center, the Los Angeles Galaxy, StubHub Center in Carson, the Los Angeles Kings, and a minority share of the Los Angeles Lakers, among numerous other global properties, including AXS and AXS.tv.

Ultimately, the question is: who hired Murray? Who controlled him? And was what happened predictable?

Reach Editor Madeline Morris here or follow her on Twitter here.



 

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